Denver Nuggets sign forward Axel Toupane to two-year deal, according to report

The Denver Nuggets have signed 6-foot-7 forward Axel Toupane, 23, to a two-year deal, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical.

Denver and forward Axel Toupane have agreed to a two-year deal, league sources tell The Vertical. Non-guaranteed next season.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 24, 2016

Toupane was originally signed by the Nuggets to a 10-day contract on March 3rd, he inked a second 10-day on March 13th and now has a deal for the rest of the season and perhaps beyond with the news today. He’ll have a chance to make the team again next season, but his deal for the 2016-17 season is non-guaranteed, according to Shams. It’s a similar deal that the Nuggets came with JaKarr Sampson.

He’s averaged 3.0 points on 26.3 percent shooting, including 29.2 percent from 3-point land. He’s only averaged 13.8 minutes per game and has yet to see a clear role with the team.

Axel has shown ability to be a disruptive player on the defensive end and blends well with a young team that likes to run, when they can. In fact, Toupane’s first NBA points with the Nuggets came on a fastbreak against the New York Knicks when he beat Kristaps Porzingis down the floor for a dunk:

With his youth and potential, this is a good deal for the team. In the upcoming NBA draft, wing players with size are a bit limited to come by — so this deal allows the Nuggets to have access to a young player with a bright future. Toupane is right in line with the timeline of the team’s young core and if he can carve out a role with the team, it’s a win-win.

Good gamble by the Nuggets and Joffrey Lauvergne‘s childhood friend will stick around for a while longer.