Nuggets to sign former Penn State star

The Nuggets have reached an agreement with second-round pick Jalen Pickett on a four-year contract that will be worth $8.4M and will be guaranteed for the first three seasons, sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

A 6-foot-4 guard, Pickett played three college seasons at Siena, then transferred to Penn State for two years. As a “super-senior” in 2022-23, he filled up the box score with 17.7 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game with a .508/.381/.763 shooting line in 37 contests (36.6 MPG). He was a consensus second-team All-American and made the All-Big Ten first team.

Denver put itself in position to draft Pickett by reaching a deal with the Pacers to acquire the No. 29 and No. 32 picks in the draft in exchange for No. 40 and a 2024 first-rounder. The Nuggets used the 32nd overall pick on Pickett, whose extensive college experience should put him in position to compete for a spot in the second unit as a rookie.

The Nuggets are using their taxpayer mid-level exception to sign Reggie Jackson, but they are able to sign Pickett to a deal worth more than the minimum — and covering four seasons — thanks to the NBA’s new second-round pick exception. The final year on his contract will be a team option.