Danilo Gallinari will decline his $16.1 million player option with the Denver Nuggets for the 17-18 season to become an unrestricted free agent.

Gallinari remains interested in signing a long-term deal with the Nuggets.

Tim Connelly has expressed a strong desire to keep Gallinari as part of the franchise’s core.

After a knee injury and surgery that cost him the 2013-14 season, Gallinari has re-established the durability of his knee in the past two seasons.