Yakhouba Diawara, a native of Paris, turned down a reported two-year, $1.8 million offer from the Dallas Mavericks to sign with the Nuggets on Wednesday, according to a report in the Denver Post. Terms of the deal were not released, but it is expected to be a two-year deal at the league minimum.

"His integrity and character jumped off the page," Nuggets director of player personnel Mark Warkentien said. "After verbally agreeing to a minimum deal with us, and being offered a bigger deal, he turned it down. He is the type of person we want representing Denver."

Diawara said, "I think it was a better fit for me."

The 6-foot-7, 225-pound Diawara can play shooting guard and small forward for coach George Karl.

"(Karl) was the reason I came here. They played me at summer camp," Diawara said. "I've been here for a couple weeks and I'm just comfortable. Sometimes when you are comfortable you just go with it."