- Jonas Valanciunas has played 14 seasons in the NBA across five teams, most recently with Sacramento.
- The Kings traded Valanciunas to Denver on July 1 for Dario Saric, and he would have been a backup center for three-time MVP Nikola Jokić.
- Valanciunas is reportedly headed to Greece for a medical with Panathinaikos, but he still needs to be released from his contract with the Nuggets.
Just a day ago, Jonas Valanciunas was heading to Denver as a desperately needed backup to Nikola Jokic. However, reports suggest that the big man is looking to be released from his contract and is en route to Greece for a medical with Panathinaikos.
The Nuggets are trying to convince him to stay and help the team win an NBA title, but Valanciunas prefers a move to Europe.
Valanciunas Looking for Contract Release, Willing to Give Up at Least $10 Million
It had been rumored that Valanciunas, who is from Lithuania, wanted to head back to Europe. But the news dropped on the morning of Friday, July 4, that the center was headed to Greece for a medical.
Valanciunas was drafted by Toronto in 2011, joining the team in 2012. He has played for Toronto, Memphis, New Orleans, and split last season between Washington and Sacramento. Over his 14-year career, Valanciunas has averaged 13.1 points and 9.3 rebounds, shooting 56% from the field.
Valanciunas was traded by the Kings to Denver for Dario Saric on July 1, and the 33-year-old was thought to be the perfect backup center for three-time MVP Nikola Jokić. The Nuggets have been hurt by depth issues since winning the NBA title in 2023, especially last season.
However, Valanciunas is reportedly almost in Athens to complete medicals for Panathinaikos. He is also willing to give up the remaining money on his contract. The Lithuanian has two years left on his deal, with $10.4 million next year. There is also $10 million for the 2026-27 season, but that isn’t guaranteed.
What’s Next for the Denver Nuggets?
If this is true, the Nuggets will now scramble to find a backup for Jokic. Valanciunas would have been an upgrade over DeAndre Jordan, who will be 37 years old this season. There are no good centers left on the free-agent market, so the Nuggets might be stuck with Jordan again.
That means even more of a load for Jokic, who finished second to Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the NBA MVP odds and voting. “Joker” played 36.7 minutes a night during the regular season, and 40.2 minutes in the Nuggets’ 14 playoff games.
You also have to wonder if the Kings knew about this before they made the trade. It seems fishy that Valanciunas, all of a sudden, wants to play in Greece, instead of playing for the Nuggets. With Valanciunas and the other moves they’ve made, the Nuggets’ NBA championship odds improved drastically over the last week.
Those NBA championship odds haven’t moved yet, but this story is something to keep an eye on as the Nuggets look to reload for another run at the NBA title!
Even if Valanciunas leaves for the Greek league, the Nuggets will have some cap space after moving Saric and MPJ, so it’s not the end of the world for the organization.
You must be logged in to comment. Don't have an account? Sign up today.