- Jonas Valanciunas has performed 14 seasons within the NBA throughout 5 groups, most just lately with Sacramento.
- The Kings traded Valanciunas to Denver on July 1 for Dario Saric, and he would have been a backup heart for three-time MVP Nikola Jokić.
- Valanciunas is reportedly headed to Greece for a medical with Panathinaikos, however he nonetheless must be launched from his contract with the Nuggets.
Only a day in the past, Jonas Valanciunas was heading to Denver as a desperately wanted backup to Nikola Jokic. Nonetheless, studies recommend that the massive man is seeking to be launched from his contract and is en path to Greece for a medical with Panathinaikos.
The Nuggets are attempting to persuade him to remain and assist the group win an NBA title, however Valanciunas prefers a transfer to Europe.
Valanciunas In search of Contract Launch, Prepared to Give Up at Least $10 Million
It had been rumored that Valanciunas, who’s from Lithuania, needed to go again to Europe. However the information 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, becoming a member of the group in 2012. He has performed for Toronto, Memphis, New Orleans, and break up final season between Washington and Sacramento. Over his 14-year profession, Valanciunas has averaged 13.1 factors and 9.3 rebounds, capturing 56% from the sector.
Valanciunas was traded by the Kings to Denver for Dario Saric on July 1, and the 33-year-old was regarded as the right backup heart for three-time MVP Nikola Jokić. The Nuggets have been harm by depth points since profitable the NBA title in 2023, particularly final season.
Nonetheless, Valanciunas is reportedly virtually in Athens to finish medicals for Panathinaikos. He’s additionally prepared to surrender the remaining cash on his contract. The Lithuanian has two years left on his deal, with $10.4 million subsequent yr. There may be additionally $10 million for the 2026-27 season, however that isn’t assured.
What’s Subsequent for the Denver Nuggets?
If that is true, the Nuggets will now scramble to discover a backup for Jokic. Valanciunas would have been an improve over DeAndre Jordan, who will likely be 37 years previous this season. There aren’t any good facilities left on the free-agent market, so the Nuggets is likely to be caught with Jordan once more.
Which means much more of a load for Jokic, who completed second to Oklahoma Metropolis’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander within the NBA MVP odds and voting. “Joker” performed 36.7 minutes an evening in the course of the common season, and 40.2 minutes within the Nuggets’ 14 playoff video games.
You additionally must surprise if the Kings knew about this earlier than they made the commerce. It appears fishy that Valanciunas, unexpectedly, needs to play in Greece, as an alternative of enjoying for the Nuggets. With Valanciunas and the opposite strikes they’ve made, the Nuggets’ NBA championship odds improved drastically over the past week.
These NBA championship odds haven’t moved but, however this story is one thing to regulate because the Nuggets look to reload for an additional run on the NBA title!
Even when Valanciunas leaves for the Greek league, the Nuggets could have some cap house after transferring Saric and MPJ, so it’s not the tip of the world for the group.
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