In a shocking turn of events, the Denver Nuggets might lose their big offseason addition even before the season starts. Denver had one of the best offseasons among contenders, acquiring four valuable rotational players. Yet, their best addition, backup center Jonas Valanciunas, might not even suit up for them.
Nuggets Could Lose Big Offseason Addition Before Season Starts
The Nuggets managed to turn Dario Saric into Valanciunas, a trade that bolstered their depth. And while they hope the 33-year-old will provide valuable backup minutes to Nikola Jokic, the latest reports are discouraging. According to BasketNews, Valanciunas is considering a deal with the Greek team Panathinaikos and potentially leaving the NBA.
The Lithuanian center has one more guaranteed year on his NBA contract. He will make $10.4 million this season. Denver then has a team option at $10 million in 2026-27. On the other hand, according to the report by BasketNews, he has a three-year, $13 million deal on the table from Panathinaikos Athens. The Greek team has some former NBA talent, including Kendrick Nunn, Cedi Osman, and Juancho Hernangómez. Panathinaikos won the EuroLeague in 2024 and is a perennial Final Four contender.
A Big Loss for the Nuggets
The challenge for the Nuggets is that if Valanciunas leaves for Europe, they will be hard-pressed to replace him. They do not have a backup for Jokic, and there are not many available centers left on the market. Al Horford might be the best one remaining, and there are plenty of contenders for him. Also, Denver used their mid-level exception to sign Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. It’s unclear how much money they will be able to offer. They can look at names like Thomas Bryant, a familiar face who was part of their championship run. However, he didn’t play a single minute in the playoffs.
Not the First Time a European Player Left the NBA
If Valanciunas does leave the NBA, it will not be the first time it has happened. Last summer, Sasha Vezenkov, a former EuroLeague MVP, left the NBA after being traded to the Toronto Raptors. He was waived, gave up his $6.6 million salary, and then returned to Europe. But the difference is that Vezenkov didn’t find a role in the NBA. Valanciunas has the option of being on one of the best teams in the Western Conference. With all the moves that the Nuggets made this offseason, they can be right among the top four teams in the West.
With Jokic playing at an MVP-level and the Nuggets on the upswing, nothing seems impossible. Last season, they were the team that gave the Oklahoma City Thunder the hardest challenge in the playoffs. Valanciunas has spent 13 seasons in the NBA, accumulating career averages of 13.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks across 25.1 minutes per game. While he doesn’t shoot threes and cannot space the floor like modern big men, he is a bruising big man who can do plenty of damage in the paint.
Featured image: © Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
The post Nuggets Could Lose Big Offseason Addition Before Season Starts appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.