The Denver Nuggets will proceed with their pending commerce for Jonas Valanciunas and intend to uphold to his contract, as Marc Stein first reported, regardless of a profitable provide from Greek membership Panathinaikos and his interest in playing in Europe.
The Nuggets dealt Dario Sarič to the Sacramento Kings and secured Valančiūnas as a backup choice to Nikola Jokić, shoring up a key want behind the three-time NBA MVP. Valančiūnas, a 33-year-old native of Lithuania, is reportedly mulling a return nearer to dwelling however would want to safe a buyout so as to make the transfer to Europe.
The Nuggets reportedly have knowledgeable Valančiūnas’ representatives that they won’t let him out of his NBA contract. Denver acquired his contract within the commerce and have two years of staff management at a $20 million price ticket — $10.3 million this coming season and $10 million the yr after that. Panathinaikos is reportedly prepared to pay Valančiūnas a extra profitable deal at three years and $36 million.
Jonas Valančiūnas reportedly mulling move to Europe, and his decision could impact Nuggets, Kings and Warriors
Robby Kalland
If Valančiūnas have been to play overseas, subsequent season would mark his first outdoors the NBA because the Toronto Raptors introduced him over from Lithuania in 2012. He performed his first 4 skilled seasons in Lithuania earlier than the Raptors exercised their rights to the middle, who they selected with the No. 5 general choose within the 2011 NBA Draft.
This isn’t the primary time an NBA team has blocked a participant’s intention to play abroad. Final offseason, the Charlotte Hornets denied Vasilije Mičić from leaving for Europe and stored him on board till the commerce deadline. They dealt him to the Phoenix Suns, who despatched him again to Charlotte earlier than the Hornets once more traded him, this time to the Milwaukee Bucks.
The 6-foot-11 Valančiūnas, who averaged 10.4 factors and seven.7 rebounds in 18.8 minutes final season, figures to supply regular manufacturing off the bench and may very well be a serviceable spot starter for the Nuggets if wanted. He was a daily starter for greater than a decade till he largely served in a reserve function final season for the Kings and Washington Wizards, making solely 21 begins throughout 81 appearances.
Throughout his final season as a full-time starter, Valančiūnas put up 12.2 factors and eight.8 rebounds per outing. He averaged a double-double in 4 straight seasons on the peak of his profession.
In holding Valančiūnas on board, the Nuggets keep away from the necessity to dip into the free agent market. Al Horford is the highest possibility amongst large males however has lengthy been tied to the Golden State Warriors. Moe Wagner got here off the board when he agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Orlando Magic.