It is taken some time for the commerce to undergo, however veteran heart Jonas Valanciunas is formally a member of the Denver Nuggets. On Sunday evening, the Nuggets introduced they acquired Valančiūnas from the Sacramento Kings in change for Dario Sarič.
The Lithuanian large man nonetheless has two years left on his present contract at simply over $20.3 million, however he has reportedly acquired a proposal for three years and $36 million to play for Greek club Panathinaikos, which might be nearer to house for Valančiūnas. This commerce changing into official implies that the Nuggets seemingly don’t have any intention of letting Valančiūnas out of his present deal.
Final season, Valančiūnas performed 81 video games for the Washington Wizards and Kings, beginning 21 of them. He averaged 10.4 factors, 7.7 rebounds and a pair of.0 assists per sport. With the Nuggets, Valančiūnas would play a backup function behind three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. Whereas Valančiūnas could wish to play abroad on a giant deal whereas getting a much bigger function, that appears unlikely with the commerce now official.
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NBA teams denying a participant’s request to play in Europe will not be essentially new. Final summer time, the Charlotte Hornets denied Vasilije Mičić the chance to play abroad.
Valančiūnas, 33, can be coming into his 14th NBA season after beginning his professional profession with Lietuvos Rytas of the EuroLeague in 2010-11. All through his profession, Valančiūnas has averaged 13.1 factors, 9.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists per sport in 937 appearances. He’ll bolster Denver’s depth because the group seems to seize its second NBA title in 4 years.