Nuggets plan for Jonas Valanciunas to honor contract

Nuggets plan for Jonas Valanciunas to honor contract

The Denver Nuggets made two very key trades at the start of free agency, acquiring wing Cameron Johnson away from the Brooklyn Nets before adding center Jonas Valanciunas from the Sacramento Kings.

However, the latter arrived with a caveat.

Days after it was reported that the Nuggets traded for Valanciunas–with the trade having not become official yet (trades and signings were not able to become official until July 6, at the earliest)–reports surfaced that Valanciunas could be heading to the EuroLeague, with
Panathinaikos Athens showing serious interest.

Valanciunas, 33, can still make a combined $20.4 million over the final two years of his contract, but would have to negotiate a buyout if he wanted to head overseas. On Sunday, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported that the Nuggets intend for the 6-foot-10 backup big to honor his contract.

“Denver has informed Jonas Valanciunas’ reps that the franchise fully intends to have him honor his contract as the Nuggets view Valanciunas as a critical center addition to back up Nikola Jokic and play alongside him,” Charania’s report read. “Greek team Panathinaikos pursued Valanciunas in recent days.”

Report: Jonas Valanciunas is ‘considering’ leaving the NBA for EuroLeague

On the surface, Valanciunas is a huge add for the Nuggets’ second unit behind Jokic. No longer can they rely on DeAndre Jordan to carry those minutes and expect positive results. Second-year big man DaRon Holmes also lost the entirety of his rookie season due to a torn Achilles, so it will be difficult to expect him to play at a high level right away behind Nikola Jokic.

Valanciunas is a physical bruiser who’s more than capable of impacting a second unit for 15-20 minutes per night. Last season, he averaged 10.4 points and 7.7 rebounds across just 18.8 minutes with the Washington Wizards and Sacramento Kings, shooting 55.0 percent from the floor and 87.9 percent from the free-throw line, albeit on very low volume.

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