The Denver Nuggets will proceed with their pending trade for Jonas Valanciunas and intend to uphold to his contract, as Marc Stein first reported, despite a lucrative offer from Greek club Panathinaikos and his interest in playing in Europe.
The Nuggets dealt Dario Sarič to the Sacramento Kings and secured Valančiūnas as a backup option to Nikola Jokić, shoring up a key need behind the three-time NBA MVP. Valančiūnas, a 33-year-old native of Lithuania, is reportedly mulling a return closer to home but would need to secure a buyout in order to make the move to Europe.
The Nuggets reportedly have informed Valančiūnas’ representatives that they will not let him out of his NBA contract. Denver acquired his contract in the trade and have two years of team control at a $20 million price tag — $10.3 million this coming season and $10 million the year after that. Panathinaikos is reportedly prepared to pay Valančiūnas a more lucrative 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 were to play abroad, next season would mark his first outside the NBA since the Toronto Raptors brought him over from Lithuania in 2012. He played his first four professional seasons in Lithuania before the Raptors exercised their rights to the center, who they chose with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.
This is not the first time an NBA team has blocked a player’s intention to play overseas. Last offseason, the Charlotte Hornets denied Vasilije Mičić from leaving for Europe and kept him on board until the trade deadline….
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