DENVER — What would be a key offseason acquisition for the Denver Nuggets is in limbo, as a courtship of Jonas Valanciunas by a Greek club reportedly has the veteran center mulling an NBA exit.
Denver traded for Valanciunas last week, sending Dario Saric to Sacramento to bring in a bona fide backup center to provide relief for Nikola Jokic. The trade, though, has not been finalized.
Meanwhile, the Greek Basketball League and EuroLeague powerhouse Panathinaikos has reportedly offered Valanciunas, a 13-year NBA vet averaging a double-double for his career, a multi-year contract.
Valanciunas would have to negotiate a buyout of his contract – a two-year deal, the second of which is a team option – in order to leave the NBA and play overseas, according to ESPN. NBA insider Marc Stein reported that the Nuggets have informed Valanciunas that they expect him to fulfill his NBA contract and play in Denver next season.
Stein also reported the trade is expected to be finalized this week. It couldn’t become official until at least this past Sunday, July 5, per league rules.
A public appearance by Valanciunas in his native Lithuania Tuesday didn't make the water any less murky on the whole situation, either. Eurohoops, an aptly named X account that discusses European basketball, reported a pair of vague quotes made by Valanciunas while speaking at the B8 basketball summit.
"When the trade is finalized, we'll come up with a plan," Valanciunas said, according to the outlet. "[The Nuggets] will express their wishes, how they see it."
👀🇱🇹Jonas Valanciunas comments on the current situation with the Denver Nuggets and Panathinaikos
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) July 8, 2025
🗣️Valanciunas: “You can say anything. A lot has already been said, all kind of thoughts” pic.twitter.com/QaMgXhhk4R
There have been instances of NBA players negotiating buyouts to play overseas, including during NBA lockouts.
Sasha Vezenkov was traded, coincidentally, by the Sacramento Kings to the Toronto Raptors after the 2023-24 season but Toronto ultimately bought out his contract so he could play for the Greek club Olympiacos. Vezenkov scored 19 points a game this season en route to Olympiacos winning the Greek Basketball League title in 2024-25.
Basketball Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins agreed to a buyout to play for Panathinaikos in the 1995-96 season, winning a EuroLeague championship with the club.
The Jonas Valančiūnas-for-Dario Šarić trade is on course to be made official this week after Denver makes Michael Porter Jr.-for-Cam Johnson official, @TheSteinLine has learned.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 8, 2025
The Nuggets, I'm told, must make their Brooklyn trade official first before acquiring Valančiūnas. pic.twitter.com/0AVz5sVLWA
If Valanciunas does indeed bolt for European basketball, the Nuggets could be granted the ability to sign another player via the NBA's mid-level exception, depending on the terms of the buyout – but the clock is ticking on quality players who could fit that bill.
A Valanciunas departure would shine an even bigger spotlight on DaRon Holmes II, the Nuggets’ top pick a year ago who missed his rookie season due to injury. Holmes will be among the top storylines in Nuggets Summer League, which is underway in Las Vegas.
- Denver7 Sports' Nick Rothschild and Bradey King dished on the big week for the Nuggets' newly-minted front office – including the Valanciunas trade – and the return of Holmes in this week's edition of Talk of the Town. Hear their conversation in the video player below:
