By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Denver Nuggets officially secured the services of experienced Lithuanian center Jonas Valanciunas.
The trade with the Sacramento Kings, also involving Croatian Dario Saric, was completed on Sunday.
Since the deal, Panathinaikos Aktor emerged as a potential suitor with initial rumors and a reported offer of €12 million for a three-year contract extending to a trip of Valanciunas to Greece for medical tests with the EuroLeague outfit.
The update on a complicated situation shifted a guaranteed contract of approximately $10 million for the 2025-26 season to the Nuggets, accompanied by a team option of $10 million for the 2026-27 season. On the opposite route, Saric was moved to the Kings.
Per the press release: “The Denver Nuggets have acquired center Jonas Valančiūnas from Sacramento in exchange for Dario Šarić, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Ben Tenzer, and Executive Vice President of Player Personnel Jonathan Wallace announced today.
Valančiūnas, 33, has appeared in 937 career games (848 starts) for Toronto, New Orleans, Memphis, Washington, and Sacramento, holding career averages of 13.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists while shooting 56.0% from the field and 34.1% from three in 25.1 minutes per game. Last season, the big man appeared in 81 games (21 starts) with both Washington and Sacramento, averaging 10.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists, shooting 55% from the field in 18.8 minutes per game. Among active NBA players, he currently ranks eighth in total career rebounds.
Valančiūnas, 6-11, 265, has also played in 58 career playoff games (51 starts), averaging 13.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists, while shooting 54.7% from the field in 26.3 minutes. The Lithuania native was originally selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2011 draft by Toronto and remained with his Lithuanian club, Lietuvos Rytas, for one season before joining Toronto in 2012. He was named to the 2012-13 NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
Šarić, 31, played in 16 games (four starts) during the 2024-25 season with Denver, holding averages of 3.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 13.1 minutes per game. He was originally selected with the 12th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft by Orlando and was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in a draft-night deal.”