<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/denver-nuggets/eurobasket-news-jonas-valanciunas-greece-admission-qf-loss');   ga('set', 'title', 'Jonas Valanciunas makes honest Greece admission after QF loss');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Veteran-center-Jonas-Valanciunas.jpg"><figcaption>Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Jonas Valanciunas makes honest Greece admission after QF loss</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-09T17:43:49-07:00">September 9th, 5:43pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-09T17:43:49-07:00">September 9th, 5:43pm</time><address><a>David Yapkowitz</a>David Yapkowitz is an NBA Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a credentialed reporter based in Los Angeles who covers the NBA/WNBA, NCAA/NCAAW and boys/girls high school basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Denver Nuggets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>During the quarterfinals of EuroBasket this week, Greece punched their ticket to a semifinal matchup against Turkey after defeating Denver Nuggets big man Jonas Valanciunas and Lithuania.</p><p>Jonas Valanciunas led the way for Lithuania in the loss with 24 points and 15 rebounds, and after the game he spoke about the EuroBasket matchup and <a href="https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-eurobasket-2025/news/giannis-greece-overcome-lithuania-for-first-semi-final-in-16-years" rel="noopener">how tough Greece was overall</a>, as per FIBA.</p><p>“Tonight was a battle. Both teams battled until the end. They were stronger. They were better than us. I was just happy we fought until the end, no matter what. It was a good fight,” Valanciunas said.</p><p>Valanciunas was the only NBA player on Lithuania’s EuroBasket roster, although they did have Azuolas Tubelis who was in 2023-24 training camp with the Philadelphia 76ers. On the other hand, it was Greece’s NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo who powered his team into the semifinals for the first time since 2009.</p><p>Antetokounmpo poured in a game-high 29 points, six rebounds, two assists, four steals and one blocked shot in 32 minutes. He was accompanied by his brothers Kostas, and Thanasis who recently re-signed with the Milwaukee Bucks after injury recovery.</p><p>Now that Lithuania has been eliminated from EuroBasket, Valanciunas can prepare for the upcoming NBA season with the Nuggets. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-news-welcome-jonas-valanciunas-kings-trade-becomes-official">Nuggets acquired the veteran big man in an offseason trade</a>, and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-news-jonas-valanciunas-fully-commits-denver-amid-panathinaikos-rumors">he will play for the team this upcoming year after speculation</a> that he wanted to return overseas.</p><p>This past season, Valanciunas split time between the Washington Wizards and Sacramento Kings. He appeared in a total of 81 games, including 21 starts, at a little over 18 minutes per game. He averaged 10.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists with splits of 55 percent shooting from the field, 21.6 percent shooting from the three-point line and 87.9 percent shooting from the free-throw line.</p><p>The Nuggets’ acquisition of Valanciunas was one of the better moves of the offseason as the team looks to strengthen their roster and get back to being a title contender.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Jonas Valanciunas makes honest Greece admission after QF loss

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-news-jonas-valanciunas-fully-commits-denver-amid-panathinaikos-rumors');   ga('set', 'title', 'Jonas Valanciunas fully commits to Nuggets after Panathinaikos rumors');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Veteran-center-Jonas-Valanciunas.jpg"><figcaption>Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Jonas Valanciunas fully commits to Nuggets after Panathinaikos rumors</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-21T08:37:10-07:00">July 21st, 8:37am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-21T09:55:44-07:00">July 21st, 9:55am</time><address><a>Alex House</a>Alex House is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NBA, and MLB for ClutchPoints. He grew up in a New York sports-heavy region in Connecticut and earned his journalism degree at the University of Rhode Island. His in-depth knowledge of two of the most passionate and raucous fan bases in the country gives him a truly unique writing voice.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Denver Nuggets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After much speculation, it appears the Denver Nuggets will indeed have an experienced and intriguing center to back up superstar Nikola Jokic next season. Despite being heavily linked to Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos, Jonas Valanciunas is <a href="https://x.com/Urbodo/status/1947315600931373150" rel="noopener">declaring his allegiance</a> to the team currently slated to pay his salary.</p><p>“I want to clear the air about my playing situation next season now that Denver has made their decision to keep me,” the Lithuanian big man told BasketNews.com’s Donatas Urbonas. “The idea of playing for Panathinaikos, closer to home, was very exciting to me, but that will have to wait. I am fully committed to honoring my contract with the Nuggets this season and will give it my all to compete for a championship.”</p><p>This is huge news for <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-news-denver-has-no-concerns-about-jonas-valanciunas-situation">a Denver team that handpicked Valanciunas</a> to occupy a valuable spot on its bench. With top free-agent big man <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/warriors-rumors-marc-stein-insists-dubs-will-sign-these-2-players-free-agency">Al Horford expected to head out West</a>, the reshaped front office probably did not have an appealing alternative on the table if the 33-year-old decided to play overseas. Nuggets fans can now breathe a little easier and revel in an active and potentially difference-making offseason.</p><p>While Denver’s headlining move of the summer is undoubtedly <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-news-michael-porter-jr-films-goodbye-nets-trade">trading Michael Porter Jr.</a> and a future first-round draft pick to the Brooklyn Nets for Cameron Johnson, the organization also added crucial depth to its bench. Signing Tim Hardaway Jr. and old friend Bruce Brown Jr. adds supplemental scoring and versatility, respectively, but one cannot overlook the importance of acquiring Jonas Valanciunas.</p><h2><b>Nuggets need a big-man boost behind their cornerstone</b></h2><p>The Nuggets’ offense was historically feeble when 2023 Finals MVP and future Hall of Famer Nikola Jokic was off the floor, and a lack of frontcourt reinforcements was part of the reason why. Although DeAndre Jordan served his role, he can only do so much at this stage of his career. This squad could use someone who can pack an offensive punch inside while the Serbian juggernaut is resting. If his track record holds true, Valanciunas should be up to the task.</p><p>The No. 5 pick in the 2011 NBA Draft averaged 10.4 points and 7.7 rebounds in 18.8 minutes per game across his time with the Washington Wizards and Sacramento Kings last season. He is inconsistent on defense, but this veteran center can still exert a strong post presence and ease some of Jokic’s massive burden.</p><p>Denver’s supporting cast has been a popular taking point since it won the championship. A thin second unit has struggled to boost the team to its top-tier past, and executive vice president of basketball operations Ben Tenzer and executive vice president of player personnel Jon Wallace seemingly believe that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-news-denver-pushing-jonas-valanciunas-trade-kings">trading for Valanciunas</a> can help solve that glaring issue.</p><p>Considering the Nuggets pushed the eventual championship-winning Oklahoma City Thunder to a Game 7 in the Western Conference Semifinals, it is plausible to think that they are now better equipped to vie for another NBA crown. Jonas Valanciunas may think the same following his latest decision to stay in the Mile High City.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Jonas Valanciunas fully commits to Nuggets after Panathinaikos rumors

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-news-denver-has-no-concerns-about-jonas-valanciunas-situation');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nuggets have ‘no concerns’ about Jonas Valanciunas’ situation');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Jonas-Valanciunas-17-against-the-Phoenix-Suns-at-Footprint-Center.jpg"><figcaption>© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Nuggets have ‘no concerns’ about Jonas Valanciunas’ situation</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-18T12:55:50-07:00">July 18th, 12:55pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-18T12:56:23-07:00">July 18th, 12:56pm</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Denver Nuggets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-news-welcome-jonas-valanciunas-kings-trade-becomes-official">Denver Nuggets remain confident</a> that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-news-david-adelman-breaks-silence-jonas-valanciunas-trade">newly acquired center Jonas Valanciunas will suit up</a> for the franchise this upcoming season despite recent uncertainty surrounding his future.</p><p>According to Brendan Vogt of DNVR Nuggets, Nuggets vice president of basketball operations Ben Tenzer addressed the situation during a recent media session, emphasizing that the organization has no doubts about Valanciunas’ commitment to honoring his contract.</p><p>“Nothing but healthy conversations about him honoring his contract and him excited to be a Denver Nugget,” Tenzer said, according to Vogt. He also stated that there are “no concerns” about Valanciunas not playing for the team.</p><p>The comments come amid speculation that the 33-year-old Lithuanian big man might <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-rumors-marc-stein-responds-jonas-valanciunas-comments-panathinaikos-owner">consider leaving the NBA for a EuroLeague deal with Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos Athens</a>. Reports earlier this month suggested Valanciunas was weighing a three-year, €12 million offer from the EuroLeague club. However, Denver has consistently signaled confidence that Valanciunas will remain with the team.</p><p>Valanciunas was officially acquired from the Sacramento Kings on Monday in a trade that sent forward Dario Saric to California. While the deal had been agreed upon earlier in the offseason, it became official this week. Shortly after the announcement, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-news-jonas-valanciunas-makes-promise-his-future-status">Valanciunas offered a cryptic comment</a> to Lithuanian media regarding his future plans.</p><h2><b>Jonas Valanciunas stays vague as Nuggets remain confident in his commitment</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Jonas-Valanciunas_61a71a.jpg"><figcaption>Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>“When I am sure, I will talk about everything. You will be the first to know, for sure,” Valanciunas said.</p><p>That statement followed an earlier appearance at the 2025 B8 Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, where he declined to provide clarity about his plans, instead stating, “We’ll only find out when the first game is played. Everything will be clear.”</p><p>Despite the vague public remarks, Denver’s front office appears unshaken. Tenzer’s public assurance reinforces the organization’s belief that Valanciunas will fulfill his contractual obligations. He is set to earn $10.4 million this season, with a $10 million team option for 2026–27.</p><p>The Nuggets traded for Valanciunas to strengthen their frontcourt depth behind two-time MVP Nikola Jokic. Valanciunas brings 13 years of NBA experience, with career averages of 13.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. Last season, he split time between the Washington Wizards and Sacramento Kings, averaging 10.4 points and 7.7 rebounds across 81 games.</p><p>Denver is coming off a second-round playoff loss to the eventual NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games. The addition of Valanciunas was part of a broader effort to retool the roster and add size and experience in the paint.</p><p>As of Friday, Valanciunas has yet to make a definitive public commitment to Denver, but the Nuggets continue to project confidence that he will report and contribute to the team’s 2025–26 campaign.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nuggets have ‘no concerns’ about Jonas Valanciunas’ situation

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-news-david-adelman-breaks-silence-jonas-valanciunas-trade');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nuggets HC David Adelman breaks silence on Jonas Valanciunas trade');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Nuggets-news-David-Adelman-breaks-silence-on-Jonas-Valanciunas-trade.jpg"><figcaption>Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Nuggets HC David Adelman breaks silence on Jonas Valanciunas trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-15T08:58:04-07:00">July 15th, 8:58am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-15T14:39:02-07:00">July 15th, 2:39pm</time><address><a>Yasmin Edañol</a>Yasmin D.G. Edañol is a PhD candidate in Chemistry at the University of the Philippines Diliman, with a background in scientific research and publishing. He brings a data-driven perspective to sports storytelling as an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints, with a focus on the NBA. Whether it's breaking down a clutch play or a stat line, he believes every great moment has a deeper layer waiting to be uncovered.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Denver Nuggets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Denver Nuggets officially welcomed Jonas Valanciunas after <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-news-welcome-jonas-valanciunas-kings-trade-becomes-official">finalizing a deal with the Sacramento Kings during NBA free agency</a>. Nuggets head coach David Adelman didn’t hold back on his praise. In his <a href="https://hoopshype.com/rumor/3755473/" rel="noopener">first public comments</a> since the trade, Adelman shared what the veteran center brings. He also explained how he plans to use him.</p><p>“He’s a bona fide, big-time center over the last decade who you can put in a bunch of different spots all over the floor,” Adelman remarked in his interview with The Denver Post, via HoopsHype. “When I say ‘point center,’ I mean someone you can play through in the half-court.”</p><p>The Nuggets don’t expect Jonas Valanciunas to operate as a fast-breaking, ball-pushing big. Instead, Adelman envisions the 6-foot-11 Lithuanian thriving in structured sets, initiating ball movement from the elbows, setting up dribble handoffs, and taking advantage of mismatches in the post.</p><p>“It’s not the assist numbers that matter to me,” Adelman continued. “It’s his ability to start ball movement through the impact of who he is. So he’s an enormous get. I’m super excited about getting him here, getting him acclimated.”</p><p>The move <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-news-david-adelman-confesses-nikola-jokic-concern-next-season">adds serious depth behind two-time MVP Nikola Jokic</a> and gives the Nuggets another creative option in their offense, particularly in five-out spacing and late-game sets where decision-making and court vision from the center position can be game-changers.</p><p>David Adelman also <a href="https://hoopshype.com/rumor/3755472/" rel="noopener">addressed the ripple effects</a> Valanciunas’ arrival will have on the rest of the Nuggets roster. The coaching staff won’t hand anything out with multiple new faces and returning contributors in the mix.</p><p>“Those guys have to compete for spots. That’s new guys included,” he emphasized. “This is going to be an open competition. I hope our young guys understand that. And all those guys will complement Jonas.”</p><p>Amid NBA Free Agency, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-news-jonas-valanciunas-makes-promise-his-future-status">Nuggets may have just pulled off</a> one of the most underrated acquisitions of the offseason. With Valanciunas in the fold, Denver’s frontcourt just got tougher and smarter. The real question now is, who will rise to the occasion and help lead the team into the next evolution of their championship pursuit?</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nuggets HC David Adelman breaks silence on Jonas Valanciunas trade

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-news-jonas-valanciunas-makes-promise-his-future-status');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nuggets’ Jonas Valanciunas makes promise about his future status after trade');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Nuggets-Jonas-Valanciunas-traded-by-the-Kings.jpg"><figcaption>John Hefti-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Nuggets’ Jonas Valanciunas makes promise about his future status after trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-14T07:50:15-07:00">July 14th, 7:50am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-14T07:50:15-07:00">July 14th, 7:50am</time><address><a>Yasmin Edañol</a>Yasmin D.G. Edañol is a PhD candidate in Chemistry at the University of the Philippines Diliman, with a background in scientific research and publishing. He brings a data-driven perspective to sports storytelling as an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints, with a focus on the NBA. Whether it's breaking down a clutch play or a stat line, he believes every great moment has a deeper layer waiting to be uncovered.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Denver Nuggets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Denver Nuggets <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-news-welcome-jonas-valanciunas-kings-trade-becomes-official">acquired center Jonas Valanciunas via trade in NBA Free Agency</a>. The Kings acquired Dario Saric in exchange. Despite the trade, his next move remains a mystery, even to the franchise. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-rumors-marc-stein-responds-jonas-valanciunas-comments-panathinaikos-owner">Speculation is mounting</a>: will the veteran center report to Denver or chase a lucrative overseas deal? The Lithuanian big man kept things vague, <a href="https://www.eurohoops.net/en/eurobasket/1847954/jonas-valanciunas-avoids-questions-panathinaikos-denver-nuggets-euroleague-nba/" rel="noopener">offering only a cryptic promise</a>, “When I am sure, I will talk about everything. You will be the first to know, for sure.”</p><p>That brief statement came after he sidestepped questions regarding his future during a recent event in Vilnius. Though the trade is official, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-news-when-jonas-valanciunas-trade-expected-become-official">Valanciunas appears in no rush to fully commit to the Nuggets</a>. He acknowledged that discussions are still unfolding between him and the team, hinting that a final decision could hinge on those talks.</p><p>The Nuggets, however, are operating as if Valanciunas is staying. They see him as a key bench piece and a steady backup to Nikola Jokic. His size and experience strengthen the frontcourt. Last season, he averaged 8.7 points and 7.0 rebounds, bringing physicality, rebounding, and inside scoring—traits that could prove vital in a deep playoff run.</p><p>Yet, the shadow of a potential move to Europe continues to loom. Reports suggest that Valanciunas has drawn strong interest from a top EuroLeague club, which could tempt him with a multi-year deal and a leading role. Still, nothing has been finalized, and the player himself remains deliberately vague.</p><p>His current contract gives the Nuggets control, but without a vocal commitment from Jonas Valanciunas, uncertainty lingers. The team’s summer planning hinges, in part, on whether he suits up for Denver or walks away before training camp begins.</p><p>For now, all the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/denver-nuggets/denver-nuggets-biggest-mistake-2025-nba-free-agency">Nuggets can do is wait until NBA Free Agency ends</a>. As Valanciunas said, once he’s ready to speak, the world will know. But until that day comes, both the Nuggets and their fans are left reading between the lines.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nuggets’ Jonas Valanciunas makes promise about his future status after trade

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-news-welcome-jonas-valanciunas-kings-trade-becomes-official');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nuggets welcome Jonas Valanciunas as Kings trade becomes official');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Wizards-center-Jonas-Valanciunas-17-is-fouled-while-driving-to-the-basket-by-Nuggets-center-Nikola-Jokic-15.jpg"><figcaption>Geoff Burke-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Nuggets welcome Jonas Valanciunas as Kings trade becomes official</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-14T07:21:50-07:00">July 14th, 7:21am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-14T07:21:50-07:00">July 14th, 7:21am</time><address><a>Rexwell Villas</a>Rexwell Villas is an experienced sports writer covering a variety of sports, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and college football. He's a Communications Arts graduate from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines, and he claims to have JR Smith's conscience with his shot selection. He has won a basketball, a baseball, and a football championship in fantasy all within a year.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Denver Nuggets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Veteran NBA big man Jonas Valanciunas is officially with the Denver Nuggets. The Lithuanian star was traded in the offseason by the Sacramento Kings to Denver in a one-on-one swap with forward Dario Saric.</p><p>The Nuggets have also <a href="https://x.com/nuggets/status/1944509193698095477" rel="noopener">welcomed</a> Valanciunas to the team with a special post on social media.</p><p>“Welcome to Denver, Jonas!” read the post that also comes with a snow-capped mountain emoji and a graphic of Valanciunas in a Nuggets uniform.</p><p>The trade came through amid reports that Valanciunas is <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-rumors-marc-stein-responds-jonas-valanciunas-comments-panathinaikos-owner">being pursued by the Greek basketball club Panathinaikos</a>. That desire by Panathinaikos to get Valanciunas faces a major hurdle. After all, Valanciunas still has a live contract in the NBA, having signed a three-year contract worth $30.3 million with the New Orleans Pelicans as part of a sign-and-trade transaction with the Washington Wizards back in the summer of 2024.</p><p>As it stands, Valanciunas, who turned 33 years old last May, still has two more years left on his current deal. He has a cap hit of $10.395 million in the 2025-26 season and $10 million in the 2026-27 campaign before becoming a free agent in the summer of 2027-28.</p><p>It is also still possible for Valanciunas to ask for a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-rumors-the-guarantee-panathinaikos-received-amid-jonas-valanciunas-saga">release from the Nuggets</a> if he truly wants to take his talents to Europe rather than play a major backup role behind three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic. As long as Jokic is healthy, Valanciunas will not be the featured center on a Nuggets team that won 50 games last season.</p><p>Still, Valanciunas can be considered a notable upgrade over DeAndre Jordan, who was a Jokic backup in the previous three seasons. He played a total of 81 games for the Wizards and the Kings last season, averaging 10.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 55.0 percent from the field.</p><p>Aside from the money he stands to earn over the next two NBA seasons, another major selling point for Valanciunas to honor his contract and stay in the league is the possibility of winning a ring. The Nuggets won an NBA title in 2023 and remain viewed as a serious contender for the Larry O’Brien Trophy so long as they have Jokic on the team.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nuggets welcome Jonas Valanciunas as Kings trade becomes official

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-rumors-marc-stein-responds-jonas-valanciunas-comments-panathinaikos-owner');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nuggets rumors: Marc Stein responds to Jonas Valanciunas comments from Panathinaikos owner');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Valanciunas-during-a-game.jpg"><figcaption>John Hefti-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Nuggets rumors: Marc Stein responds to Jonas Valanciunas comments from Panathinaikos owner</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-13T10:27:27-07:00">July 13th, 10:27am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-13T10:27:27-07:00">July 13th, 10:27am</time><address><a>Jackson Stone</a>Jackson Stone is a Mercer University senior from Atlanta on track to graduate with a BA in communications. A lifelong sports lover, Jackson is a die-hard fan of all Atlanta teams. He joined ClutchPoints in 2023.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Denver Nuggets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>It’s been an interesting couple of weeks<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-rumors-insider-drops-jonas-valanciunas-contract-prediction"> for the Denver Nuggets</a> and their <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-news-when-jonas-valanciunas-trade-expected-become-official">trade target Jona Valanciunas</a>. The Nuggets initially traded Dario Saric to the Kings in exchange for Valanciunas, but then it was reported by multiple sources that Valanciunas was planning to take his talents to Europe in order to play overseas instead.</p><p>In the wake of some recent comments from the Panathinaikos owner regarding the situation, NBA insider Marc Stein attempted to <a href="https://x.com/Eurohoopsnet/status/1944299201590132833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1944299201590132833%7Ctwgr%5Ede6c05d1871c446eb13d5d4f183b920a5bc3b70e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fhoopshype.com%2Frumors%2F" rel="noopener">provide some clarity</a> for Nuggets fans.</p><p>“I saw the owner of Panathinaikos this week saying that Jonas wants to be in Greece, but we need to hear that from Valanciunas… I think he’s going to be a Nuggets player, I really do,” said Stein, per Eurohoops on X, formerly Twitter (via DNVR Sports).</p><p>Fans of the Nuggets would certainly like for Valaciunas to be a member of their team as well. Valanciunas appeared to be the final piece of what had been a highly successful offseason for the Denver franchise.</p><p>First, the Nuggets swung a trade that sent Michael Porter Jr. to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Cam Thomas. Then, the team signed former champion guard Bruce Brown as well as sharpshooter Tim Hardaway Jr. to reasoanble contracts in free agency.</p><p>By adding Valanciunas, it appeared that the team had shored up the backup center position, which had been a bit of a question mark in recent seasons as DeAndre Jordan continues to age.</p><p>However, the Valaciunas to Greece rumors hung a cloud over that rumored trade, one that still has yet to be fully resolved. However, if Stein’s report is any indication, it appears that a resolution could be coming sooner rather than later.</p><p>Valanciunas would provide the Nuggets with competent center production in the minutes that three-time league MVP Nikola Jokic is on the bench, which is something the Nuggets have desperately been after for a while now.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nuggets rumors: Marc Stein responds to Jonas Valanciunas comments from Panathinaikos owner

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-news-when-jonas-valanciunas-trade-expected-become-official');   ga('set', 'title', 'When Jonas Valanciunas trade to Nuggets is expected to become official');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Jonas-Valanciunas-1.jpg"><figcaption>Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>When Jonas Valanciunas trade to Nuggets is expected to become official</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-11T19:55:09-07:00">July 11th, 7:55pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-11T19:55:09-07:00">July 11th, 7:55pm</time><address><a>Troy Finnegan</a>Troy Finnegan is a Senior Editor and College Sports Lead at ClutchPoints. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2023 with a degree in journalism and minors in communications and sports media, as well as a critical sports studies certificate. He has had a passion for sports his entire life, and enjoys covering and writing about all sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Denver Nuggets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Denver Nuggets’ offseason overhaul is nearly complete, but they still need the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nuggets-rumors-why-jonas-valanciunas-trade-cant-happen-yet">trade with the Sacramento Kings to acquire Jonas Valanciunas</a> to officially go through. There was a bit of a hangup with Valanciunas’ contact and whether he would even be staying in the NBA, but now all signs are pointing to him being in Denver at the start of next season.</p><p>As of now, it appears that the Valanciunas trade is going to go through this weekend. Saturday is the first day that it can go through and <a href="https://x.com/TheSteinLine/status/1943842462193312245" rel="noopener">it shouldn’t take long</a> after that marker passes that the Lithuanian big man is a Nugget, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line.</p><p>As it turns out, the Nuggets had to sort out their other <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nuggets-news-michael-porter-jr-films-goodbye-nets-trade">trade with the Brooklyn Nets sending Michael Porter Jr.</a> to the Big Apple in exchange for Cam Johnson before they could proceed with the Valanciunas trade.</p><p>“I’m told that, for sequencing reasons, Denver needed additional time this week for all aspects of its Michael Porter Jr. deal to be finalized before going ahead with the Valančiūnas acquisition … all of which is expected to proceed at last this weekend,” Stein reported on X, formerly Twitter.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nuggets-rumors-the-guarantee-panathinaikos-received-amid-jonas-valanciunas-saga">Valanciunas flirted with trying to get out of this contract</a> to go overseas and play for Panathinaikos, but the Nuggets would have had to let him out of his contract in order for him to do that. Denver understandably didn’t want to do that after moving Dario Saric to Sacramento to get him, and now it looks like Valanciunas will be in Denver.</p><p>Adding the veteran center will give the Nuggets a serviceable and reliable backup to Nikola Jokic for the first time since arguably 2020 when Mason Plumlee was in the rotation. Backup center has been a major weakness for the Nuggets for multiple years now, forcing the Nuggets to overtax Jokic during the regular season and have him come into the playoffs with extra tread on the tires.</p><p>In the playoffs, Denver has been going to small lineups with Aaron Gordon at center when Jokic is on the bench. While that should still be an option for David Adelman and company, having a scorer and rebounder like Valanciunas off the bench allows them to have extra versatility in the rotation.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

When Jonas Valanciunas trade to Nuggets is expected to become official

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-rumors-insider-drops-jonas-valanciunas-contract-prediction');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nuggets rumors: Insider drops ‘100%’ Jonas Valanciunas contract prediction');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Jonas-Valanciunas-17-against-the-Phoenix-Suns-at-Footprint-Center.jpg"><figcaption>© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Nuggets rumors: Insider drops ‘100%’ Jonas Valanciunas contract prediction</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-09T10:00:40-07:00">July 9th, 10:00am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-09T10:00:40-07:00">July 9th, 10:00am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Denver Nuggets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Jonas Valanciunas appears increasingly likely to remain with the Denver Nuggets, following new comments from Altitude TV’s Vic Lombardi suggesting the veteran center will stay and have the second year of his contract fully guaranteed.</p><p>According to a report from Eurohoops, Lombardi said <a href="https://www.eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/1846585/jonas-valanciunas-denver-nuggets-nba-panathinaikos/" rel="noopener">during a recent appearance</a> on Altitude SR 92.5 that the Nuggets are confident Valanciunas will suit up for the team this upcoming season, despite speculation that he may depart for Europe.</p><p>“The Nuggets believe he will play here and time will heal,” the show stated.</p><p>When asked whether Valanciunas would remain in Denver if his second-year team option is guaranteed, Lombardi responded emphatically: “100%, because this will give him stability.”</p><p>Valanciunas, 33, was acquired earlier this offseason in a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-rumors-why-jonas-valanciunas-trade-cant-happen-yet">trade with the Sacramento Kings that sent forward Dario Saric</a> to California. He is under contract through the 2025–26 season and is set to make $10.4 million. The deal includes a $10 million team option for 2026–27, which Denver may now fully guarantee to ensure roster continuity and provide Valanciunas with added security.</p><p>Eurohoops noted that while Lombardi expressed confidence in Valanciunas’ future with the Nuggets, the broadcast also included commentary that appeared dismissive of Panathinaikos Athens, the EuroLeague club that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-rumors-obvious-reason-nuggets-block-jonas-valanciunas-greece-move">reportedly extended a lucrative three-year offer</a> to the Lithuanian big man.</p><p>“It has to be noted that the tone of the show was more than insulting to Panathinaikos,” Eurohoops wrote, “with Lombardi not pronouncing the name of the EuroLeague powerhouse the right way and a couple of inaccurate racial stereotypes being reproduced.”</p><h2><b>Jonas Valanciunas addresses rumors as insider predicts he’ll remain with Nuggets</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Denver-Nuggets-center-Jonas-Valanciunas.jpg"><figcaption>Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Valanciunas has not publicly confirmed his NBA plans, but he spoke to reporters during the 2025 B8 Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, offering a measured response to the rumors surrounding his next move.</p><p>“You can say anything. A lot has already been said, all kinds of thoughts. The bubble burst, and everyone shared what everyone thought. We’ll only find out when the first game is played. Everything will be clear,” he said.</p><p>Later, Lombardi took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to clarify his remarks and the Eurohoops coverage.</p><p>“This report has not been verified or confirmed,” Lombardi posted. “But I’m fairly confident Jonas will be in Denver later this month.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">this report has not been verified or confirmed. but i’m fairly confident Jonas will be in Denver later this month. <a href="https://t.co/wWGjbXZ9Em">https://t.co/wWGjbXZ9Em</a></p><p>— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) <a href="https://twitter.com/VicLombardi/status/1942962388388462705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>Valanciunas spent last season with the Washington Wizards and Sacramento Kings, averaging 10.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2 assists per game. Across his 13-year NBA career, he has averaged 13.1 points and 9.3 rebounds per contest, with stints on five different teams.</p><p>Denver, coming off a second-round playoff exit to the eventual NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games, added Valanciunas to bolster its frontcourt rotation. If the second year of his contract is indeed guaranteed, Valanciunas would likely fill a key backup role behind Jokic and provide veteran stability in the paint.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nuggets rumors: Insider drops ‘100%’ Jonas Valanciunas contract prediction

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-rumors-the-guarantee-panathinaikos-received-amid-jonas-valanciunas-saga');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nuggets rumors: The guarantee Panathinaikos received amid Jonas Valanciunas saga');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Jonas-Valanciunas_61a71a.jpg"><figcaption>Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Nuggets rumors: The guarantee Panathinaikos received amid Jonas Valanciunas saga</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-08T20:28:33-07:00">July 8th, 8:28pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-08T20:28:33-07:00">July 8th, 8:28pm</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Denver Nuggets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>It appeared as though the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-news-jonas-valanciunas-adds-more-mystery-denver-status-trade">Denver Nuggets were finally able to address</a> their longstanding lack of a quality backup center, but after their trade for Jonas Valanciunas with the Sacramento Kings was reported, news of his desire to return to Europe and play for Panathinaikos came out.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-news-denver-jonas-valanciunas-contract-decision-kings-trade">Nuggets have already put their feet down</a> and said that they intend to keep Valanciunas and have him honor his contract, which runs for two more seasons at around $10.2 million a year. And while Valanciunas is back in his home country of Lithuania at the moment, which only adds more fuel to the fire of the rumors that he’s signing with Panathinaikos, the Nuggets are not budging.</p><p>But it doesn’t appear as though it was Panathinaikos that approached Valanciunas with the possibility of him foregoing the final few years of his NBA contract to return to Europe. According to George Zakkas of SDNA, it was Valanciunas’ camp <a href="https://www.sdna.gr/news-english/1328191_truth-about-valanciunas-release-guarantee-panathinaikos-stance-and-nuggets" rel="noopener">that gave</a> Panathinaikos a “guarantee” that he would be released from his NBA contract despite not communicating this with the Nuggets brass.</p><p>This in turn has caused a state of confusion for both Panathinaikos and the Nuggets, two teams that would want nothing more than to have Valanciunas play for them next season. On the one hand, it’s rather ballsy from Valanciunas’ representatives to guarantee anything without coordinating this desire of theirs to their parent NBA team.</p><p>Maybe Valanciunas’ representatives were not anticipating a trade to the Nuggets and instead would have found it easier to strike an agreement with the Kings. But the Nuggets are not going to let Valanciunas go without a fight.</p><h2><b>Will Jonas Valanciunas let go of a guaranteed $20 million from the Nuggets?</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Jonas-Valanciunas-in-action.jpg"><figcaption>John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>At this point, the only reasonable compromise that Valanciunas and his camp can strike with the Nuggets should he desperately want to play for Panathinaikos is that he’ll give up the entirety of the $20.4 million <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/nba/player/_/id/8055/jonas-valanciunas" rel="noopener">he’s still owed</a> over the next two seasons.</p><p>Alas, that is such a big amount of money to give up; the <a href="https://basketnews.com/news-212201-top-10-highest-paid-euroleague-players.html" rel="noopener">highest-paid player</a> in the Euroleague last season, Sasha Vezenkov, made a relatively paltry $4.3 million (3.7 million Euros), according to Basketnews. At best, Valanciunas is about to give up around $11 or so million provided that Panathinaikos gives him a contract similar to that of Vezenkov’s.</p><p>Maybe Valanciunas is done playing backup minutes for any team, and there’s no shot he’s going to start for the Nuggets other than in games where Nikola Jokic isn’t present. And perhaps having the chance to star for a team is worth the millions of dollars he’s going to give up in any potential move to the Greek giants.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nuggets rumors: The guarantee Panathinaikos received amid Jonas Valanciunas saga

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-news-jonas-valanciunas-adds-more-mystery-denver-status-trade');   ga('set', 'title', 'Jonas Valanciunas adds more mystery to Nuggets status after trade');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/NBA-player-Jonas-Valanciunas.jpg"><figcaption>Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Jonas Valanciunas adds more mystery to Nuggets status after trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-08T11:41:19-07:00">July 8th, 11:41am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-08T12:24:09-07:00">July 8th, 12:24pm</time><address><a>Benedetto Vitale</a>Benedetto Vitale is an avid sports writer who is an expert at covering the NFL, college football, NBA, and UFC. He graduated from the University of Oregon in 2016 with a film degree but has since dedicated his career to sports writing.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Denver Nuggets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-rumors-why-jonas-valanciunas-trade-cant-happen-yet">Denver Nuggets recently traded for veteran center Jonas Valanciunas</a> to serve as a backup behind Nikola Jokic. However, since the deal was announced, it’s been surrounded by mystery, as Valanciunas verbally agreed to play for Panathinaikos in Greece. Valanciunas recently opened up about the situation, but his comments made it all the more confusing.</p><p>During a trip to Panathinaikos, the 33-year-old center <a href="https://x.com/DNVR_Nuggets/status/1942643919071695019" rel="noopener">shared a cryptic message</a> regarding his future in basketball, according to Eurohoops.Net. Jonas Valanciunas verbally committed to play overseas despite having his NBA contract still active.</p><p>“You can say anything. A lot has already been said, all kinds of thoughts,” said Jonas Valanciunas. “The bubble burst, everyone shared what everyone thinks. We’ll only find out when the first game is played. Everything will be clear.</p><p>“When the trade is finalized, we’ll come up with a plan. [The Nuggets] will express their wishes, how they think, how they see it… Medical, other details. That will depend on them.”</p><p>Despite being traded to the Nuggets from the Sacramento Kings, reports indicate that Denver has yet to make the deal official. That’s likely why there is so much confusion surrounding the status of the 6-foot-11 center. However, the organization has made it clear they want Valanciunas on the roster for next season.</p><p>Jonas Valanciunas is entering the second year of his three-year contract worth over $30 million. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-news-denver-jonas-valanciunas-contract-decision-kings-trade">Nuggets reportedly informed</a> the veteran center that they expect him to honor his contract. If that’s the case, then Valanciunas would not be able to play for Panathinaikos next season.</p><p>We’ll have to wait and see how this situation plays out. If Jonas Valanciunas does play for the Nuggets, then Denver arguably had the most successful offseason. Not only would they have improved the backup center position, but the front office also added Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. while also adding Cam Johnson.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Jonas Valanciunas adds more mystery to Nuggets status after trade

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-rumors-why-jonas-valanciunas-trade-cant-happen-yet');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nuggets rumors: Why Jonas Valanciunas trade can’t happen yet');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Jonas-Valanciunas.jpg"><figcaption>© Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Nuggets rumors: Why Jonas Valanciunas trade can’t happen yet</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-07T23:01:39-07:00">July 7th, 11:01pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-07T23:01:39-07:00">July 7th, 11:01pm</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Denver Nuggets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Denver Nuggets have had an A-plus offseason thus far, but that hasn’t come without its fair share of trials and tribulations. One such issue that the Nuggets are hoping for a resolution to as soon as possible is the Jonas Valanciunas situation. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-news-denver-pushing-jonas-valanciunas-trade-kings">Valanciunas is set to be acquired by the Nuggets</a> in a trade with the Sacramento Kings, with Dario Saric headed to the West Coast.</p><p>Alas, Valanciunas is seriously debating whether or not to sign with Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos, which would leave the Nuggets with no backup center. This has put a serious damper on Denver’s excellent wheeling and dealing thus far this offseason, and clouds their immediate future with so much uncertainty.</p><p>Nonetheless, NBA insider Marc Stein clarified that the Nuggets <a href="https://x.com/TheSteinLine/status/1942405987849142618" rel="noopener">haven’t yet</a> finalized their trade with the Kings for Valanciunas. But it’s not because they’re having cold feet. Instead, Denver is preferring to do the Valanciunas trade separate from the Cam Johnson-Michael Porter Jr. deal with the Brooklyn Nets so they can remain under the first apron and maintain flexibility for potential future deals.</p><p>All indications point to the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-news-denver-jonas-valanciunas-contract-decision-kings-trade">Nuggets finalizing the Valanciunas trade soon</a>. They made a statement saying that they intend to honor their agreement with the Kings and to do whatever it is they can to keep Valanciunas even amid strong interest from Panathinaikos.</p><p>The Nuggets may play hardball with Valanciunas and ask him to give up the entirety of his contract should he decide to return to Europe. Will Valanciunas be able to stomach losing the <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/nba/player/_/id/8055/jonas-valanciunas" rel="noopener">entire $20.4 million</a> left on his contract for the next two seasons? That is such a huge amount to completely forego that Valanciunas will need to have a good think before making his next career move.</p><h2><b>Jonas Valanciunas would be the perfect backup center for the Nuggets</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Jonas-Valanciunas_61a71a.jpg"><figcaption>Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>For years, the Nuggets have been in desperate search of a backup center who could allow the Nuggets to remain afloat even when Nikola Jokic is resting on the bench. DeAndre Jordan isn’t it anymore at this juncture of his career, Zeke Nnaji is not long for the NBA if he keeps this up, while DaRon Holmes II injured his Achilles last year. Saric, meanwhile, looked washed last season.</p><p>Valanciunas, meanwhile, showed that he’s still a double-double machine when given minutes. He’s a bruising interior presence, a sturdy cleaner on the glass, and he has a deft touch from up close. And it would be a damn shame for the Nuggets if they’re not able to keep him.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nuggets rumors: Why Jonas Valanciunas trade can’t happen yet

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-news-denver-jonas-valanciunas-contract-decision-kings-trade');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nuggets inform Jonas Valanciunas of contract decision after Kings trade');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Jonas-Valanciunas_61a71a.jpg"><figcaption>Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Nuggets inform Jonas Valanciunas of contract decision after Kings trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-06T13:19:48-07:00">July 6th, 1:19pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-06T13:47:52-07:00">July 6th, 1:47pm</time><address><a>Troy Finnegan</a>Troy Finnegan is a Senior Editor and College Sports Lead at ClutchPoints. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2023 with a degree in journalism and minors in communications and sports media, as well as a critical sports studies certificate. He has had a passion for sports his entire life, and enjoys covering and writing about all sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Denver Nuggets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Denver Nuggets have had one of the best offseasons in the NBA so far as free agency winds down and NBA Summer League gets going. The Nuggets had success on the free agent market, but they also made a pair of key trades including the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nuggets-news-denver-pushing-jonas-valanciunas-trade-kings">acquisition of Jonas Valanciunas</a> from the Sacramento Kings.</p><p>Shortly after that trade, sending Dario Saric back to Sacramento, went through, the Nuggets ran into a bit of a speed bump. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nuggets-rumors-obvious-reason-nuggets-block-jonas-valanciunas-greece-move">Valanciunas’ availability with the Nuggets quickly came into question</a> after reports that he was considering going overseas to play for Greek team Panathinaikos.</p><p>However, that would only be possible if the Nuggets allowed him to get out of his NBA contract, and now they have made a final decision on that front. The Nuggets <a href="https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/1941951951316439241" rel="noopener">are going to keep</a> Valanciunas with the expectation that he will be the backup for Nikola Jokic according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.</p><p>“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 reported on X, formerly Twitter. “Greek team Panathinaikos pursued Valanciunas in recent days.”</p><p>The Nuggets also pulled off a very high-profile trade, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/editorials/why-nuggets-michael-porter-jr-cam-johnson-trade-makes-them-2026-nba-title-favorite">sending Michael Porter Jr. to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Cam Johnson</a>. With that deal, Denver gets some salary relief and also improves their perimeter defense while maintaining most of the elite shooting that made Porter such a good fit next to Jokic and company.</p><p>With Bruce Brown returning to the Mile High City and Tim Hardaway Jr. coming in on a minimum contract, Valanciunas seemed like the final piece of the puzzle for the Nuggets to challenge at the very top of the Western Conference. They were nearly able to knock off the Oklahoma City Thunder during their championship run and seemed to improve this offseason.</p><p>Now, if Valanciunas is bought in, there’s an argument to be made that the Nuggets have patched up all of their holes this offseason and will be set for another run at title contention in 2025-26.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nuggets inform Jonas Valanciunas of contract decision after Kings trade

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-rumors-obvious-reason-nuggets-block-jonas-valanciunas-greece-move');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nuggets rumors: 1 ‘obvious’ reason Denver wants to block Jonas Valanciunas’ Greece move');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Jonas-Valanciunas.jpg"><figcaption>Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><h1>Nuggets rumors: 1 ‘obvious’ reason Denver wants to block Jonas Valanciunas’ Greece move</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-06T09:09:49-07:00">July 6th, 9:09am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-06T09:10:12-07:00">July 6th, 9:10am</time><address><a>Rishav Bhat</a>Rishav is a seasoned NBA and sports journalist and editor with over seven years of experience working for reputed organizations. A novelist first and foremost, he has written three fiction books. His high threshold of knowledge combined with his writing skills gives him the ability to write uniquely insightful pieces across basketball, soccer, cricket, lawn tennis, eSports, and a variety of other sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Denver Nuggets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Denver Nuggets find themselves embroiled in one of the most intriguing stories of the NBA offseason <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-news-denver-pushing-jonas-valanciunas-trade-kings">with their pursuit of Jonas Valanciunas</a>. While the Lithuanian veteran is eyeing a contract with EuroLeague giant Panathinaikos, he is still under an NBA contract and cannot sign unless released by the Nuggets.</p><p>Valanciunas met with Panathinaikos officials this weekend and is reportedly eyeing a $12 million deal with the Greek side. This comes after <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-news-jonas-valanciunas-denver-future-in-jeopardy-amid-euroleague-move">Denver was poised to land him as Nikola Jokic’s backup</a> after agreeing to a swap with the Sacramento Kings for Dario Saric. While the Nuggets view Valanciunas as the ideal Jokic backup, the Kings need Saric’s reduced salary in order to see through the Dennis Schroder acquisition they have already agreed upon.</p><p>In addition to him being seen as the ideal fit, the Nuggets <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/sunday-best-lots-of-fresh-nba-free?utm_source=post-email-title&amp;publication_id=392205&amp;post_id=167647434&amp;utm_campaign=email-post-title&amp;isFreemail=false&amp;r=39f60&amp;triedRedirect=true&amp;utm_medium=email" rel="noopener">also seem hard-pressed due to the lack of alternatives</a>, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line. Valanciunas potentially forfeiting even all of his $10.4 million salary would unlock Denver’s $14.1 million mid-level exception, but the pickings are slim.</p><p>The Nuggets could potentially offer Al Horford a one-year deal. However, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/warriors-rumors-marc-stein-al-horford-pursuit">Horford is expected to join the Golden State Warriors</a> despite Dub Nation only having the $5.7 million taxpayer mid-level left to offer him, with no other attractive pivots available to Denver. This has led to the Nuggets officials being currently determined to enforce Valanciunas’ contract and see him join the roster for next season, per Stein.</p><p>This is despite the player seemingly wanting to sign this three-year deal with Panathinaikos, who have already promised a celebratory reception at Athens’ Eleftherios Venizelos Airport in around 10 days. A similar situation had played out before Sasha Vezenkov’s transfer to Olympiacos last July. </p><p>The player had acquired the requisite letter of clearance after forfeiting his entire salary for the 2024-25 season, an option which remains available to Valanciunas as well. However, it is up to the Nuggets to accept, as things stand, they look poised to enforce the contract. </p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nuggets rumors: 1 ‘obvious’ reason Denver wants to block Jonas Valanciunas’ Greece move

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-news-denver-pushing-jonas-valanciunas-trade-kings');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nuggets pushing forward with Jonas Valanciunas trade with Kings');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Nuggets-trade-for-Valanciunas.jpg"><figcaption>John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><h1>Nuggets pushing forward with Jonas Valanciunas trade with Kings</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-06T07:11:03-07:00">July 6th, 7:11am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-06T07:11:03-07:00">July 6th, 7:11am</time><address><a>Rishav Bhat</a>Rishav is a seasoned NBA and sports journalist and editor with over seven years of experience working for reputed organizations. A novelist first and foremost, he has written three fiction books. His high threshold of knowledge combined with his writing skills gives him the ability to write uniquely insightful pieces across basketball, soccer, cricket, lawn tennis, eSports, and a variety of other sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Denver Nuggets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Denver Nuggets look set to move ahead with their trade for the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/denver-nuggets/jonas-valanciunas-trade-grades-for-nuggets-kings">Sacramento Kings’ Jonas Valanciunas</a> despite firm interest in him from EuroLeague’s Panathinaikos. </p><p>The Lithuanian center was in Greece earlier this weekend to meet team officials despite being <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-news-jonas-valanciunas-denver-future-in-jeopardy-amid-euroleague-move">under contract with the Kings.</a></p><p>Valanciunas is not allowed to sign with the EuroLeague team unless he is released from his NBA contract. However, the Nuggets will <a href="https://x.com/TheSteinLine/status/1941617338886861275" rel="noopener">acquire him in a swap</a> for Dario Saric and hope to convince Valanciunas to stay in the NBA as a backup to Nikola Jokic, per Marc Stein of The Stein Line.</p><p>Earlier, Panathinaikos officials had claimed that there will be an official reception for Valanciunas in the coming days in Greece. </p><p>“In about 10 days we will be here again,” a Panathinaikos spokesperson said, hinting at a celebratory reception at Athens’ Eleftherios Venizelos Airport which <a href="https://hoopshype.com/rumor/panathinaikos-confident-jonas-valanciunas-will-join-team-in-about-10-days/" rel="noopener">would be attended by “thousands of friends,”</a> per HoopsHype.</p><p>Valanciunas has agreed to a three-year, $12 million contract with Panathinaikos. However, the Nuggets intend to move ahead with the trade in a situation that is akin to how <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/raptors-news-mysterious-sasha-vezenkov-contract-situation">Sasha Vezenkov’s transfer to Olympiacos</a> played out last year in July. However, unlike the Toronto Raptors, who were willing to let Vezenkov return to Europe, the Nuggets seem intent on trying to keep Valanciunas.</p><p>Valanciunas will enter the second year of a three-year, $30 million contract he signed as part of a sign-and-trade with the Washington Wizards, and will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2026-27 season. The 33-year-old center was drafted fifth overall in the 2011 NBA Draft. In his 937 games in the NBA thus far, he has averaged 13.1 points and 9.3 rebounds, almost a double-double. </p><p>He averaged 10.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game last season, playing 81 times combined for the Wizards and the Kings. The Nuggets view the veteran as a capable backup to Jokic and seem intent on keeping him. However, Valanciunas may have already played his last game in the NBA if they fail to do so.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
8.7	7.0	1.8	0.6	0.5

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
8.7	7.0	1.8	0.6	0.5

Jonas Valančiūnas news

Jonas
Valančiūnas news