Denver Nuggets Confirm Jonas Valanciunas Trade from Sacramento Kings

The Denver Nuggets officially completed a trade with the Sacramento Kings, acquiring veteran center Jonas Valanciunas in exchange for Dario Saric. Despite rumors of Valanciunas considering a lucrative offer from Greek club Panathinaikos, the Nuggets expect him to honor his NBA contract, which includes one fully guaranteed year worth $10.3 million. Valanciunas, who averaged 10.4 points and 7.7 rebounds last season, is expected to play a key role as the backup to Nuggets star Nikola Jokic, addressing a long-standing need for the team. The trade also provides salary relief for Sacramento, as Saric's contract expires next summer. If Valanciunas opts to play in Europe, a contract buyout would likely be negotiated, with the Nuggets potentially using the freed-up salary to find a replacement. This move is part of a broader retooling effort by Denver's new front office, which also includes acquiring forward Cameron Johnson and signing free agents Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr.