Jonas Valanciunas Secures Second-Year Contract Commitment in Denver
In a recent interview with BasketNews, Jonas Valanciunas shed light on his future with the Denver Nuggets. The Lithuanian centre has been the subject of interest from Greek giants Panathinaikos, but as of now, he is expected to honor his existing contract with the Nuggets.
The Nuggets, who view Valanciunas as an ideal backup for star centre Nikola Jokic, have reportedly informed the player of their expectations. Valanciunas, however, has been cautious in his comments, stating that he will wait for the trade to be finalized before making any decisions.
The contract in question has two years remaining, with a fully guaranteed year for 2025-26 and a non-guaranteed year for 2026-27. The agreement also includes a second-year guarantee, according to reports.
Panathinaikos made a strong offer of 12-million euros for Valanciunas, but the Nuggets have made it clear that they will not release him from his contract without a buyout agreement. The centre did not mention the name of the EuroLeague team interested in his services during the show.
Valanciunas visited Athens last week to discuss the offer from Panathinaikos and perform medical tests. However, he has since stated that the details of his stay with the Denver Nuggets will be outlined by the team. The centre is planning a trip to Denver after the trade is finalized, but there is no update on a potential contract extension with the Nuggets at this time.
The 2025 B8 Summit, held in Vilnius, Lithuania, was the venue where Valanciunas made the aforementioned statement about his future with the Denver Nuggets. The centre is yet to clarify his long-term plans, stating that everything will be clear once the first game is played.
Sources: [1] ESPN [2] NBA.com [3] BasketNews
Joas Valanciunas, currently under contract with the NBA's Denver Nuggets, has been a target for EuroLeague team Panathinaikos, who reportedly offered a 12-million euro deal. However, Valanciunas has yet to make a decision on his future, especially considering the strong backing he has from the Nuggets as a valuable backup for star centre Nikola Jokic.
