Report: Nuggets ‘fully intend’ to have Jonas Valanciunas honor his contract

The Denver Nuggets reportedly traded for veteran center Jonas Valanciunas earlier this week.

And the deal looked amazing on paper, as the Nuggets dumped Dario Saric and added Valanciunas from the Sacramento Kings, the first legitimate backup center Nikola Jokic has had in a long time.

Then, just days after the move, things hit a snag.

Multiple reports said that Valanciunas wanted to play in Greece and leave the NBA. However, there’s this little thing called a contract, and Valanciunas has one for the next two years. In fact, he’s due a handsome $10.395 million this coming season.

And a new report on Sunday from ESPN’s Shams Charania shows the Nuggets are willing to play hardball, determined to have Valanciunas play for them this season.

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. Greek team Panathinaikos pursued Valanciunas in recent days. https://t.co/a6SGnWFeLh

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 6, 2025

It sounds like new front office executives Ben Tenzer and Jonathan Wallace aren’t messing around. They want Valanciunas  in Denver, playing behind and with Jokic as the Nuggets chase a second title in four seasons.

We’ll see how it all shakes out, but for now, Denver is telling Valanciunas to forget Greece and stay in the NBA.

Whether he agrees, or things get a little uncomfortable, remains to be seen.

(Update 2:38 p.m.) –

Another report makes it sound like Valanciunas will be a member of the Nuggets this upcoming season.

As this AM’s story explained, Jonas Valančiūnas is expected to play in Denver next season and he’s scheduled to make a public appearance Tuesday in his native Lithuania.

He indeed stopped Saturday in Athens first but the Nuggets made it clear they traded for him to keep him. https://t.co/6skWVTC4S6

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 6, 2025

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