Jonas Valanciunas Addresses Uncertain Future with the Denver Nuggets

Jonas Valanciunas Addresses Uncertain Future with the Denver Nuggets

Veteran center Jonas Valanciunas will soon find out where he will play next, acknowledging that the Denver Nuggets hold all the cards regarding his roster spot.

Speaking with PIKENROLAS (via Basketball Sphere), the 34-year-old big man explained that his immediate future relies entirely on Denver’s front-office decisions.

“Denver has the final say on my contract,” Valanciunas stated. “First of all, everything depends on whether they trade me, keep me, or not. That is their decision.”

Despite offseason rumors suggesting Valanciunas might head to Europe, Nuggets Vice President of Basketball Operations Ben Tenzer expressed confidence that the center will remain with the team for the upcoming season.

The Contract Situation: A $10 Million Decision

Valanciunas landed in Denver via a trade, carrying a three-year, $30.2 million contract. The upcoming 2026-2027 season marks the final year of that deal, which pays him $10.0 million.

However, the Nuggets have a tight deadline to make a decision:

• The Deadline: July 8

• The Guarantee: Only $2.0 million of his $10.0 million salary is currently guaranteed.

• The Flexibility: Denver can cut ties before July 8 to save cap space.

Valanciunas noted that the team is evaluating its broader roster strategy, hinting that major changes could be on the horizon.

“Right now, I think their bigger question is what they will do with the roster in general, who stays and who leaves,” Valanciunas said. “As far as I understand, only Nikola Jokic is untouchable, while everyone else can be traded. I think everything will be clear in the first week of July, maybe even earlier.”

Backup Options and Past Season Performance

If the Nuggets decide to move on, Valanciunas isn’t sweating it. Before being traded from the Sacramento Kings to Denver, he was reportedly preparing to sign with a club in Greece. Ultimately, he stayed in the NBA to play out his guaranteed year.

Valanciunas’s 2025-2026 Production:

• Regular Season (65 games): 8.7 PPG | 5.1 RPG | 1.2 APG

• Postseason: Role significantly reduced, averaging just 6.3 minutes per game.

If Denver releases him, the Lithuanian center already has plenty of backup plans. He confirmed that multiple teams—including two NBA franchises and one club back home in Lithuania—have already reached out to his camp.

“The conversations are ongoing, and we will make a decision when the time comes,” Valanciunas said, adding that his primary goal remains simple: “I want to play, I want to enjoy basketball, and I want to win.”