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NBA insider Jake Fischer revealed that the Nuggets are searching for a new big man addition this offseason following Valanciunas' exit. "Denver is in need of another potential backup center after losing Jonas Valanciunas," Fischer said on Bleacher Report. "They waived him by their own decision, and he just officially signed in Lithuania. "They brought in Marvin Bagley to be a backup center, but I do still think there's some thought in Denver about finding some more frontcourt depth."
Speaking to Zalgiris TV after completing the move, Valanciunas said the process had taken time but acknowledged that the opportunity to play in Lithuania was a major factor in his decision. "The process was quite long, and we had many conversations, but Lithuania, Zalgiris, and basketball in Lithuania definitely played a big role," Valanciunas said. "The fans and what Zalgiris have been building here over the past few years also really impressed me, so I wanted to be part of it."
After spending 14 years in the NBA, Jonas Valanciunas is returning to Europe, officially joining the Lithuanian and EuroLeague team Zalgiris Kaunas. Per Zalgiris' official announcement, Valanciunas signed a 2-year deal until the end of the 2027-28 season.
Krepsinis.net: It is announced: Jonas Valanciunas is coming to Kaunas. Jonas Valanciunas: You wake up, and everything has already been decided for you—you don't even really need to make any decisions yourself 😀 Thanks, chroniclers 😀😀😀
Ian Begley: NYK was interested in Jonas Valanciunas in ‘24 offseason. "We had a lot of talks with different teams. New York (was) one of them,” he said then. NYK will have solid depth at center if Valanciunas, a former client of Leon Rose, chooses Knicks in his current free agency. He is among centers on their radar
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Adam Zagoria: Valanciunas must clear waivers before becoming an unrestricted free agent. As of right now, any NBA team can claim Valanciunas within the 48-hour window. He has a standing 2-year offer from Euroleague club Zalgiris, per source
Michael Scotto: JUST IN: The Denver Nuggets are waiving center Jonas Valanciunas, league sources told @hoopshype. He had a fully guaranteed $10 million decision today. Denver will now owe Valanciunas $2 million for the 2026-27 season. He’s averaged 12.8 points and 9.0 rebounds in 14 NBA seasons.
The expectation around the Nuggets is that they will waive Jonas Valanciunas, saving the $8 million and allowing him to hit free agency. The Nuggets are in a cap crunch this summer, and despite recent reports suggesting the front office is not as worried about it as many seemed to initially believe, they have no reason to keep Valanciunas heading into next season.
Looney remains on the Lakers' radar, sources say, as does Nuggets center Jonas Valančiūnas. The latter, remember, was a Lakers free agent target two summers ago before Valančiūnas opted to sign a multiyear deal with Washington instead. Sources say that the Lakers' interest, furthermore, is certainly welcomed by the Nuggets, who have made Valančiūnas available in trade conversations since Denver's season ended and especially in connection with the recent draft as the Nuggets explored various deals while also shopping the No. 26 overall pick.
James L. Edwards III: Knicks have a little more competition in the backup center market with the Lakers dealing Ayton. One name I’m hearing to watch for with New York if he gets waived by Denver: Jonas Valanciunas. Nuggets just added Marvin Bagley.
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Shams Charania: The Lakers will now focus on finding Walker Kessler's backup on the market -- with centers such as Andre Drummond, Jonas Valanciunas and Kevon Looney among those being considered, sources said. The Wizards took a patient approach to the start of free agency and now land a durable, reliable center to join Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr in the frontcourt.
Bobby Marks: Denver does have some wiggle room with the $10m contract or Jonas Valanciunas. $2m is guaranteed with the balance protected if not waived by 7/8
Jonas Valanciunas, who has spent 14 years playing at the highest level, said no player has impressed him more with their dedication to the game (than Nikola Jokic). "Yeah, people see one photo, some appearance somewhere, maybe they spot a guy having a beer or doing something else, and it's very easy to form an opinion. But then there's the work that goes on behind the scenes. Jokic is a perfect example of that," he said on BasketNews Off the Record podcast. "Everyone says he has a beer here and there, enjoys himself, has hobbies outside of basketball and all that. But in my 14 years as a professional, I've never seen anyone work harder."
Valanciunas described a routine built around constant improvement and preparation. "He's at the facility early in the morning, getting shots up, putting in extra work. After every game, we'd hit the weight room. Every single game. He plays 40 minutes, I play my eight, and we'd still do exactly the same workout afterward. His work ethic is something else." "Sure, maybe he has a beer in the summer, maybe you see the videos with his horses and everything else. That's his business," JV explained. "But what people don't see is the day-to-day grind. Everyone notices a video with horses, or a clip of me having a beer by a bonfire during a holiday. Yeah, I did that, and I'll probably do it again. But when it's time to work, it's time to work. That's it. You put your head down and get the job done."
