The Jonas Valanciunas saga is one step closer to resolution.
The trade that brings the veteran center to Denver and sends Dario Saric to Sacramento was made official Sunday afternoon. Now, the Nuggets and Valanciunas need to figure out what comes next.
The Lithuanian and Greek club Panathinaikos had mutual interest in a move to Europe, but Valanciunas still has one guaranteed year left on his NBA contract. He can’t sign with a new team, regardless of location, when still under contract with an NBA team. The 33-year-old spoke cryptically about his future at an event in Lithuania last week.
If Valanciunas still prefers playing in Greece over serving as Nikola Jokic’s backup, the two sides could reach a contract buyout. Part of that buyout would likely include Valanciunas forfeiting some of his $10.4 million salary for next season. Whatever money given back in the buyout would be available for the Nuggets to use to find a potential replacement.
Valanciunas played in 81 games last season between Washington and Sacramento, averaging 10.4 points and 7.7 rebounds. Saric played in just 16 games in his only season with the Nuggets and did not appear in the playoffs.
The trade provides Sacramento some salary relief, as Saric’s $5.4 million contract expires next summer, while Denver addressed its back-up center role that’s long been an issue, as long as Valanciunas is a Nugget next season.