In a move to shore up one of the league’s weaker frontcourts, the Denver Nuggets have officially acquired center Jonas Valanciunas from the New Orleans Pelicans. ESPN was the first to report the contract on July 1. It seeks to provide star player Nikola Jokic with additional help in cultivating leads and fending off runs with him off the court. Last year, Valanciunas was the breakout candidate for both the Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards. He was productive too — averaging a terrific 10.4 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.
Valanciunas has a ton of playoff experience to bring to the Nuggets, as he’s played in almost every role on the depth chart during his career. Keenan Allen, as he heads into the new season, is set to rake in a hefty $10.3 million. Only this year of his contract is guaranteed. This financial framework gives Denver a lot of runway as they figure out the rest of their roster.
The Nuggets are reportedly out looking for a stable center, still. More importantly, they need someone to step in and maintain that level of performance when Jokic sits. This is where Valanciunas fits in, filling that lack of strong scoring with rebounding support. Last season with the Kings and Wizards, he demonstrated his ability to contribute effectively, making him an attractive option for the Nuggets’ roster.
Beyond his NBA obligations, Valanciunas has garnered significant overseas interest, most notably from Greece’s Panathinaikos. The Greek club has been going all out to tempt him to leave the NBA. This plan is making a community gain the trade even more high-stakes. Valanciunas’ choice to sign with the Nuggets speaks strongly to his desire to stick around and keep playing in the NBA.
This trade represents a promising leap of faith for both Valanciunas and the Nuggets. Whatever the reasons, they are very much in it and committed to augmenting their current lineup for next year. With this impressive acquisition, Denver hopes this will make them more competitive in a tough Western Conference.
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