The Denver Nuggets have made a huge addition to their team, acquiring veteran center Jonas Valanciunas from the Sacramento Kings. Aside from the Dario Saric trade to Sacramento, the Nuggets didn’t make any big splashes. This decision supports their long-term goals for an effective offseason. Valanciunas, 33, provides experience and versatility to the roster. Last season, he made his mark with the Washington Wizards and Sacramento.
In terms of size, Valanciunas measures out at a statuesque 6-foot-11. Last year he averaged 10.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and two assists in 81 games. League sources say he has two years left on his NBA contract, worth over $20 million. His ability to contribute in multiple areas makes him an asset for the Nuggets as they prepare for the upcoming season.
The Nuggets’ front-office tandem of Ben Tenzer and Jonathan Wallace orchestrated the trade, emphasizing the importance of bringing in a player of Valanciunas’s caliber. Tenzer said that they’ve actually had valuable conversations with Valanciunas about what he’d like his role on the team to be.
“There’s been nothing but healthy conversations in terms of him honoring his contract and him excited to be a Nugget.” – Ben Tenzer
Valanciunas will help ease the load on star center Nikola Jokic, letting Jokic rest for stretches of games at a time. With his signing, Valanciunas merges with the Nuggets into a new stark east-west realignment. This offseason, in addition, they’ve added Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr.
From SBNation, Jonathan Wallace was very positive about Valanciunas joining the team. He seemed to suggest the emergence of Valanciunas coming sooner rather than later. That’s indicative of how badly the Nuggets want to work out the logistics of his joining their plans in Denver.
Beyond his club duties, Valanciunas is set to don the Lithuanian colors in this summer’s FIBA EuroBasket tournament. His international experience might make him even more ready to contribute from day one in Denver.
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