Nuggets, what should they do with Valanciunas? “There’s not much time left”
Can Jonas Valanciunas still make a difference in the NBA? The Denver Nuggets will spend the coming weeks trying to answer that question before shaping the direction of their offseason
A valuable asset who has yet to be fully utilized, or a great player approaching the inevitable twilight of his career?
The Denver Nuggets have until July 8 to decide whether to continue their partnership with Jonas Valanciunas. It’s not a decision to be taken lightly, but one that requires careful evaluation. With franchise cornerstone Nikola Jokic set to turn 33, Denver cannot afford to be without a reliable backup capable of helping the superstar reach the playoffs in the best possible condition.
A clause in the Lithuanian center’s contract gives the front office time to weigh its options. If the two sides part ways, Valanciunas would be guaranteed only $2 million of the $10 million owed to him next season, the final year before he would automatically enter free agency.
The verdict from the 2025-26 NBA season suggests that the additional support Denver hoped to receive behind its three-time MVP never arrived with the desired consistency. Valanciunas still possesses a polished touch, but his rim protection and athletic impact have inevitably been affected by the passing years.
No one understands that reality better than the former Memphis Grizzlies center himself, who offered a candid assessment while speaking to reporters in Lithuania.
They have to decide what direction the team is going to take and what they want to do. The season didn’t go the way we expected because we didn’t live up to expectations. I think they have some decisions to make. Everything should become clearer around the Draft. There’s not much time left
Jonas Valanciunas
Meanwhile, rumors from the European market continue to grow louder. Last year, the Nuggets won a lengthy recruiting battle with Panathinaikos, while more recent interest has reportedly come from Zalgiris Kaunas, a club Valanciunas follows closely and whose EuroLeague progress he has openly admired.
The decision now rests with Denver, which has learned firsthand how a lack of frontcourt depth can impact postseason competitiveness. The feeling that the Draft alone may not be enough to close the gap with the depth of Oklahoma City and San Antonio could ultimately influence the future of the Lithuanian veteran as well.