The Jonas Valanciunas era in Denver might be over before it ever started.
Valanciunas is considering a move to Europe, according to multiple reports Thursday afternoon. Greek club Panathinaikos Athens is prepared to offer the center a three-year contract worth $14 million, according to BasketNews.
There’s only one problem.
David Adelman adding Jared Dudley to Nuggets’ coaching staff, report says
The 6-foot-11 center still has an NBA contract worth $10.4 million for next season. For Valanciunas to move abroad, he would have to reach a buyout before signing a new contract.
For now, that’s the Kings’ problem. The agreed-upon trade that would bring Valanciunas to Denver and send Dario Saric to Sacramento can’t be formally processed until Sunday. If the trade goes through and Valanciunas still wants to play in Europe, it then becomes Denver’s problem. The impact on Denver’s salary cap situation would come down to the terms of a potential buyout. There’s little to no incentive for the Nuggets to buyout a player they just acquired.
In a similar situation last year, Sasha Vezenkov forfeited his entire $6.7 million salary in a buyout with Toronto to facilitate his own move to Olympiacos, another Greek club. If the Nuggets and Valanciunas reach a buyout, whatever amount the player gives up will be removed from Denver’s payroll. If Valanciunas follows Vezenkov’s lead and gives up his entire salary, the trade with Sacramento would effectively be a salary dump of Dario Saric’s $5.4 million salary for next season.
The Nuggets hoped the 33-year-old Lithuanian would be the answer to Denver’s years-long problem at backup center. Valanciunas has played in more than 70 games in each of the last four seasons. He averaged 10.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2 assists while starting last season with the Wizards and finishing his 13th, and potentially final, NBA season.