The proposed trade between the Denver Nuggets and the Sacramento Kings involving Jonas Valanciunas is expected to be completed this week, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line (via Twitter).
However, one key detail remains unresolved: the Nuggets have not yet committed to guaranteeing Valanciunas’s $10 million salary for the 2026/27 season.
For the upcoming 2025/26 season, the Lithuanian big man is set to earn $10.395 million.
Valanciunas had previously expressed a desire to return to Europe, specifically to play for Panathinaikos, his former team.
Despite that, on Tuesday, he made his first public remarks since the trade news became public and sounded prepared to join the Nuggets.
“Once the trade is finalized, we’ll put together the plan for the trip to Denver,” Valanciunas said, as reported by Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews. “The team will outline how they see the situation, medicals, and all the details. That part is up to them.”
This indicates that while the financial terms for future seasons are still in negotiation, Valanciunas is open and ready to move forward with the trade and begin the next chapter of his career in Denver once the deal is officially closed.
Nuggets Notes: Holmes, Tyson, Valanciunas, MPJ https://t.co/vTX635TexK pic.twitter.com/2TyeuThwlH
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) July 10, 2025
