Jonas Valanciunas Considering Move to Greek Team Panathinaikos

Hold off on those Jonas Valanciunas Nuggets jerseys for now.

It seems the veteran center is quite possibly heading to Panathinaikos in Greece after Denver struck a deal to acquire him from Sacramento earlier this week, according to reports.

Valanciunas, who is 33 years old, has apparently been offered a three-year contract that could be around $13 million per season.

Currently, the Nuggets are set to pay him $10.395 million this season, with team options of $10 million available for 2026-27.

There’s speculation that Valanciunas might seek a way out to join the Greek team, but this could complicate things for both NBA teams involved in the trade.

The Nuggets recently acquired him by trading Dario Saric to the Kings, although this transaction won’t finalize until the new league year kicks off on July 6th.

Even with this uncertainty, Denver is likely to continue exploring other trades.

This move aims to enhance the Nuggets’ interior game, providing a solid backup for Nikola Jokic, while freeing up some future cap space as they navigate an expired deal.

Valanciunas, originally from Lithuania, played four years in Europe before making his NBA debut and was eager to join the Nuggets at first.

Yet, this new offer from the Greek team has changed the dynamics of the situation.

Sources indicate that the move could not only place him among championship contenders but also ensure greater financial security through a longer contract.

However, as indicated in the Denver Post, Valanciunas technically cannot head to the Euroleague just yet, as the Nuggets still hold his rights.

There’s a possibility of reaching an agreement for a contract adjustment, close to what he’s being offered, but Denver could also decline his options for the coming season.

A significant worry for the Nuggets is that even though Al Horford hasn’t confirmed a deal, quality centers are in short supply at the moment.

This offseason has already been impactful for Denver, as they traded Michael Porter Jr. for Cam Johnson after their playoff exit against the Thunder in seven games.

Valanciunas has played for five different teams throughout his 13-season career, most recently averaging 10.4 points and 7.7 rebounds for the Kings and Wizards last year, and he holds a career average of 13.1 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.