Nuggets Secure Veteran Center Jonas Valanciunas in Trade with Kings as Saric Heads to Sacramento

The Denver Nuggets have officially acquired seasoned Lithuanian center Jonas Valanciunas.

This trade, which also involves Croatian Dario Saric, was finalized on Sunday with the Sacramento Kings.

In the wake of this transaction, Panathinaikos Aktor has surfaced as a potential interested party, with preliminary rumors suggesting a €12 million offer for a three-year deal, which may lead to Valanciunas traveling to Greece for medical evaluations with the EuroLeague team.

The update surrounding this intricate scenario redirected a guaranteed contract valued at around $10 million for the 2025-26 season to the Nuggets, coupled with a team option for an additional $10 million for the 2026-27 season. Meanwhile, Saric has been sent to the Kings.

According to the official press release: “The Denver Nuggets have acquired center Jonas Valanciunas from Sacramento in exchange for Dario Saric, as announced today by Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Ben Tenzer and Executive Vice President of Player Personnel Jonathan Wallace.”

Valanciunas, who is 33 years old, has played in 937 career games (848 as a starter) for Toronto, New Orleans, Memphis, Washington, and Sacramento, boasting career averages of 13.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists while shooting 56.0% from the field and 34.1% from beyond the arc in 25.1 minutes per game. Last season, the big man participated in 81 games (21 starts) across both Washington and Sacramento, averaging 10.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists, with a shooting percentage of 55% from the floor in 18.8 minutes per contest. Among active NBA players, he currently ranks eighth in total career rebounds.

Standing at 6’11” and weighing 265 pounds, Valanciunas has also participated in 58 playoff games (51 starts), averaging 13.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists, while shooting 54.7% from the field in 26.3 minutes. Originally drafted fifth overall by Toronto in 2011, he played one season with his Lithuanian club, Lietuvos Rytas, before joining the Raptors in 2012, where he was recognized as part of the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in the 2012-13 season.

Dario Saric, at 31 years old, played 16 games (four starts) during the 2024-25 season with Denver, averaging 3.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 13.1 minutes per outing. He was initially picked 12th overall in the 2014 NBA Draft by Orlando and was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers on draft night.

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