logo
Jonas Valanciunas confirms he will play for Denver this season

Jonas Valanciunas confirms he will play for Denver this season

Yahoo6 days ago
Jonas Valanciunas' flirtation with Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos was real and they reportedly were willing to offer three years, $13 million (one of the largest contracts on the continent).
The problem for Valanciunas: He was already under contract to the Denver Nuggets, who had traded for his rights from the Sacramento Kings. Denver had no intention of buying out Valanciunas, he is the best backup center Nikola Jokić will have ever had and a key part of the depth the team added over the summer to chase another ring. Valanciunas confirmed he is committed to the Nuggets next season, speaking to Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews.com.
"I want to clear the air about my playing situation next season now that Denver has made their decision to keep me. The idea of playing for Panathinaikos, closer to home, was very exciting to me, but that will have to wait. I am fully committed to honoring my contract with the Nuggets this season and will give it my all to compete for a championship."
Valanciunas is under contract for $10.4 million for this season, and he has a non-guaranteed $10 million for the 2026-27 season. After Denver made the trade to acquire the veteran center from Lithuania, general manager Ben Tenzer said he spoke with Valanciunas and his representatives, stating that they wanted him to play with them this season and that there was no intention to buy him out. (For Valanciunas to play in Greece next season would have required Denver to agree to a buyout to make him a free agent, FIBA rules do not permit a player under contract in one league to just sign a contract with another.)
Valanciunas is critical to Denver's plans next season, which is why there was never a plan to buy him out of his contract. For a number of years — including during their championship run in 2023 — the Nuggets have fallen off sharply in the minutes Jokic was off the court. Last season, the Nuggets had a -8.5 net rating in the non-Jokic minutes, and in the 2023 championship season, it was even worse, at -9.9. Valanciunas helps change that because he is a skilled big man who can serve as the hub of an offense, executing dribble handoffs while midrange shots (inside 15 feet). Paired with Peyton Watson, Tim Hardaway Jr., Bruce Brown, and the emerging Julian Strawther, the Nuggets have real depth for a change.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Knicks reserve guard could see increased role next season
Knicks reserve guard could see increased role next season

Yahoo

time16 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Knicks reserve guard could see increased role next season

New York Knicks guard Miles McBride could be the biggest beneficiary of Mike Brown being hired as the team's new head coach. Per SNY's Ian Begley, McBride could see an increased role compared to his role under Tom Thibodeau. 'We don't know how Knicks coach Mike Brown will deploy his rotation. But it's logical to think that McBride will play significant minutes with Clarkson and Yabusele,' Begley said. In the past, it would appear at times as though McBride wasn't being utilized properly in the rotation. Now with Brown, it's possible that McBride could see an increased role in the offense. McBride has the ability to play in several different types of lineups for the Knicks thanks to his ability to space the floor and defend at a high level. McBride himself spoke with Begley about sharing the second unit with new acquisitions Jordan Clarkson, and Guerschon Yabusele. 'Obviously (Clarkson's) a vet in this league. He's done great things,' McBride said, per Begley. 'Obviously, he can fill up the stat sheet and really score the ball at a high level. And obviously adding Geurschon as well. I think everybody's seen what he did in the Olympics and carrying that momentum into (last season), so we're really excited about him.' 'I feel like we're going to play fast, we're going to be using a lot of different guys,' he added. 'If you saw the Finals, they (Oklahoma City and Indiana) had a lot of depth on both teams, and I feel like we're all NBA guys. So if you're on the team, I feel like you're able to help out.' McBride averaged a career-best 9.5 points per game last season off the bench, and shot 37 percent from three-point range. Next year could be a breakout season for him should he get an increased role.

Chloe Kelly ‘so proud to be English' after latest Lionesses heroics in Euro 2025 final
Chloe Kelly ‘so proud to be English' after latest Lionesses heroics in Euro 2025 final

Yahoo

time16 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Chloe Kelly ‘so proud to be English' after latest Lionesses heroics in Euro 2025 final

Lionesses hero Chloe Kelly declared she was 'proud to be English' after her latest heroics delivered Euro 2025 glory in Basel. Kelly converted the winning penalty in the shootout win over Spain, three years after scoring the winning goal in extra time in the Euro 2022 final at Wembley. The 27-year-old admitted she almost quit football in January after being frozen out by Manchester City but has enjoyed a redemptive spell on the pitch. Kelly scored a penalty to keep England alive in the quarter-final shootout over Sweden before converting a penalty rebound in the semi-final win over Italy. Kelly told the BBC: "I am so proud of this team. So grateful to wear this badge. So proud to be English. "I was cool, I was composed. I knew I was going to hit the back of the net. I don't miss penalties twice. "Unbelievable. All the staff behind us and Sarina Wiegman - she has done it again. Unbelievable. "It is going to be crazy. I hope the whole of England comes out to support us and shows their love to these girls as they deserve it." Kelly had been dropped by Wiegman in February following her exit from Manchester City but quickly regained her place. And she gave Wiegman credit for allowing her the opportunity to regain her spot in the squad following her loan move to Arsenal. 'She is bloody amazing. She is an incredible woman,' Kelly said. 'What she has done for this country, we should all be so grateful for. 'What she has done for me, individually, she gave me hope, when I probably didn't have any. She gave me an opportunity to represent my country again. 'I knew that I had to get game time, because representing England is never a given. But what she has done for the women's game, not just in England, she has taken it to a whole other level. 'The work doesn't go unnoticed from the staff that are behind her, they are incredible. people and I am so grateful to have worked with such amazing staff members.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store