The Denver Nuggets made one of the most expected moves of the offseason by waiving 14-year veteran big man Jonas Valanciunas, reported by ESPN's Shams Charania.
The Denver Nuggets are waiving veteran center Jonas Valanciunas, sources tell ESPN. Valanciunas is expected to receive interest from multiple NBA teams.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 8, 2026
The Nuggets traded for Jonas Valanciunas prior to the start of the 2025-26 season, and everyone assumed that it was finally the answer for the non-Nikola Jokic minutes. Finally, a center who could hold their own for the Nuggets when the three-time MVP left the court. Nope, he wasn't. Valanciunas wasn't the answer. And it made for an easy decision for the Nuggets as they face the need to cut cap space where they can to avoid as many tax penalties as possible next year.
Valanciunas' $8 million kicker would have kicked in July 9th, guaranteeing him $10 million for the 2026-27 season. Instead, the Nuggets will eat the $2 million and use the remaining $8 million saved to sign another player or two, or three, on minimum contracts to fill out the roster.
The Nuggets even went out and signed Marvin Bagley III as the next backup to Jokic, almost ensuring that Valanciunas would either be traded or waived if no other team would take on his contract for next season.
Valanciunas had more or less played his way out of the rotation
Keeping Valanciunas didn't make sense from a basketball standpoint, either. Valanciunas was bad on defense, and he mostly disappeared from the lineup in March until injuries forced him back in again. And in the playoffs, he was a non-factor, not even playing in two of the games.
There was no reason for the Nuggets to hang onto Valanciunas, especially with the addition of Bagley.
But there shouldn't be a tear shed for Big Val, because he does have other options in his home country of Lithuania lined up. He'll likely get a starring role over there instead of a backup role at best with the Nuggets. So it kind of works out for him in the end.
It certainly closes the door on Valanciunas Nuggets career, but it opens the door up for the next man up in the backup center race.
Marvin Bagley III, come on down, it's your turn to back up Jokic
Bagley gets the next crack at backing up Jokic, and he should do at least as good, and probably better than Valanciunas. Bagley is much more athletic, a great finisher around the rim, and should be a better defender.
The writing was on the wall for a while with Valanciunas and the Nuggets. Now, it's official. Good luck in your next endeavor, Jonas!
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