Overview
- The Denver Nuggets waived Jonas Valanciunas earlier this month, making him an unrestricted free agent and leaving a $2 million partial guarantee that the team can stretch or keep by an August 29 deadline.
- Several outlets reported that Valanciunas agreed to a two-year deal with Zalgiris Kaunas in Lithuania, while the player publicly disputed those reports on social media, leaving the transaction unresolved.
- NBA teams including the New York Knicks have been linked to Valanciunas as a potential veteran-minimum backup, but no NBA contract has been announced and any deal would likely offer fewer minutes than a European offer.
- The choice is primarily financial and role-based because a European club can offer more money and a larger on-court role, while an NBA return would likely mean a short-term, limited role on a modest salary.
- Watch two near-term developments: whether Zalgiris or other outlets publish a confirmed contract and whether Denver elects to stretch the $2 million guarantee by August 29, which would lower the 2026–27 cap hit.