The Denver Nuggets have, by and large, enjoyed a memorable 2025 offseason run. The team has finalized its coach of the future, taking the interim tag off David Adelman following a spirited playoff run with finite bench depth. Denver has also solidified its front office leadership infrastructure, with vice president of basketball operations Ben Tenzer and executive vice president of player personnel Jon Wallace slated to report to team owner and president Josh Kroenke.
Jonas Valanciunas Turns Heads with First Response to Nuggets Trade originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Denver Nuggets have, by and large, enjoyed a memorable 2025 offseason run. The team has finalized its coach of the future, taking the interim tag off David Adelman following a spirited playoff run with finite bench depth. Denver has also solidified its front office leadership infrastructure, with vice president of basketball operations Ben Tenzer and executive vice president of player personnel Jon Wallace slated to report to team owner and president Josh Kroenke.
Denver has also refurbished a lot of its roster around three-time MVP center Nikola Jokic, point guard Jamal Murray, power forward Aaron Gordon, and shooting guard Christian Braun.
The Nuggets traded away pricey starting small forward Michael Porter Jr. to the Brooklyn Nets for the far cheaper Cameron Johnson, then signed reserve wings Bruce Brown (a critical contributor to the Nuggets' 2023 title team) and Tim Hardaway Jr. Denver also flipped non-rotation big man Dario Saric to the Sacramento Kings for talented two-way big Jonas Valanciunas, with the intention of having Valanciunas serve as Jokic's backup.
Controversy has surrounded Valanciunas' future in Denver, however. EuroLeague squad Panathinaikos reportedly tendered a three-year, 12 million Euro deal to the 6-foot-11 vet this summer, but he would need to be bought out of his remaining contract with the Nuggets for that to happen.
While talking to reporters ahead of his EuroBasket tilt for his native Lithuania this summer, Valanciunas did what he could to dodge questions about his ultimate fate in 2025-26.
Per Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops, the 33-year-old vet did what he could to dance around Nuggets-themed questions.
“Let’s talk about the national team,” Valanciunas said when asked about the Panathinaikos/Nuggets controversy, clearly eager to steer the conversation to safer terrain. “It’s always fun to play for Lithuania, to participate in training camps, to put on the national team’s jersey.”
Valanciunas offered up a strange response when asked about his thoughts on Denver.
“I’ve been there. I’ve played several times,” Valanciunas acknowledged about his experience with the Nuggets as an opponent, in essentially a brilliant non-answer. “When I am sure [about where I'll be playing next season], I will talk about everything. You will be the first to know, for sure."
Related: Nuggets' Backup Plan Revealed Amid Jonas Valanciunas Rumors
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Basketball
