The Denver Nuggets’ offseason just got a little louder. Jonas Valanciunas, the veteran center brought in last year to spell Nikola Jokic, is making it clear the ball is in Denver’s court — and the clock is ticking.
Valanciunas carries a non-guaranteed $10 million salary for next season, and he’s not hiding the fact that his future with the franchise hinges on what the front office does in the next few weeks. Speaking ahead of free agency, he didn’t mince words.
“They have to decide for themselves what direction the team will take and what they want to do,” Valanciunas said, per BasketNews via Hoopshype. “The season was not what we expected because we definitely did not meet expectations. I think they have decisions to make. Everything should become clear around the NBA Draft. There is not much time left.”
That’s a direct challenge to general manager Calvin Booth and the Nuggets’ brass. Denver’s season ended earlier than hoped, with a first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves — a series where Valanciunas struggled to stay on the floor in key moments.
A Complicated Fit Behind Jokic
Valanciunas arrived from the New Orleans Pelicans before the season, and at one point there was serious talk he might head overseas to Europe instead of honoring his NBA contract. He ultimately chose Denver, giving the Nuggets a massive, skilled backup who could absorb minutes and provide playmaking at the center position. For stretches, it worked. He offered size and veteran savvy that few teams can match off the bench.
But the playoffs exposed his limitations. Against Minnesota’s athletic front line, Valanciunas was a liability in space and couldn’t keep up with the Timberwolves’ switching defense. That’s the kind of matchup problem that could haunt Denver’s decision-making this summer.
Roster Moves Looming
The Nuggets have other financial knots to untangle. According to reports, Denver will likely explore ways to offload contracts like Christian Braun’s and possibly Cam Johnson’s — though moving those deals won’t be easy. Every dollar matters for a team pushing against the luxury tax while trying to build a contender around Jokic in his prime.
NBA free agency officially opens June 30, but the real action starts at the draft on June 24-25. That’s when teams make their first big bets for next season. For Valanciunas, that timeline feels like a deadline, not a starting point.
Whether Denver keeps him, trades him, or simply waives that non-guaranteed salary might tell Nuggets fans everything they need to know about the front office’s appetite for change after a disappointing year. As Valanciunas put it, the decision is theirs. But he’s not waiting forever.
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