Jonas Valaninas might not even suit up for the Denver Nuggets before making his next move.
Just days after reports of a trade between the Sacramento Kings and Nuggets that would send the veteran center to Denver in exchange for Dario ari, there are now rumblings Valaninas could leave the NBA entirely.
The 33-year-old is weighing a move to Panathinaikos Athens in Greece, Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews reported Thursday.
Longtime NBA reporter Marc Stein confirmed the story, noting that a return to Europe is enticing for Valaninas, and that he could pursue a buyout to facilitate the switch.
League sources confirm that the lure of a return to Europe holds strong appeal to Jonas Valanciunas which could lead to him seeking a buyout from his NBA contract to join Panathinaikos as @Urbodo reports.
Would scuttle what seemed like such a promising addition for Denver. https://t.co/U7UAb97t9v
Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 3, 2025
Even though the trade has been agreed upon, it cannot be made official until Sunday. Valaninas was expected to give Denver much-needed depth behind three-time MVP Nikola Joki.
Valaninas has spent 13 seasons in the league, averaging 13.1 points and 9.3 rebounds per game while shooting fifty-six percent from the field and 34.1 percent from deep. Hes been a starter in 848 of his 937 career games and averaged a double-double in four consecutive seasons between 2019 and 2023.
In 2024-25, he split time between the Wizards and Kings, averaging 11.5 points and 8.2 rebounds with Washington before finishing the season in Sacramento.
The Nuggets trade for Valaninas was part of a bigger offseason overhaul. Denver already shipped Michael Porter Jr. and an unprotected 2032 first-round pick to Brooklyn for Cameron Johnson and signed Bruce Brown to a one-year deal.
Valaninas was drafted fifth overall in 2011 by Toronto but didnt debut in the NBA until the 2012-13 season after playing for Rytas Vilnius in Lithuania.
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