The agreed-upon trade between the Nuggets and Kings that will send Jonas Valanciunas to Denver and Dario Saric to Sacramento will likely be completed this weekend, reports Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Twitter links).
According to Stein, the delay was due to the Nuggets needing additional time to finalize “all aspects” of their Michael Porter Jr./Cameron Johnson trade with the Nets. Both of those players have extensive injury histories, so that may have played a factor, though Stein didn’t explicitly say that.
Denver had to formally complete the Porter/Johnson deal before it could acquire Valanciunas due to the way the trades were structured.
Here’s more from around the Northwest Division:
- Head coach David Adelman believes Valanciunas can be the offensive hub of the Nuggets‘ second unit, as Bennett Durando of The Denver Post relays. “Point center. You can play combo guards. You don’t need a lead point guard (in lineups with Valanciunas),” Adelman said on ESPN’s Summer League broadcast. “You can play five-out offense, play off the elbow, post him up. He’s such a skilled player. … He shoots the ball better than most people realize. So that’s how I envision him. I think you have multiple combination guards. You can get away with that with a guy like that.”
- The Thunder have signed (or are signing) their top three players — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren — to maximum-salary extensions this summer. Sam Quinn of CBS Sports explains why Oklahoma City is uniquely well positioned to manage the punitive aspects of having an expensive payroll in the future, noting that the defending champions may not operate over the second tax apron until the 2027/28 season.
- The Timberwolves are hiring Jack Gentry — a former Lakers coaching associate — to be their new head video coordinator, sources tell Dave McMenamin of ESPN (Twitter link). Jack is the son of longtime NBA coach Alvin Gentry, who is currently a member of Sacramento’s front office.
nuggets should also move unused big man like zeke. teams who needs big can use those kinds of players.
They’ve been trying, no one wants to take on his contract overpay.
The yearly amount isn’t too bad but the term is ridiculous
Nuggets need Val…they have had a great offseason and put themselves right in the hunt to win a Championship…and Val would be a big part of that…
Val will be – did you miss that he said he’s playing for them next season?
Nugs need to get some draft picks back somehow. Trading zeke would just cost them their 2nd rd picks so they should just play out his contract.. atleast he doesn’t seem to be a bad locker room guy.
If they can get one of their first rounders back for Watson they should, and I think they don’t use him enough – I really like his game. Possibly the best blocker in the league from the guard position, and he’s improving offensively, even though they’re not developing him. I guess that’s just Jokić for you.
Watson isn’t really a guard, he’s a SF, and Denver (currently in win now mode) likes him. He was a 1st rd pick in his draft class and the Nuggets traded their 1st rd pick in 2027 for him, so it wouldn’t make sense to gamble on a new frp.
So now we believe Valanciunas is starting in Denver. Where are all the “it’s not always about money” crowd. Val ycan leave after this year. No issues with his 10 mill. And go play wherever he wants. If you have a signed contract. Only way you walk away is by retiring.
Denver with C Johnson are better. Now with more depth are better. Nuggets can it all next year ….
Ludicrous to think Val would walk away from that.
link to youtu.be
OKC has to pay them especially how Jalen won them a championship. But Chet’s frame won’t last long in the league and SGA is going to flop himself to an Embiid like career soon enough. But Dort, Jalen prob enough to keep them a perennial 3-5 seed.