The Sacramento Kings are preparing for the upcoming season after a middle-of-the-road campaign, finishing at 40-42 and bowing out in the NBA Play-In Tournament against the Dallas Mavericks. Following this, Doug Christie has been named the head coach, and Scott Perry takes over as the new general manager. The Kings made a notable move during the NBA Draft, trading with the Oklahoma City Thunder to select Nique Clifford and Maxime Raynaud, with the latter expected to complement Domantas Sabonis.

In a surprising turn, the Kings traded Jonas Valanciunas to the Denver Nuggets for Dario Saric to alleviate Valanciunas’ hefty salary. However, reports indicate Valanciunas might consider leaving the NBA to join Panathinaikos Athens in Greece, attracted by a €12 million offer over three years. This potential shift could significantly impact the Nuggets, who are aiming for a stronger roster next season.

The Denver Nuggets are entering a transformative offseason marked by significant coaching and roster changes. After making the surprising decision to part ways with head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth at the end of the regular season, the Nuggets did impressively well in the playoffs, taking the Los Angeles Clippers to a grueling seven-game series. The team has now appointed Adelman as the new head coach and has initiated an active phase in their roster management, highlighted by a blockbuster trade sending Michael Porter Jr. to the Brooklyn Nets for Cameron Johnson.

In addition, they signed fan-favorite guard Bruce Brown and completed a deal sending Dario Saric to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for veteran center Jonas Valanciunas. However, Valanciunas’ future remains uncertain following reports of a lucrative offer from Panathinaikos Athens in Greece, potentially signaling a return to Europe as he contemplates retirement or a buyout from his current contract.

The Denver Nuggets have been proactive in retooling their roster during the early days of NBA free agency, aiming to strengthen their lineup around star center Nikola Jokic. Following a disappointing exit in the Western Conference semifinals, the team has secured the services of Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown on one-year deals, both of whom were instrumental in their 2023 championship victory. In a bold move, the Nuggets traded Michael Porter Jr. to acquire sharpshooter Cam Johnson from the Nets.

Perhaps the most intriguing addition is Jonas Valanciunas from the Sacramento Kings. Valanciunas offers a solid backup option for Jokic and has the capability to extend the floor with his shooting. However, reports suggest he may soon conclude his NBA tenure, as he is close to accepting a lucrative three-year deal with Greek club Panathinaikos Athens. If confirmed, this could lead to a buyout from the Nuggets, sending shockwaves through the franchise.

The Denver Nuggets are facing uncertainty regarding their backup center position as Jonas Valanciunas contemplates a lucrative offer to return to EuroLeague. After acquiring Valanciunas from Sacramento, hopes were high for enhancing Nikola Jokic's minutes management. However, Valanciunas, under a $10.4M NBA contract for the upcoming season, is considering a three-year, $13M deal from Panathinaikos. The league won’t finalize the trade until Sunday, complicating matters further.

The Nuggets might not rescind the trade, as it alleviated salary burdens from Dario Saric while providing a valuable rotation player in Valanciunas. While the Nuggets hope to convince Valanciunas to stay, finding another capable center in a depleted market poses a challenge. With limited options like Al Horford and Chris Boucher, Denver is aware of the high stakes involved.

The Denver Nuggets face a potential setback as center Jonas Valanciunas is reportedly contemplating a move to Panathinaikos in Greece. The 33-year-old Lithuanian, acquired from the Kings, had expressed enthusiasm about joining the Nuggets to support Nikola Jokic's championship aspirations. However, with a lucrative three-year deal on the table worth €12 million, the allure of European basketball is strong. Valanciunas's existing contract with Denver is only partially guaranteed, prompting speculation about the franchise's need to reassess their center options moving forward.