Sources: Nuggets expect Valanciunas to honor deal

The Denver Nuggets person informed Jonas Valanciunas' representatives that the franchise afloat expects the halfway to grant his contract, squad sources told ESPN.

The Nuggets agreed to a commercialized with the Sacramento Kings to get Valanciunas for Dario Saric. Denver informed Valanciunas that it volition not fto him retired of the remaining 2 years connected his contract. Valanciunas has been pursued by Greece's Panathinaikos.

The commercialized betwixt Denver and Sacramento has yet to go official.

The Nuggets person the 6-foot-11 seasoned halfway slated to play a pivotal relation arsenic Nikola Jokic's backup. Denver has agelong searched for a halfway to assistance the Nuggets erstwhile Jokic is disconnected the level resting.

Valanciunas, who averaged 10.4 points and 7.7 rebounds for the Kings and Wizards past season, volition marque $10.3 cardinal this coming play and has $10 cardinal near connected the pursuing season. The last twelvemonth of his declaration is nonguaranteed.

Valanciunas' NBA declaration is binding and does not let him to prosecute different nonrecreational opportunities unless some sides scope an statement connected a buyout, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks.

Denver's caller beforehand bureau of Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace has been engaged retooling the squad this offseason. In summation to agreeing to commercialized for Valanciunas, Denver swung a woody to determination Michael Porter Jr. and an unprotected 2032 first-round prime to the Brooklyn Nets for guardant Cameron Johnson, sources told ESPN.

The Nuggets besides agreed to motion escaped agents Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. to springiness Jokic much assistance arsenic well.