Nikola Jokic Possibly Losing His Backup to Europe Despite Trade Sends Fans in Splits: “Damn Denver That Bad?”

Denver Nuggets dipped into the trade market to bring in Jonas Valanciunas from the Sacramento Kings to support Nikola Jokic.

Nikola Jokic Possibly Losing His Backup to Europe Despite Trade Sends Fans in Splits: “Damn Denver That Bad?”

Jonas Valanciunas could leave Nikola Jokic and Nuggets for Europe (Image via FirstSportz)

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Entering this season, the Denver Nuggets wanted to fix the wrongs from last season. Nikola Jokic and his teammates were tipped to be title favorites, and even their questionable form before the playoffs did not dampen those beliefs.

The Nuggets top brass understood the problems faced by the team early on and acted before it was too late. First, it was by firing long-time head coach Michael Malone. Then, when the playoffs came about, another concern resurfaced.

In the 2024 playoffs, their lack of bench support was touted as the reason for their second round exit. The same happened in this past edition, when the starters had to exhaust themselves, just to keep fighting for wins.

The top brass swiftly swung into action, adding Cam Johnson, Tim Hardaway Jr., Bruce Brown, and Jonas Valanciunas. The latter was in exchange for last year’s backup, Dario Saric. However, the trade seems to have entered a bit of a bother.

Valanciunas is reportedly considering an offer from Greek club Panathinaikos. As per European basketball media house Basket News, the Lithuanian has been offered a 3-year, $13 million deal. It also adds the possibility of him starting, whereas for the Nuggets, he will be Jokic’s backup.

Then there is the factor that he can play closer to home after spending 13 seasons in the NBA and playing on five teams. He has become less of a consistent presence and more of a trade asset, which might have sparked those discussions.

Fans troll Nikola Jokic and Nuggets after Jonas Valanciunas news

Basketball fans reading this news were sent into splits. In a long time, Nikola Jokic was supposed to get a prominent backup center who could hold his ground inside the paint. Jonas Valanciunas’ presence could give the Serbian the necessary rest he needs during games.

If he leaves, the franchise will be forced to either rescind the trade, or ask for other compensation from the Sacramento Kings. Either way, they will need to dip into the market for another backup center. With options limited, fans believe the Nuggets are in a mess. Check out examples of those reactions below:

Basketball fans understand that the three-time MVP cannot seem to catch a break. He requires a proper backup center who can log at least 5–10 minutes of quality play time on the court. Along with that, the said backup center should also be someone who can assist Jokic when they are on the court together.

Jonas Valanciunas would have been a major addition for Nikola Jokic

The league has witnessed a move towards dual big men lineups over the past few seasons. Even though their effectiveness has been questionable in the playoffs, having another capable big man has become a necessity more than a luxury.

Jonas Valanciunas could be the perfect backup for Nikola Jokic
Jonas Valanciunas could be the perfect backup for Nikola Jokic (Image via NBA/X)

Some teams have questionable choices when it comes to adding big men to their roster, but in the case of the Denver Nuggets, they might have made the right choice by bringing Jonas Valanciunas in via trade.

He has both the strength and power to hold his own against other stout big men. At the same time, he also has a soft enough European touch to score when needed. That combination could be extremely valuable around Nikola Jokic.

The franchise would hope the Lithuanian prefers to earn the $10+ million he can if he stays with them, instead of taking less money to return to Europe. If he can play out his contract, which is set to run until the end of the 2026-27 season, it will be a good return for their investment.

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