Jonas Valanciunas could be entering the final stage of his NBA career, and multiple signs are pointing toward a possible move back to Europe ahead of the 2026-27 season.
According to Bennett Durando of The Denver Post on May 15, the veteran center is not expected to remain with the Denver Nuggets next season despite having one year left on his contract. Valanciunas is owed $10 million in 2026-27, but only $2 million is guaranteed.
Durando noted that Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos attempted to sign the Lithuanian center last summer and is expected to face additional competition from EuroLeague clubs this offseason. Lithuanian contender Zalgiris Kaunas has also been linked with the 32-year-old after finishing fifth in the 2025-26 EuroLeague season.
The financial structure of Valanciunas’ contract gives Denver several ways to move on while creating salary flexibility around Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.
The Nuggets could trade Valanciunas to another team willing to absorb the remaining guaranteed salary, waive him outright and take a $2 million cap hit, or use the NBA’s waive-and-stretch provision. Stretching the deal would spread the guaranteed money over three seasons, reducing Denver’s annual dead cap hit to roughly $666,667.
That flexibility matters for a Nuggets team trying to remain competitive in the Western Conference while also avoiding future luxury-tax penalties. Denver finished 54-28 this season before losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves in six games during the first round of the playoffs.
Valanciunas had a limited role behind Jokic during the season. He averaged 8.7 points and 5.1 rebounds in 13.4 minutes across 65 games while shooting 58.2% from the field. His postseason role shrank further, as he appeared in only four playoff games and averaged 6.3 minutes.
A return to Europe could offer a larger on-court role and a different lifestyle balance for the longtime NBA center. Durando noted that playing in Europe would place Valanciunas closer to his home country of Lithuania while allowing him to play more consistently late in his career.
Zalgiris would present a home-country storyline, while Panathinaikos has recently positioned itself as one of the most aggressive spenders in EuroLeague roster building. Either destination would immediately add one of the most accomplished centers outside the NBA.
Valanciunas entered the league in 2012 and has played for the Toronto Raptors, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, Washington Wizards, Sacramento Kings and Nuggets during a lengthy NBA career.
