The Nuggets have a message for Jonas Valanciunas after trading for the veteran big man to be Nikola Jokic's backup.

The Nuggets traded Dario Šarić to the Sacramento Kings in return for Valančiūnas on July 1, but NBA insider Marc Stein reported a few days after the deal that the idea of playing in Europe held "strong appeal" for Valančiūnas as he mulled whether to seek a buyout from Denver.

The Denver Nuggets have, by and large, enjoyed a memorable 2025 offseason run. The team has finalized its coach of the future, taking the interim tag off David Adelman following a spirited playoff run with finite bench depth.