Just this last Sunday, the Denver Nuggets made a blockbuster trade with the Sacramento Kings to acquire Jonas Valanciunas in the NBA free agency. They exchanged Dario Saric for the veteran center, signing him in the existing $10.4 million contract. Although this deal would guarantee the Lithuanian star’s continued participation on the team until the 2025/26 season, the Colorado-based franchise had the option to either retain him for another season or clear up around $10 million of cap space.
However, reports circulated that Valanciunas might be close to leaving the NBA and joining Greece’s Panathinaikos Basketball Club. The Lithuanian star is said to have a whopping €12 million (around $36 million) three-year deal on the table and is seemingly close to signing it.
But what does this mean for the Denver Nuggets? As per Marc Stein, the NBA team will “gain access to their full MLE.”
Jonas Valančiūnas is traveling to Greece per numerous reports and hopes to be released from his NBA contract after Denver acquires him Sunday from Sacramento to join Panathinaikos.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 4, 2025
The Nuggets’ consolation: They would gain access to their full MLE.
More: https://t.co/HpE639WN7H https://t.co/nUoE7G8TKn pic.twitter.com/nExJLDbxWC
Digging into detail about what exactly MLE is. In the NBA, it simply means that a team has the privilege to sign players even if they have surpassed the set salary cap. Moreover, the team will not be eligible for the first luxury tax apron.
Fans Express Disappointment Over Jonas Valanciunas Reportedly Joining Panathinaikos
If Valanciunas officially opts out of the NBA, the Denver Nuggets’ already fragile depth at center becomes a glaring weakness. Nikola Jokic is capable of handling heavy minutes, but the team needs a strong backup to help manage the grind of the regular season and avoid burnout come playoff time. And it seems fans have similar concerns.
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On Marc Stein’s X (formerly Twitter) post, fans rallied to express their disappointment over the Lithuanian star’s shocking career move.
One of the fans wrote, “Harder to find a backup center for Jokic than to fill the defense against the dark arts position.”
Harder to find a backup center for Jokic than to fill the defense against the dark arts position.
— No_look_Jok (@nolookjok) July 4, 2025
“Jokic was about to finally get a real backup center behind him,” another fan had a similar opinion about Jonas Valanciunas as perfect backup for Nikola Jokic.
Jokic was about to finally get a real backup center behind him
— Lakers Hoops (@HoopLakers) July 4, 2025
A fan was pretty much happy with Valanciunas leaving Nuggets as he wrote, “So he’s willing to give up the full 10mill? As a nuggets I’ll take that, dumping Saric and freeing up 2x his salary with 0 assests an AMAZING deal even if Val leaves”
So he’s willing to give up the full 10mill? As a nuggets I’ll take that, dumping Saric and freeing up 2x his salary with 0 assests an AMAZING deal even if Val leaves
— idk (@jaycee9987) July 4, 2025
One of the fans was sure that “Jokic will never have a backup center.”
Jokic will never have a backup center 💀
— Jack (@jackknowsballfr) July 4, 2025
While there was a fan who wrote in bold letters, “AL HORFORD COME HOME.”
AL HORFORD COME HOME
— Bobby 🎲 (@Sportsfanbobby) July 4, 2025
Most fans shared the opinion that Jonas Valanciunas’s leaving the NBA would affect the Denver Nuggets. However, with full MLE now, the Nuggets must act quickly. If the Lithuanian star is indeed leaving, they need someone to cover Nikola Jokic as backup in a loaded Western Conference!
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