The Denver Nuggets are officially parting ways with 14-year NBA veteran Jonas Valanciunas. Amid his departure, the Los Angeles Lakers have emerged as a potential suitor for the 34-year-old big man.
Lakers Linked to Jonas Valanciunas Amid Release
The Los Angeles Lakers have spent the entire offseason retooling around All-NBA superstar Luka Doncic. They re-signed shooting guard Austin Reaves to a long-term deal and completed a massive sign-and-trade for former Jazz center Walker Kessler. They also inked deals with Collin Sexton, Quinten Grimes, and Sandro Mamukelashvili.
Now, with the waiving of Valančiūnas, more frontcourt help could be on the way. Senior NBA Insider Michael Scotto broke the news late Wednesday afternoon.
“The Denver Nuggets are waiving center Jonas Valančiūnas, league sources told @hoopshype,” Scotto wrote. “He had a fully guaranteed $10 million decision today. Denver will now owe Valanciunas $2 million for the 2026-27 season. He’s averaged 12.8 points and 9.0 rebounds in 14 NBA seasons.”
JUST IN: The Denver Nuggets are waiving center Jonas Valanciunas, league sources told @hoopshype. He had a fully guaranteed $10 million decision today. Denver will now owe Valanciunas $2 million for the 2026-27 season. He’s averaged 12.8 points and 9.0 rebounds in 14 NBA seasons. pic.twitter.com/5KdGxgQL6N
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) July 8, 2026
The rumors surrounding a potential move to Los Angeles actually date back to before his official release. It was also recently reported, “Denver has been shopping Valančiūnas since the season ended, with talks picking up around the NBA Draft.”
He added, “The clearest signal in the report was this: ‘The Lakers’ interest is certainly welcomed by the Nuggets, who have made Valančiūnas available in trade conversations since Denver’s season ended,’ per Stein and Fischer.”
Now, the Lakers have the opportunity to sign Valančiūnas on the open market rather than being forced to give up assets to the Nuggets. The question is, are the Lakers still interested at this stage of the offseason?
Aside from the Kessler and Mamukelashvili acquisitions, Los Angeles also agreed to a one-year, $3.9 million deal with Kevon Looney just one day ago, as reported by ESPN Senior NBA Insider Shams Charania.
The Lakers’ center rotation, featuring Kessler, Looney, and Mamukelashvili (in a fluid forward/center role), is ready to go for the upcoming season. Then again, it doesn’t hurt to at least consider Valanciunas and bring him in as another depth piece.
Last season in Denver, playing behind three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, Valanciunas was quite solid. Across 65 games, he averaged 8.7 points and 5.1 rebounds while shooting 58.2% from the field in just 13.4 minutes per game.
Other contenders in need of backup center help, such as the Heat or Knicks, could also pursue the 14-year veteran. Overall, the situation surrounding Valanciunas will be worth monitoring as the offseason rolls on.
