Jonas Valanciunas has committed to a two-year deal with Zalgiris Kaunas, according to BasketNews sources, if he secures a release from his NBA contract with the Nuggets. If finalized, the veteran center will leave the NBA after 14 seasons and return to Lithuania.
After 14 years in the NBA, Jonas Valanciunas is closing in on a return to Europe and has committed to Zalgiris Kaunas, if he secures a release from his NBA contract with the Denver Nuggets, according to BasketNews sources.
MIN
13
PTS
8.4
FG%
63.2%
REB
4.9
AS
1.1
If everything goes as planned, the Lithuanian center is expected to sign a two-year deal with Zalgiris.
In the 2025-26 campaign, Zalgiris finished fifth in the EuroLeague regular season, but the Lithuanian powerhouse was eliminated in the playoff series against Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul.
If the Valanciunas deal materializes, Zalgiris will complete its roster for the season, with no further additions expected, BasketNews sources confirm.
Zalgiris win race for Valanciunas
Zalgiris set a deadline for the Lithuanian big man to make his decision by Monday (June 22) and has since received a positive response.
This indicates that if Valanciunas leaves the NBA, Zalgiris will be his only destination.
The Lithuanian champions beat competition from other European clubs to secure his commitment.
Crucial condition for Valanciunas’ return to Europe
However, Valanciunas will only formally sign with Zalgiris once he secures a release from his NBA contract.
Valanciunas still has a 1-year, $10 million contract with the Nuggets, and Denver holds the team option for the 2026-27 season.
In November, Jake Fischer reported that the Nuggets and Valanciunas have amended the final season of his contract, moving the guarantee date on his 2026-27 salary from June 29 to July 8.
The decision was made to give Denver more flexibility to potentially include his contract in an offseason trade rather than having to decide on his future before free agency opens.
Nevertheless, Zalgiris and Valanciunas expect that the process of the Lithuanian’s release from the NBA will be handled soon, clearing the way for his return to Lithuania after 14 years in the United States.
Position
C
Age
34
Height
211 cm
Weight
120 kg
Birth place
Utena, Lithuania
Once his NBA departure is finalized, Valanciunas will officially join Zalgiris as one of the biggest signings in recent club history.
Valanciunas had already considered a return to Europe last year and was close to joining Panathinaikos Athens.
He even traveled to Greece for a medical, but the move collapsed after Denver acquired him in a trade and decided to keep him for the 2025-26 campaign.
Credit FIBA
This season, Valanciunas played 65 games for the Denver Nuggets, averaging 8.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists while shooting 58.2% from the field and 30.8% from three-point range.
Across his NBA career, he has appeared in 1,002 games, averaging 12.8 points and 9.0 rebounds while shooting 56.1% from the field and 34.0% from three.
Now, after more than 1,000 NBA games, Valanciunas is on the verge of making a historic return to Europe by signing for Zalgiris Kaunas.
Other Zalgiris offseason moves
Zalgiris are also expected to complete deals for Carsen Edwards and Sterling Brown, although official announcements are still pending.
The team has already announced the arrivals of Saben Lee, Marius Grigonis, Marek Blazevic, and Maxwell Lewis, who will be loaned out.
Zalgiris Kaunas Position Player Status PG/SG Saben Lee (story) Signed until 2028 PG/SG Maodo Lo Signed until 2027 +1 PG/SG Sylvain Francisco Signed until 2026 +1 (Rumored Out) PG/SG Nigel Williams-Goss Signed until 2027 +1 SG/PG Dovydas Giedraitis Signed until 2027 SG Marius Grigonis (story) Signed until 2027 SG/SF Mantas Rubstavicius multi-year (Rumored Out) SG/SF Deividas Sirvydis Signed until 2027 +1 (Rumored Out) SF Edgaras Ulanovas Signed until 2027 SF Arnas Butkevicius Signed until 2027 SF Maxwell Lewis (loaned to London Lions) Signed until 2028 +1 PF Dustin Sleva Signed until 2027 +1 PF/C Azuolas Tubelis Signed until 2028 +1 C Marek Blazevic (story) Signed until 2028 +1 Coach Tomas Masiulis (Signed until 2027 +1) Potential Departures Deividas Sirvydis Left Sylvain Francisco, Moses Wright, Ignas Brazdeikis, Laurynas Birutis, Mantas Rubstavicius Signed Saben Lee, Maxwell Lewis, Marek Blazevic Incoming deals Jonas Valanciunas (story), Sterling Brown, Carsen Edwards (story) Targets Chimezie Metu We Guessed EuroLeague Players Only By Their Stats
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