Shams: Kings Trade Jonas Valunciunas to the Nuggets for Dario Saric; *UPDATE* - Trade is Now Official

[Shock Defeat]

Just let him live for Christ sake. He's older and has made millions already in his career. If he wants to go to Europe and spend the remainder of his playing career there, what's so surprising about that? We have had guys choose Europe over the NBA before. JC Navarro, Spanoulis, Rudy Fernandez, Alex Abrines etc. It's not uncommon

[Mirotic12]

It has no impact at all. Some Europeans never truly enjoy living in the US, for example Rubio, Mirotic, even Jokic. Mind you Rubio had a bunch of other general issues just like Mirotic.

Once you're financially set, why not take full control over where you want to live. In addition, Valanciunas will have a bigger role in Europe. Of course, he could always play in Europe when he's old and injured, but that kinda sucks.

If Lessort is properly recovered from his bad leg injury, Valanciunas might also be the second center of Panathinaikos.

[Mirotic12]

His reported oversea deal is 12 mil for 3 years, and he has 20 mil for 2 years left on his existing contract, why would he consider leaving the nba for less money and more years?

Because 12 million euros net income is worth a lot more than 20 million dollars gross income. A lot more.

Also because the 12 million euros net income is guaranteed and only 10 million of the 20 million dollars gross is guaranteed.

12 million euros net is a hell of a lot more money than 10 million dollars gross.

[Castle Black]

Nuggets playing hardball. I like it.

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[Mirotic12]

Off topic Hows rubio been over in spain? Can anyone here that follows European hoops give me a bit if an update on him?

Rubio tried to make a comeback with Barsa two seasons ago. He played with them in Spain's ACB league and in the EuroLeague.

He was pretty much obviously already an ex player. He was extremely slow and had zero athleticism. He was probably the slowest and least athletic guard in the EuroLeague.

It was very clear that he could no longer play at that level.

Then he played with Spain's national team at the qualifiers for the FIBA EuroBasket, which is a much lower level than the EuroLeague. It's also a clearly lower level than the secondary tier European club leagues like the EuroCup and the FIBA Basketball Champions League.

Even at that level, he pretty much struggled and was fairly useless for the most part.

Barsa released him after the season.

Then there were some reports that Joventut Badalona wanted to sign him for this last season that just ended. They play in the ACB and in second level European leagues like the EuroCup / FIBA BCL.

But ultimately, that never happened, and he didn't play at all last season. Probably because I think he most likely realized that he's not capable of being a contributing player anymore. At least not if he's the same way he was when he made that Barsa comeback attempt.

There hasn't been any mention in European sports media of him signing with any team so far this offseason. So he most likely retired and ended his playing career at 33.

[cupcakesnake]

Valanciunas had been a starter his whole career (827 out 856 games) until last year, when Washington- the worst team Val has ever played for- asked him to come off the bench so that they could start their prized draft pick. Must have been real fun for Jonas to watch Sarr brick threes and baby hooks all night.

Then he gets a trade, but it's to another bench role, this time backing up Domantas Sabonis, the guy he's consistently been better than on the Lituania national team his whole life. I'm not saying there's bad blood there at all, I'm just painting a possible picture where Valanciunas doesn't like the NBA opportunities that are coming his way. Getting traded again, to backup a Euro rival he's battled against for years could feel like another nail in the coffin.

Remember that Val was by far the biggest prospect of any of these Euro guys. He was a top 5 pick that was discussed going as high as top 2, if not for his contract situation. He's had a very good NBA career, but not lived up to expectations. I remember him getting compared to Tim Duncan and prime Tyson Chandler (right after Chandler helped Dirk to a championship). I could Val watching his NBA career dwindle and find Europe a more attractive option.

[BelgradeNugget]

I don't see a problem here. If he wants to go to Panathinaikos to play there he can, the path is clear. He must agree on a buyout with the team he has contract with - Denver (if trade goes through). Now if a player under contract with european club wants to terminate his contract and go to the NBA he must pay for his "freedom". There is limited amout of money NBA team can pay to help him get free from his contract.

In this case Valanciunas/Panathinaikos are part that need to pay for his freedom. Since Denver needs backup C more than $10M + whatever buyout amount of money they agree on from Valanciunas/Panathinaikos, using nba rules, Denver can flip his rights to 3rd party interested in getting money off the books.

My question is which team is most interested in this deal

1. Orlando - Goga/Valanciunas
2. Washington (Pelicans) - Olynyk/Valanciunas
3. Chicago - Smith/Valanciunas

[HotRocks34]

The trade should be official soon.

[Mirotic12]

Just let him live for Christ sake. He's older and has made millions already in his career. If he wants to go to Europe and spend the remainder of his playing career there, what's so surprising about that? We have had guys choose Europe over the NBA before. JC Navarro, Spanoulis, Rudy Fernandez, Alex Abrines etc. It's not uncommon

Fran Vazuez, Sergio Llull...

[HotRocks34]

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[PlatinumState]

Surely keeping a disgruntled player will work out lol
If he wants to go, you gotta let him go

[BelgradeNugget]

Surely keeping a disgruntled player will work out lol
If he wants to go, you gotta let him go

If he pays agreed buyout money, of course. He must first negotiate amount he must pay for buyout. That is the way things worked all the time

[PlatinumState]

Surely keeping a disgruntled player will work out lol
If he wants to go, you gotta let him go

If he pays agreed buyout money, of course. He must first negotiate amount he must pay for buyout. That is the way things worked all the time

Oh yeah, goes without saying.

[Godymas]

Many Americans just assume the US is the best place on Earth to live and it's everyone's dream home

If nuclear war breaks out America is winning

The people who have bomb shelters and a few lifetimes to kill are the winners. Unless your part of the shadow government or have spent time/money on creating your own underground civilization your part of the losers. The US could destroy an area/country/region but the US would also receive bombs. Nevermind the global fallout would make the earth impossible to live for most people regardless where you live.

If winning is sitting in a tincan underground bunker eating can beans and filtering out your urine for water until supplies run out then sure.

would you rather be dead or alive

which country has the highest odds for survival

also which country has the best missile defense system

i'd rather be in a underground bunker alive eating can beans and filtering my urine for water than evaporated

[SNPA]

If nuclear war breaks out America is winning

The people who have bomb shelters and a few lifetimes to kill are the winners. Unless your part of the shadow government or have spent time/money on creating your own underground civilization your part of the losers. The US could destroy an area/country/region but the US would also receive bombs. Nevermind the global fallout would make the earth impossible to live for most people regardless where you live.

If winning is sitting in a tincan underground bunker eating can beans and filtering out your urine for water until supplies run out then sure.

would you rather be dead or alive

which country has the highest odds for survival

also which country has the best missile defense system

i'd rather be in a underground bunker alive eating can beans and filtering my urine for water than evaporated

This is the basketball talk I come here for.

Post extended exposure to radiation who wins…peak Bird or Jordan?

[Charlie Sollers]

Americans can't imagine someone wanting to leave the country for reasons other than money

[Mavrelous]

Guys, I think a resolution for Big Val to Denver trade can be reached w/o nuclear weapons, at least I hope so.

[PaulKellerman]

Guys, I think a resolution for Big Val to Denver trade can be reached w/o nuclear weapons, at least I hope so.

Hopefully the UNSC passes a unanimous resolution imploring both sides to exercise restraint

[BelgradeNugget]

Surely keeping a disgruntled player will work out lol
If he wants to go, you gotta let him go

If he pays agreed buyout money, of course. He must first negotiate amount he must pay for buyout. That is the way things worked all the time

Oh yeah, goes without saying.

You think Valanciunas is first player Panathinaikos brought that already had contract. It is common thing in europe. If they want to bring player who has contract with Real Madrid, Partizan, Milano, they have to agree to a buyout - amount of money for his team to free him from his contract.

Yabusele had to pay $2.5M to Real Madrid to terminate his contract so he could come to NBA last season. I haven't heard they were willing to let him go for free, because they were nice, and undrestund his family situation, and his willingnes to live in another country.

https://www.cbssports.com/olympics/news/olympic-star-guerschon-yabusele-seeking-nba-return-reportedly-has-2-5-million-buyout-in-real-madrid-contract/

NBA teams were paying to european teams buyouts for players under contract for a long time and it is set amount of money they can pay. Player pays the rest.

What is different here? The fact it never happened in another direction. Well there is always first time

[KGtabake]

Well, if they want to keep him that much we can settle for Jokic. He'll be a good backup for Lessort.