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

[lambchop]

People forget how pampered players in the nba are over even the richest euro teams. Thats a good enough reason to stay. A private jet beats taking a bus to games anyday

This isn't the 1980s. Every single EuroLeague team uses private charter team flights. It's part of the league's rules and part of the player's union agreements.

Yes for euroelague games. Not for games in Greece

This. Also, the 3 to 4 star hotels they stay in can't be compared to NBA luxury standards. The gyms are small, the floors and rims whack etc.

Some of it is evident just by the eye test. I can remember Pavlovic talking about this stuff on a Serbian podcast too about when he went back to Partizan after playing in the NBA.

[PlatinumState]

This isn't the 1980s. Every single EuroLeague team uses private charter team flights. It's part of the league's rules and part of the player's union agreements.

Yes for euroelague games. Not for games in Greece

This. Also, the 3 to 4 star hotels they stay in can't be compared to NBA luxury standards. The gyms are small, the floors and rims whack etc.

Some of it is evident just by the eye test. I can remember Pavlovic talking about this stuff on a Serbian podcast too about when he went back to Partizan after playing in the NBA.

In the nba you have a person/staff basically standing at your call to do whatever you need, whereas everywhere else youre on your own. "Hey, can you pick up my kid, thanks, hey can you make me a meal to go after the game, thanks, can you pick up my drycleaning thanks....... Not to mention the state of the art facilities and amenities. Nba players are treated like gods compared to even the best euro teams

[nomansland]

According to an apprently reputable Serbian site, it's a done deal. Jokic called JV and helped seal the deal. JV's going to be a Nugget.

If the source can be trusted. (saw it on reddit)

[Mirotic12]

Yes for euroelague games. Not for games in Greece

If they have to take a flight in Greece, they take a private charter. If they take a bus, it's because the opposing team's arena is in the greater Athens area. Which is a closer or similar distance trip as the local team's airports and practice facilities are in the NBA. It's also the team's personal bus that is used, which is extremely luxurious.

NBA players do not take flights to their practice facilities or from their team's local airport.

[Mirotic12]

In the nba you have a person/staff basically standing at your call to do whatever you need, whereas everywhere else youre on your own. "Hey, can you pick up my kid, thanks, hey can you make me a meal to go after the game, thanks, can you pick up my drycleaning thanks....... Not to mention the state of the art facilities and amenities. Nba players are treated like gods compared to even the best euro teams

Irrelevant. The players with big EuroLeague contracts in the big EuroLeague teams get that stuff and more.

If they want it, personal chefs, personal drivers, personal shoppers, personal assistants, personal maids and butlers, personal translators (if needed), their living bills and expenses paid, their housing paid, their transportation paid, their kid's private schooling paid and at English speaking schools, or with English speaking tutors, or whatever preferred language, if needed, and private nannies for their kids (if needed) paid for.

The big Mediterranean clubs will also pay for private large luxurious sea side villas and the private use of boat docks and boats.

In such teams, for players with those big contracts, they will even pay for the future college education of the player's kids, if they will be attending somewhere where the college tuition isn't free.

[SpurNani]

35 pages for a guy who will be unplayable in the playoffs

[BruttoNostra]

35 pages for a guy who will be unplayable in the playoffs

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
SpurNani's hate for big white euros
Is definitely true

[SpurNani]

35 pages for a guy who will be unplayable in the playoffs

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
SpurNani's hate for big white euros
Is definitely true

Thats funny when I did nothing but praise Zubac for slowing down Jokic in playoffs. Grew up in Northern Cali loving Vlade. But because I educate folks about Jokic, I am a Euro hater..ok.

Oh and Big Val is nothing like Zubac and teams will eat him alive if he ever gets minutes in the playoffs. He is only there to attempt to spell Jokic for 10-15 minutes in the regular season.

Where's the 40 page thread for Giannis's scrub backup?

[Cubbies2120]

35 pages for a guy who will be unplayable in the playoffs

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
SpurNani's hate for big white euros
Is definitely true

Thats funny when I did nothing but praise Zubac for slowing down Jokic in playoffs. Grew up in Northern Cali loving Vlade. But because I educate folks about Jokic, I am a Euro hater..ok.

Oh and Big Val is nothing like Zubac and teams will eat him alive if he ever gets minutes in the playoffs. He is only there to attempt to spell Jokic for 10-15 minutes in the regular season.

Where's the 40 page thread for Giannis's scrub backup?

The fact that this is the best backup big Jokic has had should tell you something...he's a scrub in your eyes but significantly better than DJ..and Nuggets got him for a player who didn't play for them...

[SpurNani]

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
SpurNani's hate for big white euros
Is definitely true

Thats funny when I did nothing but praise Zubac for slowing down Jokic in playoffs. Grew up in Northern Cali loving Vlade. But because I educate folks about Jokic, I am a Euro hater..ok.

Oh and Big Val is nothing like Zubac and teams will eat him alive if he ever gets minutes in the playoffs. He is only there to attempt to spell Jokic for 10-15 minutes in the regular season.

Where's the 40 page thread for Giannis's scrub backup?

The fact that this is the best backup big Jokic has had should tell you something...he's a scrub in your eyes but significantly better than DJ..and Nuggets got him for a player who didn't play for them...

Hartenstein

[nomansland]

Thats funny when I did nothing but praise Zubac for slowing down Jokic in playoffs. Grew up in Northern Cali loving Vlade. But because I educate folks about Jokic, I am a Euro hater..ok.

Oh and Big Val is nothing like Zubac and teams will eat him alive if he ever gets minutes in the playoffs. He is only there to attempt to spell Jokic for 10-15 minutes in the regular season.

Where's the 40 page thread for Giannis's scrub backup?

The fact that this is the best backup big Jokic has had should tell you something...he's a scrub in your eyes but significantly better than DJ..and Nuggets got him for a player who didn't play for them...

Hartenstein

He was not good in Denver. Foul prone, I recall some attitude issues, nothing special. He got better a year or so after leaving, of course, but he was not good in Denver.

Regarding JV being unplayable in the playoffs, he just needs to be a +/-0 in 10-12 minutes and it'll all be fine.

[Nuntius]

Dude's going to play like 11 minutes per game. Bad move by him.

It's not like he had a choice. Denver wasn't willing to allow him to buyout his contract so he could leave.

[TheNG]

35 pages for a guy who will be unplayable in the playoffs

Seriously asking: Can you not imagine any scenario in which he can help in the Playoffs? (i.e. a series against the Rockets in which Steven Adams grabs all the offensive rebounds while jokic needs to rest)
How about the need for Jokic to rest during the season? Wouldn't that be helpful for the Playoffs?

[zero rings]

35 pages for a guy who will be unplayable in the playoffs

A player forcing his way out of a contract to sign with another team is pretty big news, even if you think the player sucks.

This could set a dangerous precedent if Val gets his way.

[BelgradeNugget]

35 pages for a guy who will be unplayable in the playoffs

A player forcing his way out of a contract to sign with another team is pretty big news, even if you think the player sucks.

This could set a dangerous precedent if Val gets his way.

We had situations when players were forcing their way to another team. Never to another league, out of NBA for more money.

Dzenan Musa is leaving Real Madrid, Europe powerhouse to go to play for Dubai.

Chack how much money are soccer players getting in Saudi Arabia ($500M per year). Eventualy more money will be avilable to NBA players to go play overseas, and if they are free agents they are free to go. Will NBA let players under contract to simply leave, when they want...we will see.

[SpurNani]

35 pages for a guy who will be unplayable in the playoffs

Seriously asking: Can you not imagine any scenario in which he can help in the Playoffs? (i.e. a series against the Rockets in which Steven Adams grabs all the offensive rebounds while jokic needs to rest)
How about the need for Jokic to rest during the season? Wouldn't that be helpful for the Playoffs?

Maybe against a small team like Golden State, but otherwise, no I don't see Val as an impactful player anymore. He's big, slow footed, lumbering, hurts spacing.

I think ideally for Denver the kid Holmes emerges as a viable backup big option. He is much more intriguing than a guy like Val but I digress.

[BelgradeNugget]

The fact that this is the best backup big Jokic has had should tell you something...he's a scrub in your eyes but significantly better than DJ..and Nuggets got him for a player who didn't play for them...

Hartenstein

He was not good in Denver. Foul prone, I recall some attitude issues, nothing special. He got better a year or so after leaving, of course, but he was not good in Denver.

Regarding JV being unplayable in the playoffs, he just needs to be a +/-0 in 10-12 minutes and it'll all be fine.

Comparation:

DeAndre Jordan netrtg

24/25 -3.3
23/24 -10.7
22/23 -8.4
21/22 -10.8
20/21 -1.9

those are his netrtg numbers playing for good teams Den, Philly, LAL, Bkn where players usually have better netrtg, because teams are winning minutes on average

Jonas Valanciunas netrtg

24/25 -9.6 (tot)
23/24 +3.9
22/23 -0.7
21/22 +1.2
20/21 +3.8

those are his netrtg numbers playing for bad teams Sac, Wash, NOP.
Netrtg of -9.6 in 24/25 can be splitted

24/25 Washington - 16
24/25 Sacramento + 2.6

Just to compare Sacramento players

Keon Ellis +3.0
Domantas Sabonis +2.6
Jonas Valančiūnas +2.6
Malik Monk +2.5
DeMar DeRozan +1.5
Keegan Murray +1.5
De'Aaron Fox +0.9
Kevin Huerter -3.6
Zach LaVine -3.8
Jake LaRavia -7.1

so maybe Valanciunas is not so unplayable after all

[BelgradeNugget]

You're ignoring the more simpler answer. He just doesn't want to play in Denver. Not that hard to figure out.

How Luka felt after he was traded to Lakers

Watch on YouTube

How THJ and Cam Johnson feel about playing in Denver

Watch on YouTube

[Alatan]

Thats funny when I did nothing but praise Zubac for slowing down Jokic in playoffs. Grew up in Northern Cali loving Vlade. But because I educate folks about Jokic, I am a Euro hater..ok.

Oh and Big Val is nothing like Zubac and teams will eat him alive if he ever gets minutes in the playoffs. He is only there to attempt to spell Jokic for 10-15 minutes in the regular season.

Where's the 40 page thread for Giannis's scrub backup?

The fact that this is the best backup big Jokic has had should tell you something...he's a scrub in your eyes but significantly better than DJ..and Nuggets got him for a player who didn't play for them...

Hartenstein

Malone never played Hartenstein.

[Me Like Lakers]

Yes for euroelague games. Not for games in Greece

This. Also, the 3 to 4 star hotels they stay in can't be compared to NBA luxury standards. The gyms are small, the floors and rims whack etc.

Some of it is evident just by the eye test. I can remember Pavlovic talking about this stuff on a Serbian podcast too about when he went back to Partizan after playing in the NBA.

In the nba you have a person/staff basically standing at your call to do whatever you need, whereas everywhere else youre on your own. "Hey, can you pick up my kid, thanks, hey can you make me a meal to go after the game, thanks, can you pick up my drycleaning thanks....... Not to mention the state of the art facilities and amenities. Nba players are treated like gods compared to even the best euro teams

"Well, you're in a hotel room, and you pick up the phone. You dial 6. You tell them what foods you want, and they send it up...for free!"

BOW WOW, Lil
Like Mike