The Denver Nuggets and veteran center Jonas Valanciunas have agreed to modify the structure of the final year of his three-year contract, according to Jake Fischer.
The amendment moves the guarantee date for his 2026–27 salary from June 29 to July 8, 2026.
This adjustment is designed to give Denver “greater flexibility to use Valanciunas’ salary in potential offseason trades after free agency begins on June 30,” according to those familiar with the deal.
Under the revised terms, Valanciunas will have $2 million of his $10 million salary guaranteed for the 2026–27 season.
Previously, the Nuggets could have waived him with no financial obligation if they did so before June 29.
The new guarantee date effectively keeps him under contract through the league’s moratorium period, meaning he cannot enter free agency until after that period ends.
This change could increase his value in trades, particularly for teams looking for “payroll relief.”
The 33-year-old Lithuanian big man remains eligible for a contract extension with Denver once the season concludes, should he wish to continue his NBA career.
Valanciunas originally signed his three-year deal with the Washington Wizards during the summer of 2024, before being traded to the Sacramento Kings and later acquired by the Nuggets in an offseason move.
Following that trade, reports surfaced that Valanciunas had considered signing with Greek club Panathinaikos, but Denver maintained confidence that he would fulfill his NBA contract.
So far this season, Valanciunas has appeared in six games for the Nuggets, averaging 8.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 12.1 minutes per contest.
Jonas Valanciunas, Nuggets Restructure Deal With July Guarantee Date, $2M Protection https://t.co/KGhbrUG7dl
— RealGM (@RealGM) November 6, 2025
