The Nuggets are throwing another dart at the board, hoping it finally lands on an effective backup center.
Denver is trading Dario Saric to the Sacramento Kings for Jonas Valanciunas, a source told The Denver Post. Valanciunas, 33, was a trade deadline target for Denver as well in February, when he was ultimately moved from Washington to Sacramento.
Now he’s finally on his way to Denver, where he’ll be paid a salary of $10.4 million next season and $10 million sharp the year after. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent in 2027.
The Nuggets offloaded Saric’s $5.4 million salary in the deal, which was made possible by Monday’s trade of Michael Porter Jr. to Brooklyn. Denver obtained a trade exception and moved under the first tax apron, allowing the team to take back more salary than it sends out in trades.
Saric exercised a player option in his contract earlier this month. He appeared in only 16 games for the Nuggets last season after signing with them for the taxpayer mid-level exception.
Valanciunas averaged 10.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and two assists per game last season. He has missed only one regular-season game in the last two years.
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