Nuggets cut ties with history-making 6-foot-11 veteran center

Jul 08, 2026 - 22:10

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Nuggets cut ties with history-making 6-foot-11 veteran center originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Denver Nuggets are making a notable change to the frontcourt this offseason.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the franchise is waiving their history-making 6-foot-11 veteran center (in 2021, he became the first player in NBA history to make seven threes and grab seven rebounds in an NBA game).

“The Denver Nuggets are waiving veteran center Jonas Valanciunas,” ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on X/Twitter Wednesday. “Valanciunas is expected to receive interest from multiple NBA teams.”

Considering that several reports in recent days have indicated that the Nuggets could move on from Valanciunas, who averaged 8.7 points and 5.1 rebounds during his lone season with the franchise, it isn’t surprising that the ex-Toronto Raptors All-Rookie center is no longer with the franchise.

The Los Angeles Lakers were among the teams that were linked to the 34-year-old big man before Charania’s announcement, as they were in desperate need of a backup center to Walker Kessler.

After signing former Golden State Warriors elite rebounder and three-time NBA champion center Kevon Looney on Wednesday, it’s safe to say there’s no logical reason for the Luka Doncic-led organization to pursue Valanciunas.

Although the New York Knicks are in a similar boat after replacing Mitchell Robinson (who recently signed with the Boston Celtics) with Mitchell Robinson, SNY’s Ian Begley made it clear that the 2026 NBA champions are open to adding a third center and would be interested in adding Valanciunas if he ever became a free agent.

Now that the scenario has played out perfectly for New York, keep an eye out for a potential Valanciunas-Knicks signing in the next few days.

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