Denver Nuggets Wiretap

Nikola Jokic publicly urged the Denver Nuggets to add depth to their roster this offseason and have responded by turning Michael Porter Jr., Russell Westbrook and Dario Saric into Cam Johnson, Bruce Brown Jr., Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jonas Valanciunas.

"The Nuggets have their new backcourt, and I was told that—and Mr. Jokic has not spoken on the record, at least in English, about this that I've seen—but I was told through secondhand that Jokic was very pleased with the Nuggets' moves," said ESPN's Brian Windhorst.

While Valanciunas would likely only play limited minutes in the playoffs, his presence would allow the Nuggets to reduce Jokic's minutes during the regular season. Last season, Jokic averaged a career high 36.7 minutes as the Nuggets needed him to play at an MVP level with heavy minutes to even qualify for a non-Play-In spot. Jokic played in only 34.6 minutes per game in 2023-24, which was up from the previous two seasons.

The Nuggets plan to offer Jokic a contract extension this offseason worth $206 million over three seasons.

The Denver Nuggets have informed Jonas Valanciunas and his representatives that they intend for him to honor his NBA contract. Valanciunas met with Panathinaikos in Greece over the weekend, and reportedly has a three-year, $12 million offer from the EuroLeague power.

The Nuggets are acquiring Valanciunas from the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Dario Saric in a pending trade. The veteran center is seen as an ideal backup for Nikola Jokic, which has been a troublesome spot for Denver in recent years.

Valanciunas is owed $10.4 million for this season, with a non-guaranteed $10 million contract for the 2026-27 season. It's unknown what the Nuggets plans are for the second year of Valanciunas' deal, but they expect him to be in Denver this season.

The Denver Nuggets will complete the trade to acquire Jonas Valanciunas from the Sacramento Kings, despite mutual interest between the veteran center and Greek club Panathinaikos. Denver is sending Dario Saric to Sacramento in exchange for Valanciunas.

The Nuggets are also determined to convince Valanciunas to stay in the NBA as their backup center behind Nikola Jokic. Valanciunas cannot sign with Panathinaikos unless Denver grants him his release.

It's been speculated the Valanciunas could give back some, or even all, of his NBA salary in a buyout to be able to sign in Greece. He reportedly has a three-year, $12 million deal from Panathinaikos.

In a recent appearance on the DNVR Nuggets podcast, forward Vlatko Cancar confirmed he's leaving the Denver Nuggets this offseason. Cancar confirmed that he's joining Olimpia Milano in Italy for the upcoming season.

When NBA free agency opened, Cancar said the Nuggets informed him that they would not be re-signing him. The Slovenian forward said that the opportunity with Olimpia Milano came up almost immediately.

Cancar played a minor role for Denver last season, after returning from a torn ACL suffered ahead of the 2023-24 season. Overall, Cancar appeared in 143 NBA games during his six-year run with the Nuggets.

Spencer Jones has signed his Two-Way qualifying offer to remain with the Denver Nuggets.

Jones appeared in limited minutes over 20 games with the Nuggets last season. Jones also appeared in 21 G League games where he averaged 14.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 30.5 minutes. 

Jones went underrated in 2024 out of Stanford.

Jonas Valanciunas and the Denver Nuggets are having ongoing conversations amid a lucrative offer he has received from Panathinaikos in Greece. Valanciunas was traded by the Sacramento Kings to the Nuggets this week for Dario Saric. That trade will still move forward regardless of whether Valanciunas decides to remain in the NBA or return to Europe. The Kings need the trade of Valanciunas for Saric to be executed in order to move forward due to the salary cap implications involving their other offseason business. 

Valanciunas signed a three-year, $30 million contract with the Washington Wizards last offseason and was subsequently traded to the Kings at the deadline. Valanciunas would give the Nuggets valuable rotation minutes at center behind Nikola Jokic.

Jared Dudley has agreed to become the top assistant coach for the Denver Nuggets under David Adelman.

Dudley has been on the coaching staff of the Dallas Mavericks under Jason Kidd since his retirement as a player in 2021.

Adelman is in his first full season as head coach of the Nuggets after the dismissal of Michael Malone. The Nuggets didn't retain the majority of Malone's other assistants.

The Nuggets also had interest in James Borrego for the top assistant coach job, but they were denied permission by the New Orleans Pelicans.

Tim Hardaway Jr. and the Denver Nuggets have agreed to a one-year deal at the veteran's minimum. Hardaway was in the final season of his four-year, $75 million deal with an expiring contract of $16.2 million.

Hardaway appeared in 77 games with the Detroit Pistons, averaging 11.0 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 28.0 minutes. Hardaway shot 36.8 percent on three-pointers.

Hardaway is 33 years old and will give the Nuggets veteran wing depth. The Nuggets have also added Cam Johnson, Bruce Brown and Jonas Valanciunas this offseason.

Russell Westbrook has received interest from the New York Knicks and Sacramento Kings, but both teams now appear unlikely to be able to sign him. The Knicks had interest, but instead have signed Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele in free agency.

The Kings considered executing a sign-and-trade for Dennis Schroder, but they will now sign him outright and that now makes also signing Westbrook complicated because Malik Monk remains in what would currently be a crowded backcourt.

Westbrook spent last season with the Denver Nuggets and had some strong moments, but generally uneven play. The Nuggets brought back Bruce Brown Jr. this offseason two seasons after helping them win the 2023 NBA championship.

Westbrook averaged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.4 steals in 27.9 minutes across 75 games with the Nuggets.

The Denver Nuggets have traded Dario Saric to the Sacramento Kings for Jonas Valancinuas. The Nuggets used the taxpayer midlevel on Saric last season, but he quickly fell out of their rotation.

Valanciunas signed a three-year, $30 million contract with the Washington Wizards last offseason and was subsequently traded to the Kings at the deadline. Valanciunas will give the Nuggets rotation minutes at center behind Nikola Jokic.