Breaking NBA Trade: Kings & Nuggets Swing Deal for Jonas Valanciunas

The Denver Nuggets have swung their second significant trade of the last 24 hours, this time acquiring big man Jonas Valanciunas from the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Dario Saric.

The Sacramento Kings are trading Jonas Valanciunas to the Denver Nuggets for Dario Saric, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/D2Xmbm4DN1
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2025

The Nuggets add a solid backup center behind Nikola Jokic with the move. JV is a player the Nuggets have had their eye on for a while.

The 33-year-old Lithuanian big man had been a starter his entire career until this past season, split between the Washington Wizards and the Kings. He's averaged 13.1 points and 9.3 boards over his 13-year career.

The Kings trading Jonas Valanciunas opens up immediate playing time for second-round pick Maxime Raynaud as Domantas Sabonis’ backup.

Raynaud immediately provides Sacramento much-needed floor-spacing as an athletic stretch big.pic.twitter.com/z9fYql68lF
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) July 1, 2025

As noted by Evan Sidery, for Sacramento, the trade will allow Maxime Raynaud to really step into more minutes as Domantas Sabonis's backup, and provides floor spacing at the 'five' that Valanciunas did not.