Sometimes, the NBA rumor mill spins so fast it nearly yanks the truth right out of its hinges. And right in the eye of that off-court tornado? Jonas Valanciunas. If whispers could sign contracts, he’d be dunking in Athens by now. But after weeks of speculation, anonymous executive clarifications, and just enough silence to stoke the fire, the record has finally been set straight… and Jonas isn’t going anywhere.

The Denver Nuggets’ trade for Valanciunas raised eyebrows initially, not because he isn’t a fit, but because, almost immediately, reports of EuroLeague flirtation bubbled to the surface. Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos was supposedly pushing hard. Jonas? Playing coy. Nuggets fans? Sweating. And then came the news.

An anonymous Nuggets exec echoed that confidence in comments shared by Spotrac’s Keith Smith: “But it’s not like things ever got ugly at all. Jonas is a good player, so it’s no surprise all kinds of teams in NBA and Europe were interested in him. That’s why we traded for him.” Wow, okay, what? And that’s not all.

“From our first conversations after agreeing to the trade, we made it clear we intended for him to be in Denver, and he never made it a real thing to try and get out of his contract. We’re looking forward to adding him to our frontcourt this season.” So yes, the Valanciunas-to-Europe drama? About as over-hyped as a G-League dunk contest. The man’s packing his bags for Ball Arena, not OAKA.

Even Jonas, for his part, confirmed it himself, saying, “The idea of playing for Panathinaikos, closer to home, was very exciting to me,” Valanciunas told BasketNews, before slamming the door on any dreams of a European reunion. “But that will have to wait. I am fully committed to honoring my contract with the Nuggets this season and will give it my all to compete for a championship.” Valanciunas is heading into the second year of his three-year, $30.3 million deal.

Denver brought him in for balance. The Nuggets needed insurance behind Nikola Jokic. A 6-foot-11 bruiser with deft hands, soft touch, and playoff experience? That’ll do. Especially for a team that saw its bench completely unravel during last season’s playoff run. But this is just part of the complete story, thanks to Keith Smith. Because you just know when Charles Barkley speaks up, you can’t help but listen.

Nikola Jokic doesn’t need help. God, he’s been Denver’s ‘Joker’ far too long for him to need any help. But he does need rest. Charles Barkley certainly thinks so. “They’ve got the best player in the world (in Nikola Jokic),” Sir Charles told The Denver Post. “They just needed some more depth.”

Barkley also praised the Nuggets’ summer as one of the NBA’s best alongside Houston and Atlanta, citing the return of Bruce Brown, the addition of Tim Hardaway Jr., and the key trade that brought in Cam Johnson for Michael Porter Jr.

Jonas Valanciunas stays put, the Nuggets stack up

That MPJ trade, by the way, was a masterstroke. Not only did the Denver Nuggets get off his enormous contract, but they flipped it into flexibility, opening space for smarter, more complementary pieces like Jonas. No more betting on youth to grow into playoff killers. The Nuggets are now betting on grown men who can handle the moment.

There’s also something poetic about Jonas, a Lithuanian vet with throwback toughness, now backing up the most unicorn-y center the league has ever seen. Valanciunas won’t stretch the floor or run the break, but he will out-muscle second units, hammer the glass, and keep Denver afloat when Nikola Jokic breathes. That’s his job, and he does it well. His averages this season? 10.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.0. Make of that what you will. Because let’s not forget, this is a restitution for Denver’s front office, too.

Like Charles Barkley said, “First of all, (the Nuggets) got terrific (additions). I think they got more athletic, which they really needed to do… Because if you’re going to beat OKC and the Rockets, you’ve got to be athletic on the perimeter, especially with Durant going down there with those other guys… But like I say, they got better. And that’s all you could ask for.” Y’all hear that?

That’s all you could ask for. Better spacing. Better defense. Smarter fits. Jonas is a key cog in that vision. And for him, it’s a chance to chase a ring alongside the NBA league’s best player. For Denver, it’s a rare moment of clarity amid an offseason of chaos. The rumors were loud, but the truth? Louder. Jonas isn’t running. He’s rolling to the rim in navy and gold.