Journeyman careers are wild. One minute you’re a top-75 legend collecting jerseys like stamps, the next you’re just another name in the league’s long list of forgotten souls. So where does Jonas Valanciunas land? Right in that sweet, blurry middle. The big man’s clocked in with five NBA teams and just got shipped to the Nuggets in a flurry of Free Agency fever. But the plot thickens—rumor has it Greece is on the line, and they’re not just calling, they’re wooing. While Denver sees him as their Jokic backup fix, the Greek League’s waving a fat contract. So… stay or stray?

“Once the trade is finalized, we’ll put together the plan for the trip to Denver. The team will outline how they see the situation, medicals, and all the details. That part is up to the them,” he said to BasketNews. There’s a lot for Denver to think now, anyway. They gotta make a championship team to give Nikola Jokic the place in history he deserves. “Can it be said that you’ll be playing in Denver next season?” asked the reporters to Jonas. And his answer was as non-chalant as ever.

“You can say whatever you want — people have already said plenty,” Valanciunas said with a laugh. “The whole thing blew up like a bubble.” 

Jonas Valanciunas has built a career by grinding. Drafted fifth overall in 2011, he stormed into Toronto as a high-upside big and quickly became a nightly double-double machine. He didn’t chase highlight reels—he filled the stat sheet. In Memphis, he hit his peak, putting up 17.1 points and 12.5 rebounds per game in 2020 and dropping a wild 39-and-15 outing in 2021. He bullied defenders in the paint, hammered the boards, and kept his name in the top rebounding lists year after year. Jonas didn’t need flash. He brought force, finesse, and old-school grit—every single night.

Still, teams kept moving him. The Raptors sent him packing in 2019, flipping him for Marc Gasol, who grabbed a title that same season. Tough. In New Orleans, he played solid ball, but Zion drama and coaching shifts buried his buzz. Media didn’t spotlight him. All-Star voters didn’t bite. But Jonas never slowed down. He stayed healthy, hit 56% from the floor, and even stretched his range to knock down threes. Now, with a fresh start in Denver and a contender behind him, he’s not looking back. He’s chasing relevance, rings, and maybe—finally—some overdue respect.

Nuggets could have Al Horford line up if Jonas Valanciunas leaves

Al Horford’s time in Boston might just be ticking down. The veteran big man and locker room glue has been a steadying force for the Celtics, but with the franchise eyeing a reset—and Jayson Tatum working his way back from an Achilles tear—change could be brewing. Rumors are swirling that Horford might be on the move yet again, possibly landing with a squad that needs veteran presence and playoff poise. At 38, he’s not the rim-runner he once was. But his basketball IQ, floor spacing, and leadership still make him a valuable piece. This summer could be his next pivot.

Pivot to where though? As said earlier, he’s 38. There’s not a lot of waters he could dip his feet in. He’s said to have contemplated retirement too. So if he’s to go out with a hurrah, why not with the Mile-Highers? “Al Horford will be making his decision between the Nuggets and Warriors on his next team. If Jonas Valanciunas is intent on leaving for Europe, Horford becomes an extremely enticing option for Denver. Currently, Golden State is viewed as the favorite for Horford’s services,” said Evan Sidery on X.

Getting Jonas Valanciunas off the books would be heartbreaking, even if it’s his desire to leave. It’ll just taste that much sweeter for him to leave with a ring. Because there’s no shot the Lithuanian’s gonna get a look in after his 30th birthday if he doesn’t think twice of an exit from the Association. But if he does leave, is Al Horford the right man for the job?