Overview

• The Nuggets’ trade for Jonas Valanciunas from Sacramento officially cleared on Sunday, giving Denver control of his forthcoming contract.
• Panathinaikos Athens extended a verbal three-year, $13 million net offer and conducted medical exams as part of its pursuit of the veteran center.
• Denver is insistent on a buyout before approving any release, aiming to protect Valanciunas’s $10.4 million guaranteed salary.
• Valanciunas must decide between backing up Nikola Jokić in Denver or taking a leading role on a EuroLeague contender.
• His potential exit would free a non-taxpayer mid-level exception that Denver could deploy to pursue other frontcourt reinforcements.