Big man Jonas Valanciunas is now a free agent.
On Wednesday, the Nuggets waived Valanciunas despite his fully guaranteed $10 million salary for the 2026-27 season, according to multiple reports.
Denver still owes him $2 million following the move, but will save cap space after signing Marvin Bagley III to a veteran minimum, keeping them under the second luxury tax apron.
Valanciunas considered leaving for the EuroLeague last summer after being traded to the Nuggets, but ended up staying in the NBA and averaged 8.7 points with 5.1 rebounds in 65 games played.
The 34-year-old shot 58.2 percent from the field while filling in the Nuggets’ backup center role playing 13 minutes a night.
According to ESPN’s Shams Chariana, Valanciunas will garner interest from multiple clubs, including the Knicks.
Valanciunas is on the Knicks’ radar and they view him as a potential third option behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Andre Drummond, SNY’s Ian Begley reported.
He also has experience working with Leon Rose, as the Knicks president was his agent before taking the front-office job.
A move to Europe is possible once again this summer with Lithuanian club Zalgiris Kaunas interested, according to BasketNews.
Valanciunas would be brought in to help the Knicks replace Mitchell Robinson, who signed a three-year, $47.4 million contract with the Celtics after spending his entire career in the orange and blue.
The seven-footer averaged 4.8 points and 5.5 rebounds in 13.9 minutes per game during New York’s championship run this season.
The Knicks signed Drummond, another potential replacement for Robinson, to a one-year, $3.9 million deal on Saturday.
He appeared in 63 games with the 76ers last season, recording 6.4 points and 8.4 rebounds through 19.5 minutes.
