Nuggets Journal: With Jonas Valanciunas likely destined for Denver, David Adelman envisions another point center
LAS VEGAS As the Jonas Valanciunas saga nears its potentially anticlimactic end Nuggets coach David Adelman is envisioning how he wants to use his new backup big man In an appearance on ESPN s Summer League broadcast Adelman shared his belief that Valanciunas can operate as a point center for Denver next season replicating particular of Nikola Jokic s role as a hub for the offense The Nuggets expect Valanciunas to honor his NBA contract and play for them next season league sources have informed The Denver Post despite his strong interest in an offer from the Greek EuroLeague club Panathinaikos that coincided with Denver trading for him Valanciunas narrated reporters in his native Lithuania this week that he plans to progress to Denver this summer once the pact is made official When they agreed to that deal with Sacramento on July the Nuggets were unaware of the situation brewing in Europe which jeopardized their backup center arrangement several days after the NBA s window to negotiate with free agents opened But with Dario Saric s million salary being sent out in the transaction Denver had incentive to go through with it even if the Valanciunas acquisition ended up falling apart That scenario would ve likely involved him forfeiting his entire million salary for next season an outcome that would have saved the Nuggets certain cap space But at this stage all signs point to Valanciunas being in Denver when the - NBA season begins Especially now that Adelman has outlined a role for him Point center You can play combo guards You don t need a lead point guard in lineups with him Adelman reported You can play five-out offense play off the elbow post him up He s such a skilled member He shoots the ball better than the greater part people realize So that s how I envision him I think you have multiple combination guards You can get away with that with a guy like that The Nuggets have indeed positioned themselves this offseason with more secondary ball-handlers who aren t traditional point guards or who double in other roles Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr both meet that description in addition to incumbent shooting guards Julian Strawther and Christian Braun Related Articles Jamaree Bouyea spoils Nuggets Summer League opener with buzzer-beater -pointer NBA K launches Sept with Angel Reese and Carmelo Anthony featured on special editions Nuggets notes Andrew Munson on MPJ pact why Hunter Tyson is playing rd Summer League Keeler Nikola Jokic s contract delay sent Nuggets perfect message Don t stop now Nikola Jokic won t sign contract extension with Nuggets this offseason sources say Here s why it makes sense to wait Valanciunas obviously is not known for having a tight handle at -foot- but if the Nuggets run dribble handoffs through him on the perimeter or various actions playing off of him at the elbow they ll automatically limit the amount of dribbling on those possessions As for the Lithuanian big man s jump shot It s a weapon he s happy to deploy but Denver shouldn t want to rely on it too much outside of the midrange In the last two seasons Valanciunas is from the -point line Panathinaikos owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos seemed to accept defeat Friday in a series of comments made on Instagram according to a summary by Eurohoops We want to sign him He wants to come to us But if his association doesn t say yes what can we do There are a few things that aren t in our hand Want more Nuggets news Sign up for the Nuggets Insider to get all our NBA analysis
