Knicks and Lakers keep circling Jonas Valanciunas as Denver nears a contract decision

The New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers are once again linked to Jonas Valanciunas, with Denver edging toward a decision that could determine whether the Nuggets keep the veteran center or explore a trade-or-waive outcome. The timing matters because roster options tighten quickly when a specific contract deadline approaches, and both teams are looking for additional size and experience in their halfcourt rotations.

According to reports circulating around the NBA offseason, Denver has made Valanciunas available in trade conversations since the season ended. Those discussions reportedly intensified after the draft as the Nuggets weighed different deal structures around their existing assets, including shopping a draft pick, while still evaluating how much roster flexibility they want going forward.

The same reporting frames Valanciunas as a fit alongside other center targets being monitored across the league. In that mix, Los Angeles has also been connected to Knicks-related themes in free agency, with the Lakers discussed as having interest in multiple veteran big men rather than only one clear option.

In New York’s case, Valanciunas is also being discussed alongside the Knicks’ evolving backup-center search. The broader implication is that the Knicks, who have been active in chasing specific roles, may still view a veteran post presence as a way to stabilize minutes when matchups get physical or when they need spacing and rebounding against stronger front lines.

For the Nuggets, the decision clock is central. BasketNews reported that Valanciunas is operating under a next-step contract timetable: a $10 million salary for the 2026-27 season with only $2 million guaranteed, and a requirement to waive him by July 8 for the Nuggets to avoid triggering the full salary. The same report also indicates that a move to Zalgiris Kaunas is among the possibilities if Denver does not keep him.

Valanciunas’ broader leverage is that his basketball future is not restricted to the NBA. Multiple reports point to Europe as an available destination, which changes the negotiation dynamic because a player who can opt out of the league may be less dependent on one team’s offer or roster niche. That is the backdrop for why the Knicks and Lakers keep reappearing in the same discussions.

What to watch next is whether Denver moves before the waiver deadline or uses a trade to redirect its roster plans. If no deal is struck in time, the market for Valanciunas could compress quickly, leaving both New York and Los Angeles to pivot to secondary targets for their frontcourt depth.

For the Knicks and Lakers, this is less about adding a headline player and more about locking in the right kind of minutes. Valanciunas is the kind of veteran who can anchor positioning, handle regular-season physicality, and provide a more straightforward matchup option than smaller lineups. The next roster decision out of Denver will likely shape what those teams can realistically secure in the days after the deadline.