Nuggets magic operation encounters a bolt from the blue! Valanne refuses to go to Denver and wants to return to Europe, Jokic s substitute crisis reappears

When Nuggets fans were still cheering for the lightning three consecutive operations during the offseason, a basin of ice water suddenly poured down - the center forward Valanciunas, who had just traded from the Kings, actually asked the management to buy out with an intention to go to the Greek league! The Jokic substitute, who was highly anticipated, had not yet set foot on Denver home court, and gave the Nuggets a 3-year 12 million euro (about $13 million) bid to win the championship. After taking charge of the Nuggets' management, Josh Kroenke launched a dazzling lineup restructuring blitz. He first got rid of Porter Jr.'s huge contract of $79 million for the remaining two years, and took advantage of the first round of 2032 pick in exchange for Nets forward player Cameron Johnson. This move not only saved 40 million in salary, but also released the team's special space for the middle class. Immediately afterwards, the Nuggets welcomed the 2023 champion Bruce Brown with a one-year minimum salary, and his multi-functional defensive ability directly points to the pain points of the hardness of the bench. Saric's single-for-sale exchange for Valancius, completed in the early morning of July 2, was even praised by fans as a magical operation of "turning garbage contracts into treasures."

Valanciunasburn is regarded as the final puzzle for the Nuggets Championship. Last season, he averaged only 18 minutes per game, and was able to efficiently contribute 10.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2 assists, with a shooting percentage of up to 55%. The Lithuanian giant tower's end of the basket and rebounding sense are the perfect guarantee for Jokic's breathing moment. Data model shows that if converted to 36 minutes, Valan's data will jump to the top center level of 20 points and 14 rebounds - this is also the reason why the Nuggets are willing to swallow his annual salary of $10.4 million.

However, Valan's amazing decision teared the blueprint for Denver. According to European media BasketNews, although the annual salary of Panasinakos' three-year contract is slightly lower, it promises its core position and stable playing time. This is undoubtedly a key invitation for Valan, who has been in many teams for many years and has only started nine games in the past two years. "He has the ability to start, but he has been playing as a substitute," a European scout admitted, "It is far more attractive to return to Europe to be the core than to be a supporting role in the NBA." Although the transaction has not yet been officially completed, Valan's disobedience has put the Nuggets in a passive position. The management is lobbying him for a change of mind. If he fails, the king may buy out the contract directly, which completely failed the Nuggets' skill of "making money out of nothing". The more profound impact is that Jokic, who has been waiting for for many years, is once again hung up - he averaged 34 minutes of hard games last season, and he has been exhausted in the playoffs due to the lack of internal rotation. At this moment, there are not many high-quality centers left in the free market, and the Nuggets' window to win the championship may be covered with dust.

The turning point of fate is often more unpredictable than the tactical board. When Jokic threatened to reject a 220 million contract renewal in exchange for a reliable substitute, the management finally responded to his demands with a thunderous move. However, Valan's choice is like the black humor of the basketball world - the most exquisite operational calculations, and it still cannot match the individual's desire for dignity and roles. Denver's road to championship has never been smooth, and this time, they have to find new answers for MVP in the ticking of the countdown.