Refusing to join the Nuggets! Valan decides to withdraw from the NBA! The Lakers sign another center with a basic salary contract

On July 4, according to NBA reporter Jake Fischer, Valanciunas decided to withdraw from the NBA and return to Europe to play! Greek giant Panasinacos offered a three-year offer of 12 million euros (about 14.1 million US dollars). Valan was very moved and he sought a buyout from the Nuggets. NBA famous reporter Marc Stein confirmed this report!

Marc Stein also said that no matter what Valany's decision is, it will not affect the transaction between the Kings and the Nuggets: the Nuggets previously sent Saric to the Kings and got Valanciunas for 1. The Nuggets will not buy out Valan easily. The Nuggets management is currently convincing Valan to stay in the NBA and play a substitute for Jokic in the new season.

This news was very sudden. The leader just wrote that the Nuggets made a strong improvement in the offseason was very targeted: the transaction was obtained by Cameron Johnson and Valanciunas; the basic salary contract signed Bruce Brown and Hardaway Jr. The Nuggets still retain the full middle class of $14.1 million and are ready to strengthen the No. 1 position. In addition, the Nuggets signed Barria and Dudley as assistant coaches!

The favorite to win the championship next season, the Nuggets have risen to second, second only to the Thunder. Unexpectedly, Valan was unwilling to stay in the NBA! Currently, only Horford, Wagner, Isaiah Jackson and Jordan Jr. are included in the free market. Horford may retire, Wagner of the Greater is about to return to the Magic, and the Nuggets don’t have many choices left.

Varan was born on May 6, 1992, and entered the NBA in 2012. He has been in the NBA for 13 seasons. Many European players want to go back to Europe to play at the end of their NBA careers, such as Gasol Jr. and Rubio. Their friends and family are mostly in Europe, and now the European basketball league’s salary is attractive enough. In the 2024-25 season, Varan played a total of 81 regular season games with the Wizards and the Kings. He averaged 18.8 minutes per game, scored 10.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2 assists, and shot 55% from the field. In the past year, Valan has changed four teams: he left the Pelicans and joined the Wizards in the offseason in 2024, and was sent to the Kings by the Wizards in February this year.

Repeated changes to teams are also one of the reasons why Valan wants to leave the NBA. Panasinakos offers $14.1 million in three years and is very sincere, with an annual salary of $4.7 million, ranking second in Europe, second only to Nunn (annual salary of $5.135 million). Valan is only able to play as a substitute when he stays in the Nuggets. When he returns to Europe, he will be a superstar. No matter who changes, he will be moved.

Finally, let's talk about the Lakers. This morning, the famous NBA reporter Shams reported that center Hayes returned to the Lakers with a one-year minimum salary contract! The Lakers have signed Ayton before, and Hayes will play a substitute for Ayton in the new season. In this year's playoffs, Hayes averaged 7.8 minutes per game, scored 1.8 points and 2 rebounds, shooting 37.5% from the field and shooting 50% from the free throw. In the 2024-25 season, Hayes played 56 regular season games, including 35 starters. He averaged 19.5 minutes per game, scored 6.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1 assist, 0.6 steals, and 0.9 blocks, shooting percentage of 72.2% in a career high, and shooting percentage of 62.2% in free throws. Hayes can't play as a starting player, and Hayes can still withstand it after playing a substitute for more than ten minutes.

Varan will have an annual salary of US$10.4 million next season, and the 2026-27 season is the team's option. The last question: Do you think the Nuggets will agree to buy out Valan?