Sacramento Kings trade Jonas Valanciunas to Nuggets for ... Dario Saric?
The Kings made an apparent cost-cutting move Tuesday when they traded Jonas Valanciunas to the Denver Nuggets.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the Kings are sending Valanciunas to Denver in exchange for Dario Saric, a journeyman forward with an expiring contract.
The trade might have been made to free up money for the acquisition of free agent point guard Dennis Schroder, who has agreed to a three-year, $45 million deal with the Kings, according to ESPN. Sacramento seems to have finalized the agreement with Schroder without sending Malik Monk to Detroit in a sign-and-trade deal.
Valanciunas, 33, is a 6-foot-11, 265-pound center who served as the primary backup to Domantas Sabonis after coming to Sacramento in a February trade for Sidy Cissoko and two second-round draft picks. Valanciunas appeared in 32 games, averaging 8.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 16.9 minutes per game.
Valanciunas has two years remaining on a three-year, $30.3 million contract. He is owed $10.4 million in 2025-26 and $10 million in 2026-27.
Saric, 31, is a 6-10, 225-pound power forward who has averaged 10.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists while shooting 36% from 3-point range over eight NBA seasons. He appeared in only 16 games for the Nuggets last season, averaging 3.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 13.1 minutes per game while shooting 36.2% from the field and 26.9% from 3-point range.
Saric is entering the final year of a two-year, $10.6 million contract. He will earn $5.4 million this season.
This story was originally published July 1, 2025 at 10:01 AM.
