Jonas Valanciunas expects the Nuggets to clarify his future with the team around the NBA Draft. He spoke during his annual basketball camp in Lithuania and said the franchise must choose its direction after a season that fell short of expectations. Everything should become clear in the coming days, he added, with little time left before decisions land.

The Nuggets view waiving the veteran center as their most probable move this summer. Other rotation players such as Cam Johnson, Christian Braun, and Aaron Gordon sit on the trade block, yet Valanciunas stands apart as the likeliest to be cut outright. The team has already signaled interest in minor salary maneuvers after the Finals ended.

Denver's front office appears ready to prioritize flexibility over retaining a traditional backup big. Valanciunas' presence created spacing and rebounding issues that clashed with the Nuggets' preferred pace and switch-heavy schemes. Cutting him would free minutes for younger or cheaper options who better fit the system's emphasis on perimeter spacing and defensive versatility.

This choice fits a broader pattern for a franchise that reached the Finals but now confronts roster adjustments after missing internal expectations. Valanciunas himself noted the disappointing results and the need for the organization to chart its next steps. The decision will ripple through the rest of the summer market as rival teams monitor Denver's cap situation.

The timeline points to action within the next week or so, well before free agency heats up. Waiving Valanciunas would trigger immediate roster and financial consequences, potentially opening pathways for draft-night trades or smaller signings. If the Nuggets instead explore a buyout or trade, the window narrows quickly once the draft arrives.

The move would also test how the remaining core responds to another layer of uncertainty heading into training camp. With the 2026 offseason now in full swing after the Finals, Denver must balance its desire for cost-cutting maneuvers against the realities of a roster that failed to meet its own standards. Valanciunas' impending exit, if it comes, would represent the most straightforward step in reshaping the center rotation around more modern defensive pieces.