Jonas Valanciunas was released by the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, ending a season in which the 34-year-old logged 65 games and posted 8.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per contest. The Nuggets saved roughly $10 million in salary but retained a $2 million obligation, leaving Valanciunas to test the free-agency market.
During his three-year stint in New Orleans, Valanciunas averaged 14.3 points, 10.2 rebounds and 0.8 blocks. In his final Pelicans season he appeared in a career-high 82 games, helping the club to a 49-win campaign , the second-most victories in franchise history. The Pelicans reached the playoffs that year but were swept in the first round by the Oklahoma City Thunder, with Valanciunas contributing 14.5 points per game as the team’s second-leading scorer.
The current Pelicans roster is built around perimeter talent , Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum and Trey Murphy III , while the departure of Valanciunas has left the frontcourt without a true post presence. The team traded the 6-foot-11 center to the Washington Wizards for a second-round pick, and since then has leaned on smaller lineups that have struggled to protect the paint.
The void in the middle has forced New Orleans to rely on stretch bigs and hybrid forwards, a strategy that has produced offensive bursts but has also exposed defensive frailties against teams anchored by dominant big men. Re-adding a traditional center could restore interior spacing, improve pick-and-roll options with Williamson, and provide the rim protection that has been missing.
From a roster-construction standpoint, bringing Valanciunas back would represent a shift toward a more balanced approach, addressing the rebounding and interior defense gaps that have lingered since his trade. A short-term contract that reflects his reduced market value would give the Pelicans flexibility while anchoring the paint with a familiar and proven player.
Ultimately, a Valanciunas reunion would reconnect the franchise with a piece of its most successful recent era, offering continuity at center that could be the difference between another early-round exit and a deeper playoff run.
