Jonas Avalačiūnas not demanding when he is asked if he intends to play for the pepper next season

The Denver Nuggets had a low prominent season with multiple transactions that met the needs in a list that has not been short of the downside of the possible champion Oklahoma City Thunder in a series of seven -games playoffs.

A fulcrum of the offseason was an exchange for Jonas Avalačiūs, who would have provided the three -time MVP center Nikola Jokić with a legitimate backup for the first time for years.

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Starting from Tuesday, it is not clear if Valasūnas will actually adapt to the pepper. Avalačiūs is under contract with Denver the second year of a three -year agreement and $ 30.3 million. Tuesday did not offer intuitions that he intends to honor that contract between the news he wants to play elsewhere.

Talk about avalanches

Avalačiūnas publicly dealt with the topic for the first time from trade while granted an interview with local media from the B8 basketball summit in its country of origin of Lithuania. The interview was conducted in Lithuanian, so the shades of his answer are a bit confused in the translation.

But here is the essence of his position, for Google Translate, when he was asked if he will play for the nugget next season:

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“We will only find out when the first game is played,” said Valasūnas. “Everything will be clear.”

Avalačiūs was also asked of his Nugget obligations in terms of availability to play for the Lithuania national team for the Eurobasket tournament. Here’s what he had to say about the trade that is not yet official.

“Once made trade, we will make a plan,” said Valasūnas. “They will express their desires, as they think, as they see it … … Medical (exam), other details. It will depend on the team.”

It is not exactly reassuring for the Nuggets and their fans hope that they had finally resolved the long -standing challenge to provide solid minutes of backup for Jokić.

What is the compensation?

Restoing is the desire for Valasūnas has reported playing abroad. According to reports, Valasūnas has a mutual interest in joining the Greek team Euroleague Panathinaikos. But his NBA contract gives the exclusivity of the nugget on his basketball rights. If Avalačiūnas played basketball elsewhere, he would ask the Nugget to free him from his contract.

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According to Espn, the Nuggets have no intention of doing it. Denver’s plan is for Avalačiūs to honor his agreement. And for a good reason.

Because Valasūnas counts so much for the pepper

Jokić played 36.7 minutes per game last season, most of his career of over two minutes per game. He did it because the nugget were lacking in effective backup options in the pole, and the pepper were drastically worse when Jokić was out of the floor.

Jokić faced two physical matches in the pole in a pair of exhausting series of seven -games playoffs when he paired with the Ivica Zubac Clippers Center and the Thunder Center Isaiah Hartentein. Without a practicable backup, Jokić’s minutes increased in the post -Station at 40.2 per game.

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At 6 feet-11 and 265 pounds, Avalačiūs is a reliable physical presence in the place that could provide Jokić with a relief so necessary in similar situations. Last season Avalačiūs was an impact player for Kings and Wizards with averages of 10.4 points and 7.7 rebounds in just 18.8 minutes per game.

These are the exact type of minutes that the pepper are looking for Jokić’s relief. Starting now, it remains to be seen if they will take them from avalanchesūnas.