It has been virtually two weeks for the reason that Kings of Sacramento and Denver Nuggets first agreed to change Jonas Valančiūnas and Dario Sarić after the stories started to torment that Valančiūnas deliberate to go away the NBA.
The rumor that Greece was its deliberate vacation spot fairly than nuggets, but it surely didn’t appear that it had ever been communicated to the Nuggets. As a result of Jonas remains to be beneath contract, he must be launched from this to have the ability to play in Greece. This example has raised issues that commerce can’t undergo; Nevertheless, the Nuggets argued that they anticipate the commerce to undergo Valančiūnas honor.
The saga lastly ended (for the Kings, at the least) in the present day, as a result of the commerce has been formalized.
“The Kings of Sacramento introduced in the present day that the group had acquired Dario Šarić from Denver Nuggets in change for Jonas Valancunas,” stated the Kings.
Come on, Dario Šarić 👑 pic.twitter.com/fjep8uoedf
– Sacramento Kings (@SacramentooS) July 14, 2025
Valančiūnas will miss Sacramento, even when he solely performed a half-season at Golden One. This doesn’t assist the truth that commerce might be to save cash, however it’s sadly the corporate of the NBA.
Jonas rapidly turned a favourite of followers in Sacramento after being acquired from Washington Wizards on the deadline for commerce. After two years to not have an actual backup for Domantas Sabonis, Valančiūnas rapidly confirmed followers and the group how essential it was to have a safeguard succesful behind Triple All-Star. Valančiūnas raised a mean of 8.7 factors and seven rebounds in simply 17 minutes per match, which ends up in a ridiculous 18.6 factors and 14.8 rebounds per 36 minutes.
Maxime Raynaud and Drew Eubanks must take the mantle, however don’t anticipate them to breed one of these manufacturing from the place of save 5.
Earlier than the commerce was official, there have been rumors that the Kings had provided Sarić to the Warriors as a part of a enterprise to amass Jonathan Kuminga, however it appears that evidently nothing materializes there. If Sarić stays on the listing, he’ll in all probability not play a ton, until accidents.
Sarić had a wonderful begin to his profession, ending second within the recruit vote of the 12 months whereas making a mean of 12.8 factors and 6.3 rebounds per recreation for the 76ers of Philadelphia. Sarić didn’t have a wonderful season for Denver final 12 months, however he’s at all times capable of drop deep pictures and may present help on the boards.
Though Sarić will not be essentially the most glamorous acquisition, Jonas’s displacement saves cash in Sacramento, which is able to assist their capacity to lock gamers like Keegan Murray and Keon Ellis in the long run.
Kings will not be a group that is able to go by way of the luxurious tax threshold, so actions like these mustn’t shock, however that makes you ask if Sarić might be lifted and stretched this season. With solely a 12 months and $ 5.4 million to play on his contract, the Kings might hand over Sarić and stretch his $ 5.4 million over two years whereas liberating up an inventory place. Time will say what is going on on with Sarić, however don’t anticipate it to be a focus of the group anyway.
