Following reported trade to Nuggets, Jonas Valanciunas considering NBA departure to play overseas: Report

Jonas Valanciunas might not back up Nikola Jokic, after all.

Just two days after reports surfaced about an agreed-to player swap between the Sacramento Kings and Denver Nuggets that would send Valanciunas to Denver and fellow veteran big man Dario Saric to Sacramento, news broke about Valanciunas' interest in playing overseas.

Advertisement

Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews first reported Thursday that Valanciunas is considering leaving the NBA to play for Greek club Panathinaikos Athens.

Longtime NBA insider Marc Stein confirmed Urbonas' report that a return to Europe is enticing for Valanciunas.

Stein reported that Valanciunas could seek a buyout from his NBA contract to join Panathinaikos Athens.

Even though Denver and Sacramento agreed to the Valanciunas-Saric trade, the exchange cannot be made official until Sunday.

This breaking news story will be updated.