New Knicks Rumors on Jonas Valanciunas After Center Was Waived by Nuggets in NBA Free Agency

The New York Knicks could look to add frontcourt depth in the wake of Mitchell Robinson's departure by targeting Denver Nuggets center Jonas Valančiūnas.

SNY's Ian Begley reported Thursday that Valančiūnas is "among centers on [the Knicks'] radar."

According to Begley, the Knicks expressed interest in Valančiūnas ahead of the 2024 season before he signed a multi-year deal with the New Orleans Pelicans.

ESPN's Shams Charania reported Wednesday Valančiūnas is expected to receive interest from multiple other teams after being reportedly waived by the Nuggets.

BasketNews also reported Valančiūnas has received interest from the Lithuanian club Žalgiris Kaunas.

The news comes after the Knicks lost Robinson to the Boston Celtics in free agency before signing Andre Drummond to a one-year veteran's minimum deal.

Begley reported last week the Knicks see Valančiūnas "as a potential third center" behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Drummond.

The Athletic's James L. Edwards III similarly previously named Valančiūnas as a name "to watch for" with the Knicks.

The Nuggets acquired Valančiūnas from the Sacramento Kings in a trade last July.

Valančiūnas went on to average 8.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists through 65 games, mostly coming off the bench before falling out of the rotation altogether late in his lone season with the Nuggets.

He shot 58.2 percent from the field, 30.8 percent from deep and 60.2 perent from the two-point range during his final season in Denver.

Valančiūnas was waived just before $10 million in salary guarantees kicked in Wednesday, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks. He is still owed $2 million from the Nuggets next season.

Cutting his contract and signing Marvin Bagley III to a veteran minimum deal allowed the Nuggets to save enough cap space to stay under the second luxury tax apron for now.

Team owner James Dolan said in June he doesn't plan to go into the second apron, which Spotrac reports the Knicks are just $5.7 million below as of Thursday.

Whether Valančiūnas is considering playing in Europe and whether he is willing to sign a veteran minimum contract could both play a role in the likelihood the veteran big man ends up in Manhattan next season.