The Denver Nuggets’ offseason revamp has been one of the more intriguing storylines of the summer, and forward Cam Johnson made his feelings clear on one of the team’s newest additions — Jonas Valanciunas.
“Yeah, obviously I keep a close eye on all the movement across the league at all points,” Johnson said, addressing the media. “So after the trade and when I found Tim [Hardaway Jr.] is joining us here in Denver, Bruce [Brown] is joining us here in Denver, and Valanciunas is joining us here—like, those are three phenomenal players in terms of guys that are versatile, guys that have defined skill sets, guys that can really seem to contribute to what everyone is building here.”
Though Johnson didn’t know Valanciunas personally, he’s well aware of his reputation. “I’ve seen their games, I’ve seen them play, I’ve seen them over the course of my career and before I got in the league, and it just seems like the front office here has a very strong vision of what they want… and it’s really cool to see.”
Denver made the trade for Valanciunas official last weekend, acquiring the veteran center from Sacramento for Dario Saric. Despite reports linking Valanciunas to EuroLeague powerhouse Panathinaikos, the Nuggets’ leadership insists there’s no cause for concern.
“We’ve had great conversations with him, and there’s been nothing but healthy conversations in terms of him honoring his contract and him being excited to be a Nugget,” said Ben Tenzer, the team’s executive VP of basketball operations. When asked if there were any worries about Valanciunas’ arrival in Denver, Tenzer made it crystal clear: “No concerns.”
Valanciunas, currently preparing to play for Lithuania at FIBA EuroBasket, is still finalizing plans to join the Nuggets before the season begins. “He’s going to be playing, and there are plans for him to get here sooner than later, but still working through that,” added Nuggets GM Jonathan Wallace. “We’ll approach it at that time.”
Valanciunas is expected to bolster Denver’s depth behind three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, easing the superstar’s workload. The Nuggets have also reshaped their roster with moves for Johnson, Hardaway Jr., and Bruce Brown.
Reflecting on Jokic’s play, Johnson said, “His best ability is just understanding where he is in space and where his teammates are in space at all times. I find a spot, and there’s a high chance that he’s going to put the pass on time, on target.”
On his move to Denver, Johnson shared a lighter note. “I don’t know if it will happen, but [Porter Jr. and I swapping houses] is being discussed right now.”
(Hang tight, more coming soon…)
The post Cam Johnson Clears Feelings on Jonas Valanciunas as Timeline for Lithuanian’s Nuggets Joining Confirmed appeared first on EssentiallySports.