"Play eight minutes a game and have these Jokic stat nerds blame you" - Eddie Johnson thinks Jonas Valanciunas should go to Europe originally appeared on Basketball Network.

Jonas Valanciunas has been lured into considering a return to the EuroLeague, where the Greek club Panathinaikos has offered him a three-year contract worth $13 million, according to a report by BasketNews. One problem: Valanciunas is under contract in the NBA. For $10.4 million next season, to be exact.

Rumors have swirled this summer that newly acquired veteran center Jonas Valanciunas might bolt the NBA to return to Europe, with Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos reportedly dangling a three‐year, $13 million contract in front of him, per The Denver Post .

According to Vic Lombardi, the franchise and the experienced player have agreed on staying together, especially if Jonas Valanciunas’ second season with Denver will be guaranteed. “The Nuggets believe he will play here and time will heal,” it was said during Altitude SR 92.5’s show.

The Denver Nuggets will proceed with their pending trade for Jonas Valanciunas and intend to uphold to his contract, as Marc Stein first reported, despite a lucrative offer from G

The Nuggets intend to hold Jonas Valanciunas to his NBA contract commitment despite his reported interest in an offer to return to the EuroLeague, a league source confirmed to The Denver Post on

The second flipped Dario Sarič to Sacramento for Jonas Valančiūnas, seemingly solving the Nuggets' backup center problem that's persisted for a few years now. However, new reports indicate that deal may not get done as Valančiūnas may not even play in the NBA next year.

The Denver Nuggets didn't flinch at completing their trade for center Jonas Valanciunas, even if he wants to return to Europe.