The Denver Nuggets have made it clear this offseason that they need a dependable backup center behind Nikola Jokic. The front office moved quickly to address that concern by targeting veteran big man Jonas Valanciunas.

The Nuggets have a logical reason behind their reported inclination to block Jonas Valanciunas' reported move to Panathinaikos.

The Denver Nuggets and Jonas Valanciunas are about to be locked in a staredown. Denver agreed to a trade for Valanciunas, the veteran center, earlier this week. Then reports came out that Valanciunas had been offered a multi-year contract by Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos.