​Jonas Valančiūnas has been on the Knicks’ radar since the 2024 offseason, according to SNY’s Ian Begley, and his status as a familiar free-agent target has only grown since he became available this week. The late-breaking development adds another layer to New York’s ongoing pursuit, but it may hinge less on luring him to choose the Knicks over other teams and more on persuading him not to go home to Lithuania.
During Bleacher Report’s live stream from the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas on Thursday, NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer discussed Valančiūnas’s situation. Fischer indicated that Valančiūnas has a standing offer from Žalgiris Kaunas, the Lithuanian powerhouse, as he weighs whether to continue playing in the NBA or return to Europe after 14 seasons. Stein echoed that Valančiūnas has a readily available option in his native Lithuania and noted that a homecoming has become a plausible possibility. “If he wants it, it’s there sitting on the table for him from Žalgiris Kaunas,” Stein said. He added that he doesn’t know which direction Valančiūnas will take, but made clear that the homecoming scenario is no longer far-fetched. “So if Jonas Valančiūnas wants to stay in the NBA, I think he certainly can,” Stein said. “But is it time? After 14 seasons for Big Val … is it time for him to go back to Europe? It might be.”
Valančiūnas’s situation has been a familiar topic for the Knicks for years. The veteran center has drawn interest from New York since the 2024 offseason, a point reinforced by Begley’s reporting from SNY. Valančiūnas, a former client of Knicks president Leon Rose, remains among the veteran centers on New York’s radar after being waived by the Denver Nuggets. The latest discussions underscore that the Knicks’ interest persists, even as Valančiūnas weighs his options.
Unlike in 2024, when the Knicks first signaled interest in Valančiūnas, this time their pitch is expected to hinge less on financial incentives and more on fit and opportunity. New York’s current payroll situation is tight, with approximately $3.3 million of cap space available below the NBA’s second apron after re-signing Jordan Clarkson to a one-year veteran minimum contract. The Knicks have 13 players under contract, leaving room for one more signing to reach the league’s standard 14-player roster minimum. Valančiūnas is eligible for a one-year veteran minimum deal, which would be around $3.9 million, but long-tenured veteran minimum contracts count less against the salary cap. His deal would count for roughly $2.5 million against New York’s payroll, potentially leaving the team with about $800,000 of room to maneuver below the second apron threshold.
The Knicks’ continued interest in Valančiūnas, coupled with Fischer and Stein’s comments, signal that New York remains engaged with a familiar, experienced center as it navigates a roster-building period. Whether Valančiūnas remains in the NBA and stays in New York or decides to return home to Europe will depend on a complex mix of personal preference, competing offers, and how well a potential role with the Knicks aligns with his goals for the next chapter of his career.