What happened: Denver retains roster and cap flexibility tied to Jonas Valanciunas's roughly $10 million contract. Only $2 million of that figure is guaranteed, with the remaining balance becoming protected if he is not waived by July 8. That structure gives the Nuggets a clean decision point in the coming days.
Why it matters: Denver enters the offseason pressed against the second apron, where roster-building tools tighten considerably. Moving off the non-guaranteed portion of Valanciunas's deal would open breathing room as the front office works to retain its own free agents. The July 8 trigger turns a routine bookkeeping date into a real fork in the team's cap plan.
By the numbers: Contract value: roughly $10 million. Guaranteed money: $2 million. Protection trigger: full balance guarantees if Valanciunas is not waived by July 8.
What to watch: Watch whether Denver waives Valanciunas before the July 8 deadline or carries the contract into the new league year. The decision will signal how aggressively the Nuggets intend to operate around the second apron.