The Nuggets have a message for Jonas Valanciunas after trading for the veteran big man to be Nikola Jokic's backup.

You really would like to have a long rotation to start the season and then let things play out as they will,” Adelman told.

The Nuggets traded Dario Šarić to the Sacramento Kings in return for Valančiūnas on July 1, but NBA insider Marc Stein reported a few days after the deal that the idea of playing in Europe held "strong appeal" for Valančiūnas as he mulled whether to seek a buyout from Denver.