Nuggets reportedly waiving C Jonas Valančiūnas after his disappointing stint as Nikola Jokić's backup

The Denver Nuggets are waiving center Jonas Valančiūnas, according to Hoops Hype's Michael Scotto and ESPN's Shams Charania.

The Nuggets reportedly made the decision before a $10 million guarantee kicked in on his contract.

Valančiūnas, 34, joined the Nuggets last offseason via trade from the Sacramento Kings. The Nuggets hoped that Valančiūnas would serve as the answer as a reliable backup to three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić. But Valančiūnas fell out of the regular rotation down the stretch run and during Denver's first-round playoff loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

In 65 regular-season games in Denver, Valančiūnas averaged 8.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 13.4 minutes per game. Due in part to his inability to stretch the floor, he played in just four of Denver's six playoff games against Minnesota, averaging 2.8 points and 2.3 rebounds in 6.3 minutes per game.

The Nuggets agreed with veteran center Marvin Bagley to a one-year contract last week. He'll presumably served as the primary backup to Jokić next season.