According to NBA reporter Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the Los Angeles Lakers are likely considering a move to acquire Jonas Valanciunas from the Washington Wizards.
Valanciunas signed a three-year, $30.3 million deal with the Wizards this offseason as part of a sign-and-trade agreement with the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Lakers had shown interest in signing Valanciunas previously, and superstar LeBron James was even willing to accept a lower salary to help the team bring in the center.
Buha mentioned on his podcast, “There was definitely some interest. He was on LeBron’s radar, so I think the Lakers will probably revisit that possibility.”
Last season, Valanciunas averaged 12.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.8 blocks while shooting 55.9% from the field, 30.8% from three-point range, and 78.5% from the free-throw line. He recorded 33 double-doubles.
At 32 years old, Valanciunas has career averages of 13.4 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.4 steals, and 1.0 blocks, with previous teams including the Toronto Raptors, Memphis Grizzlies, and Pelicans.
An NBA executive commented, “It’s a smart move for Valanciunas to get paid now, especially with limited opportunities available due to the new rules. The signing allows him to get a good deal and gives the team the chance to trade him to a contender later, similar to how baseball handles players signing with teams for trade purposes.”
The Lakers were eliminated by the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2024 playoffs and also lost to them in the 2023 Western Conference Finals. Following these defeats, the Lakers dismissed head coach Darvin Ham and hired former NBA guard JJ Redick, who previously co-hosted a podcast with LeBron James.
