At the beginning of the offseason, the Washington Wizards signed veteran big man Jonas Valanciunas. The 32-year-old signed a three-year, $30 million contract as an unrestricted free agent. Valanciunas is a solid big man and should make the Wizards better. However, his acquisition came as a shock. Washington drafted Alex Sarr with the No. 2 pick in this year’s draft. Additionally, the Wizards finished last season with a 15-67 record and are in no position to contend in the near future. Valanciunas does not fit their timeline, making the signing a strange one. However, NBA writer Sean Deveney suggested that the Wizards will likely explore a trade to move Valanciunas when he is eligible in December.
The expectation is that Washington will begin looking for a deal for Jonas Valančiūnas in December when he becomes eligible to be traded, per @SeanDeveney pic.twitter.com/3UPn0iHALG
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 4, 2024
The Lithuanian native spent the last three seasons of his career with the New Orleans Pelicans. With the team, he averaged 14.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. Though he was a solid big man for the team, it was expected for a while that he would be gone during the offseason. According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, the Pelicans did not view Valanciunas as the right center to pair with Zion Williamson.
“There’s a sense Jonas Valanciunas won’t return as a Pelican this offseason in free agency, I’m told. Valanciunas essentially split center minutes with Larry Nance Jr. this season and was benched often to close games. When Zion is healthy and playing, Valanciunas occupies the paint and clogs driving lanes for Zion. While he’s still a double-double threat, he’s not an ideal fit for this roster, and his near double-double production will likely be more valued by other teams on the unrestricted free-agent market.”
Washington Wizards Could Trade Jonas Valanciunas This Year
Multiple Teams Linked to Wizards Center
If the Wizards do decide to trade the big man, many teams will be in the running to land him. So far this offseason, the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, and Golden State Warriors have all been linked to Valanciunas. In July, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said he “wouldn’t rule out” Valanciunas ending up on the Lakers by the end of next season.
“Anthony Davis, First-Team All-NBA defense this year … looks awesome. And even though he’s, like, almost never looked better defensively, you’ve got JJ Redick out there on the record saying that, ‘We need a bruising center,’” Windhorst said. “[That’s] the reason they went after Jonas Valanciunas. By the way, do we think Jonas Valanciunas will be on offer from the Wizards midway through the season? I wouldn’t rule out Jonas Valanciunas eventually ending up a Laker this year.”
The Last Word on Jonas Valanciunas
Valanciunas is a reliable big man who can help any contender. Additionally, his new contract is rather team-friendly, making him appealing to teams looking to add a center. So far, anything related to a Valanciunas trade is purely rumors. However, the team is highly unlikely to contend this season. Trading the former Toronto Raptors center would be in Washington’s best interest.
