The Los Angeles Lakers have not made any significant moves to their roster through this offseason. The Lakers front office seems to be retaining and trusting the core they’ve built over the past several seasons. Quite disappointing offseason is leaving fans in shambles as they expect the purple and gold to make beneficial moves. It was widely known throughout the first several weeks into free agency that they tried to acquire some big names.<\/p>\n
Players like DeMar DeRozan<\/a> and Klay Thompson<\/a> were in the mix with the Lakers but ultimately signed new deals with the Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks respectively. Another name in free agency the Lakers tried landing was Jonas Valan\u010di\u016bnas<\/a>. Valan\u010di\u016bnas signed with the Washington Wizards on a three-year, $30 million deal. However, this big bruising center will likely be available mid-season, and the Lakers are reportedly not done pursuing him.<\/p>\n Valan\u010di\u016bnas will be available mid-season. The big-bruising center is not trade-eligible until December 15th. This signifies for the first several weeks into the regular season, the Lakers will be running it back with their current roster. Last year with New Orleans, the big man was available in all 82 games. He averaged 12.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 0.8 blocks per game. Valan\u010di\u016bnas can be deemed as someone who doesn’t space the floor much, but that says otherwise over the past several seasons. He has emerged as a solid three-point shooter for a big man. Across the four prior seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies and Pelicans, from 2020-23, he connected on 34.6 percent of his 1.5 triple tries a night.<\/p>\n According to Lakers insider Jovan Buha of The Athletic<\/a>, the front office will likely go after Valan\u010di\u016bnas when he is eligible to be traded come mid-December.<\/p>\n “There was some interest, obviously,\u201d Buha said. \u201cHe was on LeBron\u2019s list, so I think the Lakers will probably revisit that. But I don\u2019t think there\u2019s as much interest as a guy like a Wendell Carter<\/a> or some of these other guys that have popped up. So, I view it more as more of a mid-to-low tier trade target for them.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n Jovan Buha says Lakers will go after Jonas Valanciunas again https:\/\/t.co\/waxYzvxcVe<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/lfeAC6reu7<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 LeBron Wire (@LeBron_Wire) September 2, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nLakers to Revisit 2024 Free Agent Target Jonas Valan\u010di\u016bnas<\/h2>\n
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