Jonas Valanciunas is coming off his third season with the New Orleans Pelicans, where he averaged 12.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 55.9% from the field and 30.8% from beyond the arc in 82 games.
This offseason, Valanciunas signed with the Washington Wizards. According to the Pelicans on July 6, “The New Orleans Pelicans have acquired a protected 2027 second-round pick from the Washington Wizards in exchange for center Jonas Valančiūnas as part of a sign-and-trade agreement between the two teams.”
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski first reported the details of the deal, stating on June 30, “Free agent center Jonas Valanciunas has agreed on a three-year, $30 million deal with the Washington Wizards, sources tell ESPN.”
Recently, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst suggested on The Hoop Collective Podcast that the Los Angeles Lakers could be a potential destination for Valanciunas (via HoopsHype).
Windhorst remarked, “I wouldn’t rule out Jonas Valanciunas eventually ending up a Laker this year. That’s all I’m gonna say.”
Valanciunas, the fifth overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, has played for the Toronto Raptors and Memphis Grizzlies during his 12-season career. He holds career averages of 13.4 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game, shooting 56.1% from the field and 34.8% from three-point range in 856 regular season games.
He has also competed in 58 NBA playoff games (starting 51) and was part of the Raptors’ 2016 Eastern Conference Finals run.
