The Los Angeles Lakers are actively seeking to bolster their interior lineup and may still have a chance to acquire one of LeBron James’ preferred targets.
On the July 19 episode of the “Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective” podcast, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Tim Bontemps suggested that center Jonas Valanciunas could be available ahead of next season’s February trade deadline. They indicated that the Lakers would be strong contenders for his services.
“Anthony Davis, a First-Team All-NBA defender this year, looks incredible defensively, yet head coach JJ Redick has mentioned the need for a ‘bruising’ center,” Windhorst said. “That’s why they targeted Jonas Valanciunas. With the Wizards possibly making him available, there’s a chance he could become a Laker this year.”
Bontemps agreed, adding, “One hundred percent. Or he could end up somewhere else besides Washington.”
Valanciunas signed a three-year, $30.3 million deal with the Wizards after spending the last three seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans.
LeBron James Considered Pay Cut for Valanciunas
Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, LeBron James’ agent, revealed in late June that James was willing to take a pay cut if it meant the Lakers could use the mid-level exception (MLE) to sign a top free agent, including Valanciunas.
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, “James would sacrifice financially for an established veteran playmaker like James Harden or Klay Thompson, or a big man like Jonas Valanciunas to play alongside Anthony Davis.”
Despite these intentions, the Lakers did not secure Valanciunas or other top targets during the initial wave of free agency.
Valanciunas’ Potential Impact on the Lakers
Valanciunas is known for his strong interior defense and could help the Lakers against larger Western Conference teams like the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves. He recorded a defensive rating of 109.9 last season, significantly better than the league average.
Standing at 6-feet-11 and weighing 265 pounds, the 32-year-old Valanciunas is also a solid rebounder, averaging 9.5 rebounds over his career, with peaks between 10.2 and 12.5 rebounds per game from 2019-23. Offensively, he has a career average of 13.4 points per game and posted at least 14.1 points per game for five consecutive seasons from 2018-23.
Valanciunas could provide valuable depth and insurance for the injury-prone Anthony Davis. While his and Davis’ lack of three-point shooting could affect floor spacing, Valanciunas’ defensive and rebounding strengths would likely outweigh these concerns, making him a valuable asset for the Lakers. Thus, the team remains interested in trade discussions for the center, should he become available.
