The Los Angeles Lakers have been focused on adding a backup center for nearly as long as the 2024-2025 season. While there have been rumors connecting the team with a variety of qualified candidates, one has been in the conversation since the beginning; Washington Wizards center Jonas Valanciunas.
Lakers Have Frameworks Of A Trade For Valanciunas In Place
Recent sourcing from Brett Siegel asserts that the two parties are close to a deal:
“Big man Jonas Valanciunas is the Wizards player who has been linked to the Lakers the most in recent weeks,” Siegel writes. “Valanciunas becomes eligible to be traded on Dec. 15, and the two sides have already discussed the framework of a couple of different scenarios, league sources said.”
With the 15th being the date of the publication of this article, the deal could be made within days.
Valanciunas has averaged 20 minutes off the bench and in that time he averages 12 points, 2.2 assists, and 2.2 rebounds per game. He also adds 5.3 defensive rebounds per game while on the court. The defensive rebounding fills a large gulf that exists between Anthony Davis (9) and LeBron James (7.1) and the next best rebounder, Rui Hachimura (3.3).
Hoops Hype, Michael Scotto described a trade scenario that may unmoor the 6 foot 11 inch Lithuanian out of Washington to southern California.
“Keep an eye on Los Angeles potentially dangling [Gabe] Vincent and future second-round picks to try and land Wizards center Jonas Valanciunas, a coveted target for LA. Vincent has been a disappointment for the Lakers since signing a three-year, $33 million deal due to injuries and inefficient shooting. Los Angeles will look to include him as a salary filler with draft pick compensation in trade talks.”