One of the more unexpected moves of the free agency came out of the Washington Wizards. After a disastrous campaign, many were expecting a quiet NBA offseason in the nation’s capital. And, for the most part, those assumptions were correct.
However, signing Jonas Valanciunas to a three-year deal in the first hours of free agency came as a shock to everyone. Coming off a strong run with the New Orleans Pelicans, Valaciunas was among the more coveted Centers hitting the open market.
As a result, multiple teams including the Los Angeles Lakers were vying for his services. In the initial days, before LeBron James put pen to paper on his contract, Jonas was on the list of players he would take a discount for. Ultimately, that did not end up happening, and JV is in Washington now. As a viable asset for any Contender, the move might be an extremely shrewd one for the Wizards.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jonas Valanciunas, Washington Wizards Updates
After years of organizational malpractice from the front office, this move might be a clear-cut winner. Because it wasn’t just a whim to get anyone that made them go after the Lithuanian. The team has a clear plan in mind, and it isn’t half-bad.
Where does the Jonas Valanciunas train land?
It is a three-way race for the services of Jonas Valanciunas. And it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out who they are. The Golden State Warriors, who were going after Lauri Markkanen with all their might and the New York Knicks join the already discussed Los Angeles Lakers.
For the Warriors, falling short of Markkanen was a major blow. Since this iteration of the team took over, they have been heavily lacking in size. Obviously, Lauri would have been a highly impactful option while addressing their size deficit. But, Valanciunas could serve as a decent placeholder. With just Trayce Jackson-Davis and Kevon Looney manning their middle, December can’t come soon enough for the fans in the Bay.
On the other hand, the New York Knicks and their Center drama is clear as day. After a drawn-out negotiation process with backup Isaiah Hartenstein, the Oklahoma City Thunder swooped in to steal him away. That leaves a clear deficit for the Knicks.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jonas Valanciunas, Washington Wizards Updates
Beyond Mitchell Robinson, they don’t have any credible size to rely on. That is where Jonas could fit in seamlessly. Providing that iHart role, Valanciunas could thrive in the Big Apple.
For the Lakers, moving Anthony Davis to the 4 remains a perpetual pipedream. But, with Jaxon Hayes and Christian Wood as the Center options, Valanciunas is a significant upgrade. While they remain reluctant to part with draft capital, a change by December could be unavoidable.
Optimism in DC?
Over the last few years, Wizards fans have gotten used to some terrible front-office decisions. Signging players to premium contracts was a common issue. But, it became even more profound with Bradley Beal, Kyle Kuzma, and Kristaps Porzingis. Thereafter, trading them away for pennies on the dollar wasn’t ideal either and led to understandable frustration.
But, this offseason, the moves by the team have given the fans some hope. Firstly, spending money wisely was a priority, which they did. Secondly, they nailed the draft and have something of a young core to now potentially develop.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jonas Valanciunas, Washington Wizards Updates
The Valanciunas move was the cream of the crop. With the cap space they had, the team made sure to add a tradeable asset, which could give them youngsters and/or draft capital for the future.
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