The Lakers weren’t in a position to safe large man Jonas Valanciunas over the summer season, however the organisation nonetheless has its sight set on him, in response to one NBA insider.
The middle was somebody on LeBron’s hit checklist to focus on, so The Athletic’s Jovan Buha thinks signing Valanciunas isn’t completely out of the query sooner or later.
“There was some curiosity, clearly,” Buha stated of Valanciunas on his YouTube channel. “He was on LeBron’s checklist, so I believe the Lakers will in all probability revisit that. However I don’t assume there’s as a lot curiosity as a man like a Wendell Carter or a few of these different guys which have popped up. So, I view it extra as extra of a mid-to-low tier commerce goal for them.”
Valanciunas is at present on three-year deal value over $30 million with the Wizards after spending the final three years seasons with the Pelicans.
In the course of the 2023-24 season, Valanciunas appeared in all 82 common season video games for New Orleans, the place he averaged 12.2 factors, 8.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 0.8 blocks per recreation, whereas capturing 55.9 % from the sector and 30.8 % from three.
Elsewhere, B/R’s Dan Favale thinks that LA ought to make room on their roster totally free agent Cedi Osman.
Over the previous three seasons, he’s sinking greater than 57 % of his twos and 37 % of his threes.
Solely seven different gamers within the league (Duncan Robinson, Corey Kispert, Trey Murphy, Sam Hauser, Al Horford, Michael Porter Jr. and Kevin Durant) are on this class, whereas taking as many threes as Osman (330).
“Precisely none of their wings or combo forwards are thought-about knockdown shooters,” Favale stated. “Osman would improve their spacing at minimal, and his willingness to maneuver with out the ball ought to match cleanly inside head coach JJ Redick’s (presumed) offensive tenets.
“Los Angeles already has 15 assured contracts on the books (and is a heartbeat away from the second apron). It’ll need to grease the wheels of a Jaxson Hayes, Christian Wooden or Cam Reddish commerce to make room for Osman—a minor nuisance that, as of now, is completely value doing.”
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