The Lakers are eyeing frontcourt help for Anthony Davis, with Washington Wizards center Jonas Valanciunas emerging as a potential trade target.
According to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, the veteran big man is firmly on Los Angeles’s radar. Valanciunas, averaging 9.4 rebounds and 1.0 blocks across his 13-year career, could help ease Davis’s defensive responsibilities while the Lakers ask more from him offensively than ever before.
“Jonas Valanciunas … is definitely a name that you continue to hear being bandied about as a Lakers trade target,” Fischer said Saturday. “Valanciunas is definitely available for trade in Washington.” The interest isn’t new.
LeBron James mentioned Valanciunas during the offseason as someone he’d consider taking a pay cut for in free agency. While that didn’t materialize, Valanciunas’s $80.3 million deal with Washington could facilitate a trade.
“When he signed that contract, that three-year deal around the mid-level with Washington, most around the league looked at that as something that was going to be a very strong, tradable deal,” Fischer noted. The timing makes sense.
Under new head coach JJ Redick, Davis is having a career year offensively, ranking second in the league with 31.3 points per game while maintaining his defensive presence (11.2 rebounds, 1.9 blocks). His 31.7% usage rate leads the team and ranks fifth league-wide, approaching his career-high of 32.6% set with the 2016-17 Pelicans.
The Lakers’ interest in Valanciunas speaks to a larger strategy under Redick’s leadership. While Davis’s offensive explosion has powered their strong start, sustaining that production through a grueling 82-game season requires thoughtful roster management.
With the February trade deadline approaching and several teams likely to become sellers, the Lakers appear positioned to strengthen their frontcourt depth. Whether Valanciunas is the answer remains to be seen, but his experience, rebounding prowess, and reasonable contract make him an intriguing option as Los Angeles looks to build a championship-caliber supporting cast around James and Davis.
