The Lakers weren’t in a position to safe massive man Jonas Valanciunas over the summer time, however the organisation nonetheless has its sight set on him, based on one NBA insider.
The middle was somebody on LeBron’s hit record 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 mentioned of Valanciunas on his YouTube channel. “He was on LeBron’s record, so I feel the Lakers will in all probability revisit that. However I don’t suppose 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 the moment on three-year deal price 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 sport, whereas taking pictures 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 at no cost 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 mentioned. “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 must 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 totally price doing.”
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