Jonas Valanciunas has averaged 10 or more rebounds per game in 4 of his last 5 seasons.
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The Washington Wizards are adding to their frontline after reaching a reported deal with center Jonas Valanciunas.
Per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Wizards and Valanciunas agreed to a three-year, $30 million deal early in the opening of free agency on Sunday. In adding Valancinuas, the Wizards get one of the best rebounding big men available in the 2024 free-agent class.
Breaking: Jonas Valanciunas has agreed on a three-year, $30 million deal with the Washington Wizards, sources tell @wojespn. pic.twitter.com/BWePigDhpH
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 1, 2024
Last season, Valanciunas averaged 12.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and shot 55.9% overall and 30.8% on 3-pointers for the New Orleans Pelicans. His 8.8 rpg was marked the first time in four seasons he failed to average at least 10 rpg. He posted 10.7 rpg in 19 games with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2019 and put up 8.6 rpg in 2018-19, giving him nearly five straight seasons with 10 or more rpg.
Valanciunas is a 7-foot, 270-pound traditional big man. He’s a hulking presence who is at his best punishing opponents near the hoop. In Washington, he will join a roster amid changes as the Wizards worked a reported Draft-night trade that brought in veteran guard Malcolm Brogdon. Additionally, Washington agreed to a two-year deal with big man Richaun Holmes to keep him in the mix for the future.
The Wizards needed a center as the only players on the roster from last year listed at that position are Marvin Bagley III and second-year forward Tristan Vukcevic. Of course, Washington has an immediate influx of talent as it landed big man Alexandre Sarr with the No. 2 overall pick in the Draft and also got guards Bub Carrington and Kyshawn George in the first round, too.
Valanciunas’ departure from New Orleans is part of a roster remodel the team began before free agency opened. Per multiple reports, the Pelicans upgraded their backcourt by agreeing to trade for Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray.
Additionally, forward Naji Marshall agreed to a three-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks, which further thins the Pelicans’ frontline. However, New Orleans did add some size in the 2024 Draft, selecting center Yves Missi from Baylor with the No. 21 pick.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
