Jonas Valanciunas inks three-year deal with Wizards

Jonas Valanciunas inks three-year deal with Wizards

Nearly three hours into 2024 NBA Free Agency, the Washington Wizards have signed center Jonas Valanciunas to a three-year, $30 million deal, ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski was first to report Sunday.

Free agent center Jonas Valanciunas has agreed on a three-year, $30 million deal with the Washington Wizards, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/0XnEyWotOw

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2024

Valanciunas, 32, spent the last three seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans. Last season, the near-7-footer averaged 12.2 points and 8.8 rebounds in 23.5 minutes per game, shooting 55.9 percent from the floor and 78.5 percent from the free-throw line.

The fit wasn’t always perfect when he shared the frontcourt alongside Zion Williamson, where the spacing was compromised. Though he was still one of the league’s most productive centers, averaging 14.6 points and 10.1 boards over the last three combined seasons.

Valanciunas is one of the best-rebounding bigs in the sport, having finished in the top-6 in rebounding percentage in each of the last five seasons–leading the NBA in that category in 2022-23.

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Now, he joins a Wizards team that placed dead-last in rebounding percentage last year–by over 1.5 percentage points–after being in the bottom half in rebounding four of the previous five seasons.

He will bring a very sturdy body alongside No. 2 pick Alexandre Sarr, who will have more freedom to switch 1-4. Valanciunas is also on yet another cost-controlled contract that will be easily movable in 1-2 years if Washington remains a non-contender.

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This is a breaking news story. Stay tuned for updates.

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