The Wizards have officially added Valanciunas, completing the signing via sign-and-trade, the team announced today in a press release.
Washington was able to take on Valanciunas using a $9.8MM trade exception created in last July’s Monte Morris trade, preserving its full $12.9MM mid-level exception.
In exchange for accommodating the Wizards, the Pelicans received the Bulls’ top-50 protected 2027 pick. That pick may not actually convey, but New Orleans will also create a trade exception of its own equivalent to Valanciunas’ outgoing salary, which figures to be in the $9-10MM range.
JUNE 30: The Wizards have found a new starting center, having agreed to terms with Jonas Valanciunas on a three-year, $30MM contract, sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link).
According to Josh Robbins of The Athletic, it’s a straight three-year deal, with no player or team option (Twitter link).
Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports linked Valanciunas to the rebuilding Wizards just before free agency opened. The Lakers were reportedly among the other suitors for the 32-year-old.
As cap expert Yossi Gozlan tweets, Washington has a couple options to complete the move. The most straightforward way would be to use the non-taxpayer mid-level exception. However, the Wizards also have a trade exception that could be used to acquire Valanciunas via sign-and-trade, which could be help the Pelicans — Valanciunas’ former club — find a starting center to replace the veteran big man if the deal is expanded. Either scenario would see the Wizards hard-capped at the first tax apron.
One of the NBA’s best rebounders on a per-minute basis, Valanciunas is a throwback center who primarily operates out of the low post, relying on size and strength rather than agility and athleticism. He has been quite durable over the course of his 12-year career, including playing all 82 games for New Orleans in 2023/24.
Overall, Valanciunas averaged 12.2 PPG, 8.8 RPG and 2.1 APG on .559/.308/.785 shooting in 23.5 MPG last season.
While he has his limitations, primarily on defense, Valanciunas will provide veteran leadership, professionalism, toughness, and production in the middle for a young Wizards team that added its presumptive center of the future (Alex Sarr) on Wednesday with the No. 2 overall pick in the draft.
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