The Los Angeles Lakers have been linked to Jonas Valanciunas for long enough that many considered a trade to be inevitable. LeBron James identified Valanciunas as a player he would like to see the Lakers sign, and rumors swirled for months on end in the aftermath of the big man inking a deal with the Washington Wizards.
Unfortunately, the Lakers' patience may have become complacency, and the price to acquire Valanciunas has grown exponentially.
At the time when Los Angeles was first rumored to be interested in Valanciunas, teams were yet to set the trade market ablaze with rumors, let alone firm interest. As more time passed, however, the desire for a productive big grew around the NBA—creating entirely new challenges for the Lakers' pursuit.
According to Michael Wright of ESPN, the Lakers may be forced to look at other options due to Valanciunas being priced out of their ideal range.
"It has been rumored that Los Angeles is hoping to land the Washington Wizards' Jonas Valanciunas as it still holds a couple of second-round picks as assets. But Washington's asking price might be too rich for the Lakers, which will surely have competition for Valanciunas' services. Luckily for the Lakers, Valanciunas isn't the only option, as multiple teams are shopping potential backup centers."
There are other options to consider, but the Lakers must learn from this experience if they're going to add the talent they need down low.
Lakers may have waited too long to trade for Jonas Valanciunas
The Lakers entered the 2024-25 season with the same issue that plagued them in 2023-24 and the 2023 NBA Playoffs: Underwhelming interior depth. Teams with bigs who know how to throw their weight around typically dominate Los Anglees on the offensive glass and score at virtual will in the post.
Anthony Davis is one of the best defensive players in the NBA, but the harsh reality is that he's stretched too thin to do everything the Lakers need him to down low.
With this in mind, a trade for Valanciunas appeared to be the answer to Los Angeles' greatest flaws. He has impressive size at 6'11" and 265 pounds with a massive wingspan, and is one of the best rebounders of his generation.
Valanciunas is also one of the most skilled post scorers in the NBA, thus making him an ideal addition to the Lakers' underwhelming second unit.
The reason Los Angeles is unlikely to be willing to give up more than second-round compensation, however, begins with the fact that Valanciunas is 32. The franchise has a disconcerting future ahead of it as far as the NBA Draft is concerned, thus making a trade that includes a first-round selection unlikely if the return is a player who's potentially exiting their prime.
The Lakers are already due to be without first-round draft picks in 2025 and 2027, and giving up a 2029 or 2031 selection for a 32-year-old veteran would be ill-advised.
The question moving forward is who the Lakers intend to pursue instead of Valanciunas. Options could include Nick Richards of the Charlotte Hornets and Day'Ron Sharpe of the Brooklyn Nets, but any scenario would require Los Angeles to bring in a player with an entirely different skill set.
There's still reason for optimism, but the Lakers may soon need to accept that their decision to play the long game may not pay off with Valanciunas.