The Los Angeles Lakers have made their first big move of the 2024-25 regular season. Los Angeles made the highly-anticipated decision to trade D'Angelo Russell, sending him, along with Maxwell Lewis and three second-round draft picks, to the Brooklyn Nets for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton.
Despite executing a trade that depleted it of considerable assets, the Lakers continue to pursue opportunities to improve in current areas of weakness.
Finney-Smith should help the Lakers improve upon their woeful play on defense. A void remains along the interior, however, and general manager Rob Pelinka appears to be driven to address it with a player to whom Los Angeles has long been linked.
According to Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype, the Lakers continue to be interested in trading for Jonas Valanciunas—and may move Gabe Vincent to make it happen.
"The Lakers will continue to try and acquire Wizards center Jonas Valanciunas or another backup center on the trade market with their remaining future second-round draft capital, and Gabe Vincent is expected to be dangled in talks as well, league sources told HoopsHype."
Adding Finney-Smith was a crucial order of business, but it appears the Lakers are aware of how much more needs to be done to compete at the highest level.
Lakers still interested in trading for Jonas Valanciunas
Valanciunas, 32, is one of the most reliably productive big men south of the All-Star line. A force of nature on the offensive glass, as well as one of the best post scorers in the NBA, the veteran has two attributes that could greatly assist the Lakers in 2024-25.
Valanciunas has maintained his impressive play with the Washington Wizards, averaging 11.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.3 offensive boards, 2.3 assists, and 0.8 blocks in just 19.9 minutes per game.
If those numbers sound impressive, it's because they are. Valanciunas' averages translate to 21.4 points, 14.6 rebounds, 4.2 offensive boards, 4.1 assists, and 1.4 blocks per 36 minutes—on 55.9 percent shooting from the field, no less.
For a Lakers team that ranks No. 22 in second-chance points and No. 29 in bench scoring, Valanciunas could rectify two of their biggest issues by simply arriving in Los Angeles.
While not to be confused with an elite defender, Valanciunas could also help address the Lakers' most persistent defensive flaw. Across each of the past three seasons, Los Angeles has been decimated by teams with big men who are heavier than the average big and willing to throw their weight around.
Two symptoms of that flaw are the Lakers ranking No. 22 in opponent second-chance points and No. 28 in points allowed in the paint.
Valanciunas, meanwhile, is a 6'11" and 265-pound titan with a massive wingspan that he uses to great effect down low. His presence could help the Lakers adequately defend post scorers and keep the opposition off the offensive glass.
All of this appears to have been considered by a Lakers front office that hasn't settled for one trade when multiple areas of weakness need to be addressed.