5 Free agents the Lakers definitely must sign after 2024 NBA Draft

Jonas Valanciunas, UFA

The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly interested in acquiring free-agent center Jonas Valanciunas. It's an easy decision to justify, as Valanciunas ranks among the best free-agent centers on the open market in 2024.

In the event that the Lakers find a way to land Valanciunas, they would have a starting center who could step in as the perfect complement to Anthony Davis.

Valanciunas is one of the best post scorers in the NBA, possessing the power, length, and skill to finish in traffic against any caliber of defender. He's also improved his outside shot to the point of being a reliable pick-and-pop option.

Whether he's spacing the floor for Davis to operate inside or getting tough buckets from the low post when the Lakers need one, Valanciunas would elevate the offense in a significant manner.

There are some concerns about his defense as a decline in mobility is certain to come with aging. The 32-year-old balances those concerns by being one of the best offensive rebounders in the NBA, however, which would help address Los Angeles improve from ranking No. 30 in second-chance points in 2023-24.

The logistics of acquiring Valanciunas are where it gets tricky, but there's ample reason to believe that he would be a slam-dunk of an acquisition this summer.