Democracy Dies in Darkness
Wizards

Wizards to sign Jonas Valanciunas to three-year, $30 million contract

Valanciunas, a 6-foot-11 center from Lithuania, averaged 12.2 points and 8.8 rebounds with New Orleans last season.

2 min
Jonas Valanciunas, a 12-year NBA veteran, agreed to sign with the Washington Wizards as a free agent on Sunday. (Paul Sancya/AP)
By

The Washington Wizards continued their frontcourt makeover by agreeing to sign center Jonas Valanciunas to a three-year contract worth $30 million, a person with knowledge of the agreement confirmed to The Washington Post on Sunday night.

Valanciunas, 32, will join rookie center Alex Sarr, the No. 2 pick in last week’s draft. While Sarr brings defensive versatility and long-term potential to the table, Valanciunas is a hard-hat rebounder and interior finisher who averaged 12.2 points and 8.8 rebounds while playing all 82 games for the New Orleans Pelicans last season. ESPN first reported the terms.

The 6-foot-11 center is primarily known for his physicality and paint presence, and he will step in as the most experienced frontcourt player for the Wizards, who ranked 28th in defensive efficiency and 30th in rebound rate last season. In recent years, the 2011 lottery pick has shown an increased willingness and proficiency as a three-point shooter while starting for an up-and-coming Pelicans team that reached the playoffs twice during his three-year tenure.

In New Orleans, Valanciunas was paired with Zion Williamson in a bruising frontcourt combination. When Williamson, the No. 1 pick in 2019, was sidelined with injuries, Valanciunas stepped forward as a featured offensive option. The Lithuanian struggles to cover ground defensively and lacks the leaping ability to be an elite rim protector, but he’s a big-bodied paint presence with good instincts on the glass.

Something had to give financially for the Pelicans, who traded for guard Dejounte Murray on Friday and are reportedly exploring trades involving forward Brandon Ingram. New Orleans used its first-round pick to select Yves Missi, a 6-11 center from Baylor.

Given that Sarr is just 19, the Wizards could start him alongside Valanciunas to ease him into life as a defensive linchpin. Valanciunas’s contract, which doesn’t include a player or team option, could make him a potential trade piece as the Wizards progress through a multiyear rebuilding effort.

Also, Washington agreed to re-sign forward Richaun Holmes, who was acquired from the Dallas Mavericks in February, to a two-year, $25.9 million contract, the Athletic reported Saturday. Holmes, 30, averaged 7.1 points and 6.1 rebounds in 17 games for the Wizards. The Wizards also have 2018 No. 2 pick Marvin Bagley III, a scoring-minded big man, on the books for $12.5 million next season.