WASHINGTON — The Washington Wizards just drafted center Alex Sarr second overall, and team officials think Sarr can develop into a high-level player.
So, why did the Wizards just agree to a three-year deal with another center, Jonas Valančiūnas?
The team reached a deal with Valančiūnas, an unrestricted free agent who spent the past three seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans, in large part to help Sarr get his NBA career off on the right foot.
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With Sarr still needing to add bulk and muscle to his slender 7-foot, 224-frame, the Wizards will be able to deploy Valančiūnas against some of the league’s most rugged, most physical centers and allow Sarr to develop at his own pace, and without facing abject strength mismatches.
At 32 years old and with 12 seasons of NBA experience, Valančiūnas is the kind of solid, dependable veteran whom Wizards officials want as a model for an increasingly young roster that will include Sarr, rookie perimeter players Bub Carrington and Kyshawn George and second-year forward Bilal Coulibaly.
The Wizards, who finished last season with the league’s second-worst record, almost certainly will finish at or near the bottom of the 2024-25 standings again, with an eye toward winning an early lottery pick in the talent-rich 2025 NBA Draft.
But even with Washington racing to the bottom, team officials almost certainly saw a need to shore up their horrid defensive rebounding. Last season, the Wizards finished last in defensive-rebounding percentage, and improving in that area in the year ahead should help the rest of the team function better in one of the most basic areas of the sport, which, in turn, ought to help the young players develop. Valančiūnas ranked in the 95th percentile among all NBA big men in defensive-rebounding percentage, according to the database Cleaning the Glass.
Valanciunas’ new deal will be worth a total of $30 million, according to ESPN. A league source told The Athletic the contract will not include any team or player options.
While his fit in New Orleans next to Zion Williamson wasn’t always ideal, Valančiūnas played a pivotal role in the Pelicans’ ascension during his time as the franchise’s starting center. The Pelicans improved their win total from 36 to 42 to 49 during his three seasons, and he played a primary role in helping them establish an identity as a bruising, paint-dominant offense.
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There were times when Valančiūnas’ flaws as a defender were exposed when he was forced to defend in space against quicker perimeter players. However, in addition to rebounding well, Valančiūnas uses his size well when defending pick-and-rolls. On offense, he’s one of the few centers in the NBA who can draw a double-team from the post. He has a soft touch around the basket, and he’s a decent 3-point shooter when he’s left open.
Most importantly, he’s one of the most reliable guys in the NBA when it comes to showing up for work. He played all 82 games in 2023-24 and missed a total of only 11 games during three seasons in New Orleans. The Pelicans have dealt with a barrage of injury issues over the years, but Valančiūnas was one of the few guys they could rely on to show up and bring consistent effort. Losing that kind of professionalism will be a tough blow.
Now, New Orleans probably will look to add a new starting center via trade but also might consider inexpensive options such as Orlando Magic unrestricted free agent Goga Bitadze. The Pelicans are hoping to get younger and more athletic at the position. While Valančiūnas may not fit what the Pelicans need right now, he’s still a solid option as a starting center for most teams.
(Photo of Jaylin Williams and Jonas Valanciunas: Alonzo Adams / USA Today)