The Washington Wizards finalized a trade, sending center Jonas Valanciunas to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for rookie Sidy Cissoko and two second-round draft picks. Valanciunas, averaging 11.5 points and 8.2 rebounds this season, finds himself on a struggling Wizards team with the league’s worst record (9-41).
This trade marks the Wizards’ second major transaction in one day. They earlier dealt power forward Kyle Kuzma to the Milwaukee Bucks. This trade is a strategic addition for the Kings.
Valanciunas Impact and Familiarity with Teammates With Washington Wizards
Kings small forward DeMar DeRozan and Jonas Valanciunas played together in Toronto for six seasons. Valanciunas and Domantas Sabonis were teammates on the Lithuanian national team.
It is hard to ask for a better backup center than Jonas Valančiūnas. He catapults the Kings to one of the best rebounding teams in the league. And a 7’6″ wingspan never hurts. He was a much-needed physical presence to a team that sorely needed it.
Both Big Men Working Together and Jonas Play Style
He gives them a legitimate bench-scoring option. Jonas is a very efficient post scorer, a tip-in guy, he is someone who can work in the handoff game and fake handoffs dive to the rim draw fouls and make mid-range jumpers.
If they want to, do not expect to see it much, but they can throw a wrinkle and play Domantas and JV together. They have experience together and their passing abilities and high-low abilities as big men, make it so it is a wrinkle that can work. Sabonis shooting as well as he is this season as well makes it a lineup that can work in limited minutes.
What Jonas Will Bring to The Sacramento Kings
His screen setting is a weapon for this offense. He also runs the floor hard, maybe not the most athletic, but he can handle pace in shorter bursts.
JV is a great player, and this team offensively is going to be good. Yes, there are defensive questions, but they are leaning into what they are as a team and what they do best. This offense is going to be difficult to stop all 48 minutes.
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