The Wizards will consider trading center Jonas Valanciunas ahead of the February 6 deadline, but won’t simply sell him to the highest bidder, according to Josh Robbins and David Aldridge of The Athletic.
As Robbins and Aldridge explain, the Wizards will be seeking the right kind of offer for Valanciunas, which means one that could “appreciably” move their rebuild forward. In other words, a late second-round pick or two might not sufficiently move the needle.
The Wizards’ asking price will also depend on what kind of contract(s) they have to take back in return for Valanciunas, The Athletic’s duo says. If a trade partner wants to include a highly paid player on a multiyear deal (ie. a negative asset), Washington would likely ask for a first-round pick. On the other hand, if that team is offering a more favorable short-term contract, then a couple early second-round picks could be enough for the Wizards to make a move.
I’m a little skeptical that Valanciunas will have a ton of value on the trade market. The former No. 5 overall pick is a talented interior scorer and rebounder who has the size to match up with the NBA’s biggest centers, but he doesn’t stretch the floor or protect the rim especially well, and isn’t agile enough to reliably switch onto quicker guards and forwards.
Additionally, while Valanciunas’ contract isn’t an albatross, it’s not really a bargain either — the 32-year-old has a $9.9MM cap hit this season and is owed a $10.4MM guaranteed salary in 2025/26. His $10MM salary for 2026/27 is non-guaranteed.
One league source who spoke to Robbins and Aldridge believes that a pair of second-round picks (not necessarily early ones) will be the best the Wizards will be able to do in a trade involving the Lithuanian big man.
Of course, this front office showed a year ago when it retained point guard Tyus Jones through the trade deadline that it’s willing to hang onto a veteran on a lottery-bound team if it doesn’t get an offer it likes. Jones ended up departing as a free agent during the 2024 offseason, whereas the Wizards would have additional chances to move Valanciunas in future transaction windows.
Valanciunas was signed by the Wizards to serve as a leader and mentor for the team young players and to help protect rookie Alex Sarr from more physical matchups, according to Robbins and Aldridge. He has played that role well, albeit in a limited capacity — his 19.8 minutes per game represent a career low. He has averaged 11.6 points and 8.1 rebounds across 38 outings (eight starts).
“It’s good on my body,” Valanciunas said with a laugh when asked about his modest workload. “You always got to see the positives too, you know? It’s good on my body, and I’m not tired. I’m ready to go. Anytime coach calls my number, I’m here to do whatever. I signed up for that.”
Valanciunas joked that he plans to turn his phone off as the trade deadline nears, adding that he knows the possibility of being traded is part of the business and is out of his hands.
“I just come in every day, work,” he said. “Every game, I play 100 percent. That’s all I can do. That’s all I do. It’s above me. I have no control in that.”
The Lakers have long been cited as a potential suitor for Valanciunas. The Knicks were also said to have interest in him over the summer, though it’s unclear if he’s still on New York’s radar.