Even when the highest 10 won’t be revealed till Thursday, ESPN revealed its prime 100 NBA gamers heading into the 2024-25 season. Jonas Valanciunas, the large man of the Washington Wizards is the group’s solely consultant, checking in at 91st place.
Valanciunas’ sustainability helped it get its place on the record, through Michael Wright of ESPN.
“Valanciunas confirmed unimaginable sturdiness final season, enjoying in all 82 video games and averaging a close to double-double whereas taking pictures 56 % from the ground. The 2023-24 marketing campaign marked the eighth season through which the veteran performed 70 or extra video games,” Wright stated. “Washington has the eighth-youngest roster within the NBA, which implies the Wizards will depend on Valanciunas’ veteran management.”
“His prowess within the paint ought to show useful, contemplating Washington ranked final in second probability factors per sport allowed final season and twenty ninth in paint factors allowed per sport,” Wright continued.
Valanciunas signed a three-year, $30 million contract with the Wizards in free company final summer season after being traded by the New Orleans Pelicans for a 2027 second-round draft decide. 32’s Participant Rankings years forward of fellow veteran facilities Al Horford and Brook Lopez, 96th and 93rd, respectively. Nevertheless, he completed behind youthful counterparts like Isaiah Hartenstein (88th) and Mitchell Robinson (82nd).
Valanciunas will undoubtedly be a great function mannequin for energy ahead Alex Sarr, who Washington drafted second total final spring. The Lithuanian worldwide brings worth each as a defender and on offense, two expertise the Wizards want Sarr to develop over the approaching years.
Valanciunas, who was on Los Angeles Lakers famous person LeBron James’ want record, will almost certainly assist Washington enhance on its worst season in franchise historical past final yr. It is unclear how lengthy the Thirteenth-year veteran will stay with the group, however his contract has a no-trade restriction till Dec. 15.
Wizards are excited to have Jonas Valanciunas
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Valanciunas supplies much-needed assist to a Wizards frontcourt that struggled final season. At Media Day, Washington ahead Kyle Kuzma shared his response to the 2011 first-round decide becoming a member of the group, through Chase Hughes of Monumental Sports activities Community.
“We’re not going to be the worst defensive rebounding group within the league anymore,” Kuzma stated.
Kuzma wasn’t far off, because the Wizards ranked twenty ninth with 48.5 complete rebounds per sport final season, though they had been twenty fourth in defensive rebounds. Regardless, the seven-footer ought to stop this historical past from repeating itself. He gave a preview of what is in retailer towards the Toronto Raptors on Oct. 11, recording 12 factors, eight rebounds and a block in simply 22 minutes.
Much more than producing individually, Washington wants Valanciunas to assist Sarr someday climb into the highest 100 gamers.
