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The Los Angeles Lakers missed out on including Jonas Valančiūnas in free company, however some NBA insiders consider the group might take one other swing on the massive man by the Feb. 6 commerce deadline.
In keeping with ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, “many across the league consider Los Angeles is the favourite” to amass Valančiūnas from the Washington Wizards.
The Lakers have been tied because the summer time to Valančiūnas, who was acquired by the Wizards in a sign-and-trade with the New Orleans Pelicans in June.
Previous to the sign-and-trade, James’ agent Wealthy Paul informed ESPN’s Dave McMenamin that LeBron James can be keen to re-sign with the Lakers at a deal barely beneath the utmost partly in order that the group might add an “affect participant.”
In keeping with McMenamin, a kind of gamers can be “a longtime massive man to play alongside Anthony Davis” like Valančiūnas.
James is not the one particular person within the Lakers group who has expressed a need for the group so as to add a middle.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick said in June that he would “like to, in some unspecified time in the future, get one other 5 man, a giant bruising 5 man.” McMenamin then reported in September that Anthony Davis “has made clear to the Lakers… his choice to play alongside one other massive extra typically.”
That want has turn into much more urgent for the Lakers because the roster’s frontcourt depth has been examined amid accidents to Jaxson Hayes, Christian Wooden and Jarred Vanderbilt.
Valančiūnas has averaged 11.8 factors and seven.6 rebounds in 25 video games, principally off the bench, for the Wizards this season.
Anthony Irwin beforehand reported for ClutchPoints that the Lakers are anticipated to supply Gabe Vincent and second-round picks, doubtlessly alongside a veteran-minimum participant like Wooden, Hayes or Cam Reddish, to the Wizards in alternate for Valančiūnas.
Ought to the Wizards chew on the deal, the Lakers might take some strain off Anthony Davis whereas transferring on from Vincent after a down season to date. The Wizards might in the meantime profit from gathering draft capital with a purpose to proceed their ongoing rebuild following a 4-21 begin to the season.
