Goodnews: Kings close to sign in a notable NBA super star in a blockbuster trade…….
The Sacramento Kings missed the 2024 postseason after failing to build on their success from the previous season, when they qualified for the NBA playoffs.
The Kings’ Play-In Tournament matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans ended in a loss, as they just missed qualifying.
Sacramento had inconsistent play throughout the 2023–24 NBA season due to mediocre defense.
Even though Domantis Sabonis was a specialist at driving the offense, in high-pressure situations he was unable to adequately guard the rim.
If the front office wants to contend with the rest of the Western Conference come next season, they need to acquire guys that can strengthen their paint defense in the offseason.
In light of this, Sacramento seems to be the favorite to sign Jonas Valanciunas, who is expected to become available for unrestricted free agency, according to Bovada via NBACentral.
In New Orleans, Valanciunas’s role diminished, especially in the latter stages when he was frequently benched in favor of Larry Nance Jr.
The seasoned center is a bruiser who excels either posting up or snatching offensive rebounds for put-backs in the paint.
He has experimented with shooting from outside the arc, but he feels most at ease close to the hoop.
He can’t play as well defensively when he has to guard in space, but he can hold his own while guarding other centers who would rather post up.
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Are the Kings going to go after Jonas Valanciunas?
Though it’s not a name that’s been mentioned much here, the big man is an intriguing choice.
Center isn’t usually the first position that comes to mind when considering the Sacramento Kings and their free agency requirements. Domantas Sabonis plays center for the Kings and was an All-Star and All-NBA player while he was in Sacramento. Therefore, when it was stated that the Kings have the best chance of acquiring Jonas Valanciunas in free agency, I took notice:
Normally, we wouldn’t give betting lines much thought, but these odds in particular imply that the bookies are unsure of Jonas’s final destination. Since Jonas and Domas are buddies, it would appear that the Kings have the highest odds, which is why they are in first position.
However, the odds do prompt one to consider if Valanciunas might be a suitable match in Sacramento. Ever since they acquired Domas, the Kings have had difficulty finding a reliable backup center. The Kings had to give up a 2023 first-round pick in order to unload Richaun Holmes because he was unable to adjust to his new role. JaVale McGee fluctuated too much. Though unspectacular, Alex Len is dependable and strong. The Kings’ center depth would be greatly improved by Jonas, enabling Sacramento to always have one of Sabonis or Valanciunas on the court.
Valanciunas also adds a great deal of strength and tenacity to a Kings club that has been lacking those attributes lately. Despite being only one inch taller than Sabonis on paper, Kings supporters witnessed personally this season just how much bigger Valanciunas is on the field. Far too frequently.
The magnitude of Valanciunas’s plays. Far too frequently.
If the Kings’ primary summer goal was to sign JV, I would be concerned. While Jonas is willing and able to shoot the three (career 34% from outside the arc), he is coming off a poor year in which the Pelicans frequently benched him late in games. JV and Sabonis don’t make much sense together, even if he gets back to his previous level of play the next season. It was evident in Indiana that Sabonis is not at his best when paired with another center, and I find it offensive that Sabonis is frequently asked to guard 4s. This past season, Sabonis briefly demonstrated his ability to handle smaller players on switches; however, it is far different from doing so consistently throughout a game.
There are undoubtedly worse ideas to debate over a weekend in the summer, but I anticipate this ends up being a blip on the offseason radar and Jonas ends up signing somewhere else. What are your thoughts on Jonas Valanciunas being a Kings FA target? Please share your thoughts below.
