Lakers

Report: Lakers could offer Gabe Vincent and 2nd-round picks for Jonas Valanciunas

Published by
Peter Dewey

The Los Angeles Lakers reportedly could look to move guard Gabe Vincent and draft capital to acquire Washington Wizards veteran center Jonas Valanciunas this season.

“Vincent has been a disappointment for the Lakers since signing a three-year, $33 million deal due to injuries and inefficient shooting,” HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto wrote. “Los Angeles will look to include him as a salary filler with draft pick compensation in trade talks. Keep an eye on Los Angeles potentially dangling Vincent and future second-round picks to try and land Wizards center Jonas Valanciunas, a coveted Lakers target.”

The Lakers have been linked to Valanciunas for quite some time, as he’s been on superstar LeBron James’ list of players that he wants to join the franchise.

Adding Valanciunas would also give the Lakers some much-needed depth in the frontcourt, as Jaxson Hayes and Christian Wood are both currently dealing with injuries. Bringing in a proven veteran like Valanciunas would not only take some pressure off of Anthony Davis, but it also could allow the Lakers to experiment with lineups that feature both Davis and Valanciunas (if acquired) on the floor.

Valanciunas signed a three-year deal with the Wizards this past offseason, but Washington is off to a terrible start, going 2-16 through its first 18 games.

There’s no doubt that Washington is in a rebuild, and it has dropped 14 straight games after starting the season 2-2.

Since the Wizards may want to prioritize giving minutes to their young players – like big man and No. 2 overall pick Alexandre Sarr – Valanciunas could be an expendable piece at the trade deadline.

So far this season, the veteran center is averaging 12.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 0.7 blocks per game for Washington while shooting 58.1 percent from the field and 25.0 percent from 3. He’s started just three of the 18 games he’s appeared in during the 2024-25 season.

Meanwhile, Vincent has not played well for the Lakers in the 2024-25 campaign. The veteran guard is averaging just 3.2 points, 1.1 rebounds and 0.6 assists across 17.4 minutes per game. He’s struggling to score the ball, shooting just 34.7 percent from the field and 23.9 percent from 3.

After missing most of the 2023-24 season due to a knee injury, Vincent hasn’t established himself as a player that the Lakers need to keep for the long haul so far this season.

So, if Los Angeles believes it can move him for an upgrade elsewhere on the roster, it may make sense to do so at the deadline.

Peter Dewey

Peter is a graduate of Quinnipiac University where he covered the MAAC and college basketball for three years. He has worked for NBC Sports, the Connecticut Sun and the Meriden Record-Journal covering basketball, football and other major sports. Follow him on Twitter @peterdewey2.

Published by
Peter Dewey

Recent Posts

‘Wtf’: Trae Young reacts to Rashad McCants saying he could score 81 points like Kobe Bryant

Back in January of 2006, former Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant put on one…

3 hours ago

Rashad McCants says he could’ve won ROTY but had a coach who was ‘shaking in the motherf——g huddle’

Former NBA guard Rashad McCants was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the last lottery…

4 hours ago

Chandler Parsons: Jaylen Brown would be best player on over half of NBA teams, including some playoff teams

The Boston Celtics were without maybe their top player for Wednesday's Game 2 versus the…

7 hours ago

‘Spo gonna Spo’: Cavs player gives Erik Spoelstra his flowers after Heat’s near-upset in Game 2

The odds were stacked against the Miami Heat to pick up a win in Game…

7 hours ago

Report: Will Campbell landing with Patriots may depend on whether team gets ‘fair deal’ to trade down

As a consolation prize for a woeful 2024 season that was marred by losing, the…

9 hours ago

Report: ‘Most of the league’ has been contacted about Jalen Ramsey, including Rams, Lions and Eagles

Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey is one of the more notable players in the league…

10 hours ago