The Golden State Warriors may soon redirect their attention toward securing another big man, with reports suggesting that Jonas Valančiūnas could become a primary target if their pursuit of Utah Jazz’s Lauri Markkanen falls through.
As negotiations around Markkanen continue to drag on, an anonymous NBA executive shared with Heavy.com’s Sean Deveney that the Warriors might have to explore alternative options. Valančiūnas, currently with the Washington Wizards, is one of the names being floated as a potential pivot.
“The Knicks, we’ll see how their center spot develops. The Warriors [will be interested], if the Markkanen thing does not work out,” the executive stated in the interview.
The Los Angeles Lakers have also been linked to Valančiūnas, but according to Deveney, they have hesitated to part with their tradeable draft picks, which could open the door for other contenders like the Warriors to make a move.
During his last season, Valančiūnas averaged 12.2 points on 55.9% shooting, along with 8.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 23.5 minutes per game. What makes him an attractive option for Golden State is his durability; the 13-year veteran started all 82 games in the 2023-24 NBA season, after starting 79 the season before.
Valančiūnas signed a three-year, $30 million contract with the Wizards this offseason, and it’s widely believed that this deal was made with the expectation that he could be traded to a contender before the February 6 NBA trade deadline.
However, acquiring Jonas Valančiūnas would require the Warriors to part with valuable assets. Similar to their previous pursuits of Paul George and now Markkanen, Golden State would need to offer up young talent. Deveney noted that a package including Kevon Looney and Moses Moody might be sufficient to land Valančiūnas, though the Wizards would likely also demand a draft pick.
“Because of his decidedly team-friendly contract, Valančiūnas can be had at a reasonable price for the Warriors,” Deveney highlighted. “A package of Looney and Moses Moody could get a deal done, though it is likely the Wizards would want a draft pick as well.”
Moses Moody, at just 22 years old, holds significant value due to his two-way potential, making him one of the most attractive assets the Warriors could offer. Adding a second-round pick or a protected first-rounder might be necessary to outbid other interested teams.
As the clock ticks down, the Warriors find themselves at a crossroads. Markkanen has the option to sign a four-year, $232 million contract extension with the Jazz at any time, and if he does so after August 6, he would become ineligible for a trade until after the 2024-25 season. Reports indicate that Markkanen is likely to sign after this deadline, which could push the Warriors to pursue Valančiūnas more aggressively.
The coming weeks will determine whether Golden State can secure their ideal trade target or if they will need to pivot to Plan B.
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