Full details of Washington Wizards signing Jonas Valanciunas revealed

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Washington Wizards have signed veteran big man Jonas Valanciunas to a three-year, $30 million contract in free agency.

Those years and that money are the full extent of the details of the contract. Valanciunas is set to be in Washington for three years on a deal worth less than the non-taxpayer MLE per season.

Wizards sign Jonas Valanciunas to 3-year, $30 million contract in free agency

Valanciunas will join the Wizards after spending three seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans, playing alongside Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum, and Brandon Ingram.

The Pelicans decided to go in a different direction, and as a result, the Wizards were able to scoop Valanciunas up on the open market, bringing him in to give them big man minutes.

This past season, Valanciunas put up solid numbers for New Orleans, and he appeared in all 82 games. The Lithuanian averaged 12.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while shooting 55.9% from the field and 30.8% from beyond the three-point arc.

Ahead of the signing, the Los Angeles Lakers were reportedly another team interested in bringing in Valanciunas, but ultimately, the Wizards ended up snagging him from the pool of free agents.

At first glance, the signing seems a bit weird. And that’s because it kind of is. The Wizards are in the middle of a massive rebuild, and Valanciunas is a 32-year-old veteran center.

But a deeper dive into what this Washington roster could potentially need reveals why this could be a solid fit.

The Wizards have a very young core, having just drafted three rookies who project to be a part of their long-term plans: Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington, and Kyshawn George.

Having a veteran presence around could be good for their development, and, in the case of Sarr, having a big body like Valanciunas around should help take some pressure off of him on the defensive side of the ball.

Valanciunas’ presence down low will allow Sarr to play the four a bit, roaming off the ball on the defensive end and picking up impressive blocks.

Only time will tell how the fit actually works out, but the Wizards signing Valanciunas in free agency makes more sense than most people think.