Jonas Valanciunas has been a name that multiple contending teams have reportedly checked in on ahead of the NBA trade deadline in February.
The Wizards signed the veteran center in free agency this offseason looking to bolster their front court depth, while also providing an experienced player to guide the team's young roster throughout the start of the season.
Washington made the deal with the idea that his leadership could be worth the cost of the contract, and if not, they'd have the ability to offload the big man ahead of the deadline. As rumors continue to heat up, Valanciunas has been linked to multiple contending teams who are looking to add depth to their teams ahead of the second half of the season as the playoffs near.
Despite the rumors, Washington has made it clear that they don't feel inclined to move on from Valanciunas so soon as they consider what he has to offer their young squad has been more beneficial than what they originally thought.
The big man has been a steady force off the bench, a more than reliable starter when needed and a constant voice for the team that the young players can trust. Valanciunas has gained many fans within the Wizards front office, and some want him around for the long haul.
However, at the end of the day the NBA is a business and the Wizards would without a doubt pull the trigger on a deal if they got an offer that they couldn't refuse.
That said, Washington has reportedly set their asking price for the former top five pick as the February deadline approaches quickly.
Wizards make asking price of Valanciunas known
The Wizards are without a doubt headed towards a long rebuild, just as their 6-32 record reflects. As a result, the team is more concerned about receiving future draft picks than they are about bringing in any other veteran players.
In a report from The Athletic's David Aldridge, it appears that the team has made it clear that draft capital is the coveted asset for Valanciunas in any deal.
"If, for example, a team would send Washington a highly paid player on a multi-year contract - a contract that would hamper the team's future payroll flexibility - Washington almost certainly would seek a first-round pick"David Aldridge
A first-round pick would have to be included in any deal that would bring in a player who has a steep contract of their own. However, if that's not the case, Aldridge shared more of what the Wizards would be looking for.
"If any incoming contract in a Valančiūnas' deal would not impair the Wizards' long-term payroll flexibility, then more than one early second round pick might do the trick. One league source, whose team is not currently involved with the Wizards discussions about Valančiūnas, believes that two second-rounders will wind up being the maximum Washington can get for him."David Aldridge
All things considered, it seems like the Wizards are interested in moving Valanciunas, but only for the right price.