The center the Lakers should have traded for continues to excel with their rival team.
The Lakers had their chance. They missed it.
Before the 2025 NBA trade deadline, the Los Angeles Lakers spent the entire offseason, preseason, and regular season seeking a center upgrade. This was the most glaring weakness on their roster, with former franchise star Anthony Davis publicly and privately asking for help.
Unfortunately, the player that LeBron James personally requested the Lakers to acquire in free agency not only avoided Los Angeles during the offseason but also at the trade deadline: Jonas Valanciunas.
Valanciunas, 32, is one of the most effective centers outside of the All-Star conversation. He consistently delivers double-doubles with an impressive array of post moves and underrated playmaking ability. Over 13 seasons, these skills have allowed him to generate offense instantly.
However, after the Lakers failed to sign or trade for Valanciunas, the rival Sacramento Kings seized the opportunity and brought him in.
Los Angeles briefly thought they had found a solution by trading for Mark Williams, but the deal fell apart at the last moment. While this may shield the Lakers from too much backlash, it’s worth noting that the front office was aware of the need to strengthen the center position long before the deadline.
Though the Lakers are performing well without him, watching Valanciunas thrive with the Kings leaves one wondering what could have been.
Jonas Valanciunas filling the stat sheet in Sacramento
Valanciunas has played in 13 games with the Kings, averaging 10.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.6 offensive boards, 2.5 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.8 blocks in just 20.6 minutes per game. On a per-36-minute basis, that translates to 17.9 points, 14.2 rebounds, 4.6 offensive boards, 4.4 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.5 blocks.
For context: On a per-36-minute basis, Valanciunas would rank No. 4 on the Lakers in points, assists, and steals, No. 1 in rebounds and offensive boards, and No. 2 in blocks.
The frustration is that Valanciunas has only improved since joining Sacramento. For example, since Feb. 24, he’s averaged 13.3 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.0 offensive boards, 3.7 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game.
During that period, the Kings have posted a 5-2 record, with Valanciunas recording at least 12 rebounds and six assists in each of the last three games.
It’s possible Valanciunas wouldn’t have fit as well in Los Angeles as some expected. Adding Luka Doncic was a huge move for a team that was used to playing through an All-NBA center but now had to adjust to a perimeter-focused strategy.
Nevertheless, one can’t help but feel that Valanciunas’ rebounding, passing, and scoring would have been an ideal complement to the defensive-minded Jaxson Hayes at center.
Since Jan. 15, the Lakers have been dominant, yet they remain last in the league in bench points per game. Additionally, they rank No. 20 in second-chance points allowed and No. 26 in second-chance points scored, two areas where Valanciunas could have made an impact.
Now, Los Angeles must navigate the rest of the 2024-25 regular season without a player who is giving a divisional rival exactly what they needed.