Lakers Lose Out on Top Trade Target to West Rival

Prior to reportedly acquiring high-upside ex-Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams, the Los Angeles Lakers missed out on trading for the veteran center they had been linked to the most since the start of the season (pre-Luka Doncic deal, anyway).

ESPN's Shams Charania reports that the Washington Wizards are offloading backup center Jonas Valanciunas to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Sidy Cissoko and a pair of second round draft picks.

The Washington Wizards are trading Jonas Valanciunas to the Sacramento Kings for Sidy Cissoko and two second-round picks, sources tell ESPN.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2025

Cissoko was later waived by Washington, reports Josh Robbins of The Athletic. This opened up a spot on the Wizards' 15-man standard roster.

The Wizards have waived Sidy Cissoko, the team announced. Waiving Cissoko opens a roster spot. What could that roster spot be used for? It could be used to take on an incoming player's salary (and a pick or picks attached to it) into their existing $12.4 million trade exception.
— Josh Robbins (@JoshuaBRobbins) February 6, 2025

Washington next made a series of moves on Thursday ahead of the deadline.

Valanciunas, 32, was seen as an intriguing fit alongside Davis in a veteran-laden frontcourt. He would have easily been the team's most reliable backup center, quickly leapfrogging Jaxson Hayes — who has finally acclimated to LeBron James lately with some nice pick-and-pop actions — and Christian Wood. Wood hasn't played a game all year.

Ultimately, it doesn't matter much anymore, since Los Angeles wound up pivoting with a trade for ex-Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams, a 23-year-old rim-rolling big to complement newly-acquired five-time All-NBA superstar point guard Luka Doncic.

The arrival of Luka Doncic has completely transformed the Lakers' upside. The reigning Western Conference Finals MVP, still just 25, is now the star around which all others rotate in L.A. He's the team's future, over 40-year-old All-Star forward LeBron James and now-departed 31-year-old center/power forward Anthony Davis.

Williams is a far better player than Valanciunas, but he also cost more than the more seasoned Lithuanian big man would have. L.A. offloaded a bigger haul of draft picks than it did to even acquire Doncic, getting rid of its 2031 first round pick and a 2030 first round pick swap in the offing.

Across his 49 bouts (12 starts) with the 9-41 Wizards this year, the 6-foot-11 Valanciunas has been averaging 11.5 points on .547/.259/.896 shooting splits, 8.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 0.6 blocks. He's mostly played off the bench, averaging 20.1 minutes per.

More Lakers:

Rob Pelinka Reveals Trade Plans to Improve Roster for 'JJ Redick's Vision'

Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka Reveals More on When Luka Doncic Will Make Los Angeles Debut

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