Prior to the 2025 NBA trade deadline, the Los Angeles Lakers spent the entire offseason, preseason, and regular season searching for an upgrade at center. It was the most well-documented weakness on the roster, with [former franchise player Anthony Davis requesting help](https://lakeshowlife.com/posts/anthony-davis-update-holds-rob-pelinka-feet-fire-2024-25-season) both publicly and privately.
Unfortunately, the player that LeBron James himself [asked the Lakers to sign](https://lakeshowlife.com/posts/lakers-insider-adds-new-layer-intrigue-jonas-valanciunas-saga) in free agency not only eluded Los Angeles during the offseason, but at the trade deadline, as well: Jonas Valanciunas.
Valanciunas, 32, is one of the most productive centers south of the All-Star line. He's a walking double-double with an elite arsenal of post moves and underrated value as a playmaker. For 13 seasons, that skill set has enabled him to create offense in the blink of an eye.
Unfortunately, after the Lakers failed to sign or trade for Valanciunas, the rival Sacramento Kings cashed in on the opportunity to bring him aboard.
Los Angeles was briefly vindicated by trading for Mark Williams, but the deal fell through at the 25th hour. Perhaps that saves the Lakers from criticism, but it's worth noting that the front office knew how badly they needed to improve the depth at center for months before the deadline.
The Lakers are doing just fine without him, but one can't help but watch Valanciunas thrive with the Kings and wonder what could've been.
Jonas Valanciunas stuffing the stat sheet in Sacramento
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Valanciunas has appeared 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. That translates to 17.9 points, 14.2 rebounds, 4.6 offensive boards, 4.4 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.5 blocks per 36 minutes.
For what it's worth: On a per-36 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 salt in the wound is that Valanciunas has progressively elevated his game since arriving in Sacramento. For instance: Since Feb. 24, he's recorded averages of 13.3 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.0 offensive boards, 3.7 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game.
During that time, the Kings have gone 5-2—and Valanciunas has recorded at least 12 rebounds and six assists in each of the past three games.
Perhaps he wouldn't have fit as well in Los Angeles as some believed. Adding Luka Doncic was an admittedly massive undertaking for a roster that had grown accustomed to playing through an All-NBA center and now had to adapt to a perimeter-oriented approach.
One simply can't help but feel as though Valanciunas' rebounding, passing, and scoring would've made him the perfect complement to defensive-minded big Jaxson Hayes at center.
The Lakers are winning at a league-leading level since Jan. 15, but they still rank dead last in the NBA in bench points per game. They're also No. 20 in second-chance points allowed and No. 26 in second-chance points scored, both of which are areas in which Valanciunas could've assisted.
Instead, Los Angeles must prepare for the closing stretch of the 2024-25 regular season without a player who's giving a division rival exactly what they need.