The Los Angeles Lakers are making wholesale changes to their roster this offseason, and on Friday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported they are trading Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards. With Ayton on his way out, Charania further added that the Lakers were considering bringing in the likes of Kevon Looney and Jonas Valanciunas as they looked for a backup center to Walker Kessler.
Well, NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer are now also reporting that the Lakers are interested in Looney and Valanciunas. While the former is a free agent, the latter is not. Valanciunas is still under contract with the Denver Nuggets, but according to Stein and Fischer, they are very much open to trading the big man.
“Looney remains on the Lakers’ radar, sources say, as does Nuggets center Jonas Valanciunas. The latter, remember, was a Lakers free agent target two summers ago before Valanciunas opted to sign a multiyear deal with Washington instead. Sources say that the Lakers’ interest, furthermore, is certainly welcomed by the Nuggets, who have made Valanciunas available in trade conversations since Denver’s season ended and especially in connection with the recent draft as the Nuggets explored various deals while also shopping the No. 26 overall pick.”
The Nuggets had acquired Valanciunas from the Sacramento Kings last offseason. The Lithuanian averaged 8.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.2 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game in 2025-26 in a backup role to Nikola Jokic.
It was mentioned here that the Lakers attempted to sign Valanciunas in free agency in the past. They had also reportedly made him their top trade target at one point, but failed to land him.
This looks to be the Lakers’ best opportunity to get their longtime target, but there is one concern. Valanciunas was considering a return to Europe in 2025, and that chatter is coming up again now.
“The notion that Valanciunas is destined to return to Europe is, like last summer, suddenly a murky topic again.”
If Valanciunas’ heart is elsewhere, the Lakers might be better off looking elsewhere. If the 34-year-old is fully committed, though, then he would be an interesting addition.
The Nuggets have a big decision to make when it comes to Valanciunas, too. He is entering the final year of his three-year, $30 million contract, but only $2 million is guaranteed right now. The Nuggets have until Wednesday to guarantee the remaining $8 million. If they can’t agree on a trade by then, they might just waive him. Then there would be no need for compensation. It will be interesting to see how things pan out.
As for Looney, it’s all rather straightforward. He is a free agent who averaged 2.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game for the New Orleans Pelicans in 2025-26. Looney only played 21 games for the Pelicans and had a very limited role, which explains those numbers. He is no longer in his prime, too, but is a viable backup.
Charania had mentioned Andre Drummond as someone the Lakers were considering as well, but they have missed out on him. Drummond is signing with the New York Knicks, instead. He had been with the Lakers in 2021, but appears to have decided against having a reunion.
