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In what is both unexpected and a bit random, the Sacramento Kings have acquired center Jonas Valančiūnas from the Washington Wizards for recently acquired Sidy Cissoko, and two second-round picks.
Let’s grade the trade:
Sacramento Kings: A
First, a bit of housekeeping. The Kings were able to move off Cissoko this soon because he wasn’t packaged with another player.
(This needs mentioning as several teams are looking to potentially move off pieces that have recently been acquired, so if that’s to become a theme prior to tomorrow’s deadline, it’s good to get that bit of info out of the way.)
Jonas Valanciunas should bolster Sacramento’s bench. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
Valančiūnas isn’t a player who’s been heavily involved in trade rumors, although his name has come up in regards to both the Lakers and Warriors during the earlier stages of the season.
Now he’s a King, and he’ll make for a highly effective addition off the bench given his scoring prowess, and elite rebounding capabilities.
Valančiūnas plays just 20.1 minutes per game this season, and is netting 11.5 points and 8.2 rebounds in those limited outings.
For a Kings team that has to rely almost exclusively on Domantas Sabonis to rebound — which he does at a ridiculously elite level himself — his fellow countryman Valančiūnas makes for a necessary, and wildly important, inclusion to the roster.
The Lithuanian duo will unquestionably grab a significant portion of the team’s rebounds over the course of the rest of the season, just as both will offer hard screens for newly acquired Zach LaVine to utilize.
While we can debate all day long whether the Kings should have rebuilt as opposed to keep themselves competitive, they at least chose a direction, and make a quality add for that specific path.
This feels like a rock solid A, given how the Kings have chosen to proceed.
Washington Wizards: B+
As for Washington, they get two second-rounders, and Cissoko, who’s worth a flier. This isn’t unlike the earlier addition of the day, when they took on AJ Johnson and draft equity from the Milwaukee Bucks in the Khris Middleton-Kyle Kuzma swap.
This is par for the course…
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Author : Yahoo Sports
Publish date : 2025-02-05 22:37:00
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