Los Angeles Lakers star Lebron James reportedly expressed willingness to take a pay cut to build a contending team for next season.
Such sacrifice might be put on hold, though, as one of the names the team allegedly targeted is no longer available.
Jonas Valanciunas has signed a 3-year deal with the Washington Wizards worth $30 million.
Many Lakers fans hoped to have the Lithuanian center in the lineup for the next season.
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Jake Fischer of Yahoo! Sports wrote that his name is "often mentioned by NBA figures as a potential Lakers frontcourt addition this summer."
The Purple and Gold hoped to address their problemwere at the center position.
They got Anthony Davis, who played his best year on both sides of the floor last season, but he still needs someone who can back him up, especially on defense.
Valanciunas played for the New Orleans Pelicans from 2021 to 2024 and averaged at least 14 points and double-digit rebounding in all those three seasons.
New center target for the Lakers
Jaxson Hayes and Christian Wood are only good enough as third stringers for the Lakers. They need to look for a new center in the free agency.
A major name popping up is Brook Lopez, who, according to reports, is already counting his days with the Milwaukee Bucks.
"The Lakers have also been exploring trade scenarios with the contracts of D'Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent, sources said, and Brook Lopez has been one of the primary options on the Lakers' board of hopeful acquisitions," a Yahoo! Sports report reads.
Lopez, who spent one year with the Lakers, is 36 years old, but he remains an asset on defense when playing alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Lakers got Davis, who is willing to slide in the no. 4 position. He will be the defense's help while Lopez is the main blocker.
It remains to be seen, though, how intent the Bucks are willing to let go of their long-time center.
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