Kings Favorites to Land 12-Year Veteran Center

The Sacramento Kings are favorites to land New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas.

Apr 19, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas (17) hugs Domantas Sabonis / Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

The Sacramento Kings have opened as the betting favorites to land New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas this offseason.

Valanciunas is 32 years old and could be looking for a new home this summer after recent reports suggest that the big man won't be returning to the Pelicans. Plenty of teams will be in the market for a 13-year veteran who's one of the most consistent players in the NBA.

The Pelicans are not expected to re-sign Jonas Valanciunas, per @MikeAScotto (https://t.co/BevDMpGj6a).

New Orleans will be prioritizing floor-spacing around Zion Williamson this offseason.

Valanciunas becomes one of the best available bigs in unrestricted free agency. pic.twitter.com/8WiCheMDZc

— Evan Sidery (@esidery) May 10, 2024

Sharing Lithuanian heritage with Sacramento's star center Domantas Sabonis, there's a clear connection that could Valanciunas to the Kings. Valanciunas is coming out of a $15 million per year contract, so it's unclear what the price tag may be as he hits free agency.

The 6-foot-11 center helped lead the Pelicans to the playoffs, beating Sacramento in the process. Valanciunas averaged 12.2 points and 8.8 rebounds per game this season while playing in all 82 contests. Shooting 34.8% from three in his career, Valanciunas would bring a sort of floor-stretching ability that wasn't seen in Sacramento this year.

The Sacramento Kings are the favorites to win the Jonas Valanciunas sweepstakes, per @BovadaOfficial

Sacramento Kings: +400
Los Angeles Clippers: +500
Charlotte Hornets: +550
Utah Jazz: +550
Chicago Bulls: +550
Washington Wizards: +650
Oklahoma City Thunder: +650
Brooklyn Nets:… pic.twitter.com/BNFLEZUohC

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 18, 2024

As of today, the Kings sit at +400 to land the fellow Lithuanian (via Bovada). The Los Angeles Clippers (+500) and Charlotte Hornets (+550) are right behind Sacramento. There's no heavy favorite, partially due to a cloud of uncertainty looming over what direction the Kings want to take in the offseason. Sacramento still has the 13th overall pick and could opt to take a more youthful route instead.

The NBA offseason will start heating up shortly as the playoffs come to a close. Keep an eye on possible centers that could fill in as the backup with Alex Len likely to leave in the summer.

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