Victor Wembanyama's Spurs Could Trade For Pelicans' Jonas Valanciunas

The Spurs are now linked as having trade interest in Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas to potentially pair with Victor Wembanyama.

As the San Antonio Spurs begin the process of adding the appropriate pieces to the supporting cast around Victor Wembanyama, there are a few clear priorities already emerging. Among them is the need to add a traditional center to bang with other bigs to free up Wembanyama to utilize his agility and versatility.

According to Yahoo! Sports, the Spurs had interest in signing Naz Reid before he agreed to a three-year, $42 million contract extension with the Minnesota Timberwolves. San Antonio is interested in finding a frontcourt partner to pair with Wembanyama.

"San Antonio was known to be waiting with a short-term contract for Reid and the hope of pairing him with Victor Wembanyama in the frontcourt, sources said," Yahoo! Sports wrote. 

A target they are linked to now is Jonas Valanciunas of the New Orleans Pelicans. Currently, the Pelicans seek to replace Valanciunas with a more mobile center with a greater capability to protect the rim. 

"Now the Spurs will have to turn to other targets, perhaps someone like Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas, as New Orleans and San Antonio recently did business on offloading Devonte’ Graham’s contract, and the Pelicans, sources said, have since made Valanciunas available in search of more mobile, rim-protecting big men," Yahoo! Sports wrote.

Valanciunas averaged 14.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 79 games this season. He is entering the final year of a two-yaer, $30.5 million contract, which will pay him a $15.4 million salary for the 2023-24 season. 

In terms of construction the right trade for Valanciunas is concerned, perhaps a framework that involves Doug McDermott could be appealing for the Pelicans. While the ultimate goal for New Orleans is to find a rim protector, it would be beneficial to add another 3-point shooting threat next to Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram.

The Spurs remain high on Zach Collins' impact at the center position. Gregg Popovich even declared him as being the starting center for next season before the team's 2022-23 campaign ended.

“He's made it," Popovich said of Collins. "He's going to be the guy at five for us,”

While Collins' stretch-five skill-set adds helpful dimensions to a team, his thin frame wouldn't fit the mold of a physical option the team may now seek to pair with Wembanyama in the frontcourt. 

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Grant Afseth is an NBA reporter primarily covering the Dallas Mavericks, but also the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, and Orlando Magic for FanNation, as well as the league at larger for NBA Analysis Network. He previously covered the Indiana Pacers and NBA for CNHI's Kokomo Tribune and various NBA teams for USA TODAY Sports Media Group. 

Follow him on Twitter (@grantafseth), Facebook (@grantgafseth), and YouTube (@grantafseth).

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