Jonas Valanciunas, Pelicans Conform to 2-Year, $30.1M Contract Extension
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The Recent Orleans Pelicans and Jonas Valanciunas agreed to a two-three hundred and sixty five days, $30.1 million extension Wednesday, in step with ESPN’s Andrew Lopez.
The susceptible heart is signed for $14 million this season, and his unusual contract will hurry into construct in the 2022-23 marketing campaign. Here’s his first three hundred and sixty five days with the Pelicans, who obtained him from the Memphis Grizzlies as portion of a three-team trade.
ESPN’s Bobby Marks equipped context in regards to the monetary particulars:
Bobby Marks @BobbyMarks42
The two three hundred and sixty five days $14.7M and $15.4M extension used to be the most that Recent Orleans might perchance perchance well also offer moral now.
Valanciunas used to be traded in the offseason and the most he might perchance perchance well also signal for used to be an total of three seasons (in conjunction with what used to be left on his contract) and a 5% lift. https://t.co/RpANzsodDZ
Valanciunas averaged 17.1 parts, 12.5 rebounds and 0.9 blocks with Memphis in 2020-21. He additionally equipped some ground-spacing, hitting 21 three-pointers and knocking down 36.8 p.c of his lengthy-vary opportunities.
The six playoffs journeys he made with the Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors might perchance perchance well also aloof additionally be purposeful to a franchise having a seek for to score a breakthrough.
Will Guillory @WillGuillory
Quote from David Griffin on the Devonte’ Graham, Jonas Valanciunas additions in the Pels delivery pic.twitter.com/5LgL8jrwg1
By hammering out extension phrases now, the Pelicans steer definite of a possible bidding battle for Valanciunas subsequent offseason. A $15 million annual wage wants to be solid price too.
The 29-three hundred and sixty five days-susceptible, meanwhile, is getting lengthy-time frame safety. Free company is also unforgiving for older colossal males, so there used to be no guarantee he’d secure the extra or much less contract the Pels equipped. Andre Drummond is a two-time All-Megastar and 4-time rebounding champion, and he settled for the susceptible minimum with the Philadelphia 76ers in August.
This is able to perchance well well also now not present noteworthy sure wager about Valanciunas’ future in Recent Orleans, though.
The Pelicans handed Steven Adams a two-three hundred and sixty five days deal final November after his trade from the Oklahoma City Say, but they moved him to the Grizzlies as portion of the Valanciunas trade.
Zion Williamson is eligible to change into an unrestricted free agent in 2024, and nothing looms greater for the group than his dedication previous that. If the entrance place of job has any reservations about Valanciunas’ slot in the frontcourt, then it can perchance well also deserve to keep in mind but one other heart strategy to pair with Williamson internal.