By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The New Orleans Pelicans and Jonas Valanciunas have agreed on a two-year, $30.1M contract extension, per Andrew Lopez of ESPN.
Valanciunas, 29, would become an unrestricted free agent next summer. He instead commits for two additional years with the new contract kicking in following the $12M salary of the 2021-22 season. The $14.7M and $15.4M of the contract extension were the maximum currently available, as noted by ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
The Lithuanian center was traded to the Pelicans in early August. The Louisiana franchise had also acquired Trey Murphy and Brandon Boston, both 2021 NBA draft picks from the Memphis Grizzlies. On the opposite path, Steven Adams, Eric Bledsoe, a protected 2022 first-round pick, and 2021 selections Ziaire Williams and Jared Butler. Also, Devonte’ Graham was sent to New Orleans from the Charlotte Hornets, while Wes Iwundu, a future protected first-round draft pick, and cash considerations went to the Hornets from the Pelicans, along with the draft rights to Tyler Harvey from Memphis.
Valanciunas himself was selected with the fifth overall pick of the 2011 draft. After departing Rytas Vilnius, then named Lietuvos Rytas, he joined the Toronto Raptors in 2012 enjoying a lengthy run until he was traded to the Grizzlies midway through the 2018-19 season. The Raptors went on to capture the first NBA championship in team history.
A solid 2020-21 campaign generated 17.1 points, 12.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.9 blocks, and 0.6 steals per contest over 62 appearances in the Regular Season, including 61 starts. He added 15.0 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per Playoffs game as Memphis was eliminated by the Utah Jazz in five games in the first round.