Trade & FA 2023-24: Stein-Ingram Trade Inevitable| LAL Want Lebron Back On Any Terms

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Do you think Valunciunis checks the right boxes? Rebounding, for sure. Pick and roll, defense, rim-protection? I don’t like it, personally.

We live in the New Orleans area so I follow the Pelicans as well.  Valanciunas really declined last season compared to the previous.  He can provide some scoring and can hit an occasional open 3-pointer.  He is a really strong defensive rebounder.  You would assume he'd be a good screener given his size but he gets at least one illegal screen called against him per game.

He's become a big liability on defense and I'm surprised the Pelicans haven't addressed the deficiency.  I think they would have drafted Lively if the Mavericks didn't.  Jonas is slow footed and can't guard the perimeter.  When smaller players are switched onto him, they walk right by him.  He doesn't really protect the rim either.  His defensive metrics are bad.  He is a strong defensive rebounder though and would help in that area.  He was more effective two seasons ago.  Especially offensively.  

I think he's a poor fit with the Mavericks and I think Dwight Powell is a better player.  

He's probably better than Richaun Holmes though.  If that's the trade, it's good for the Mavericks.  I can't imagine the Pelicans would accept that swap as Holmes brings another year of bad salary.