The New Orleans Pelicans had a chance to circle back to Jonas Valanciunas, but that door is closing fast. Instead of a reunion in New Orleans, the veteran center is headed back home to sign with Lithuanian professional team Zalgiris Kaunas, according to European insider Donatas Urbonas.
That leaves the Pelicans still searching for help in the front court, and Valanciunas would have made a lot of sense on paper. He’s coming off the worst season of his 14-year NBA career, but he still fits the kind of role New Orleans has been trying to fill. He could have offered a similar look to Derik Queen in a game plan, with more physicality around the rim and enough shooting touch to stretch the floor.
Valanciunas also knows the franchise well. He spent three seasons with the Pelicans, and they have missed him since he left two years ago. Now that a return is off the table, New Orleans has to move on to the next option.
If the Pelicans still want another big man in the rotation, there are still names out there, though the market is getting thinner.
Nick Richards is one of the more interesting possibilities. He may not bring the flash, but he could bring value and stability.
At 6-foot-11 and 245 pounds, he would give New Orleans a sturdier presence and help cover some of the gaps left by Queen and Yves Missi. Last season, he averaged 5.8 points and 5.1 rebounds in 14.6 minutes per game.
He also comes with a similar kind of hope the Pelicans had when they looked at Kevon Looney, even if that didn’t play out the way they wanted.
Moussa Cisse is another name to keep in mind. He’s a free agent, though the Dallas Mavericks still hold his restricted rights from his two-way deal last year.
He was a promising rookie, and a change in management could open the door for New Orleans. His athleticism stands out, and his defensive upside is exactly the kind of thing the Pelicans would be drawn to.
Christian Koloko is also still available. The 7-footer showed a high defensive ceiling in college, but blood clot issues have slowed his early career and left plenty of untapped potential.
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Another Bad Start Could Put The Pelicans Core On Notice
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Trey Murphy III sits at the center of that conversation because he is the kind of young, valuable piece a team can actually move if it decides a reset is coming. If New Orleans stumbles again, the question is not just whether the core can survive another rough season, but whether the organization starts treating some of its best assets as the foundation for a different kind of rebuild. [Read more 🡒]