
Besides Zion Williamson’s state of health, there is another unclear element in the Pelicans racket: the future of Jonas Valanciunas. This one has a final year at $15.4 million next season.
Will he manage to convince the leaders of the Pelicans to extend it, as he had done in October 2021 in the wake of his arrival, with an additional 30 million dollars over two years?
“ We talked about it. I think this summer will not be easy for them (team leaders) because they’re going to have to make some key decisions. Our season hasn’t gone as planned, so there will definitely be changes ”, already predicts the interior, whose words were picked up by BasketNews.
Despite their big start to the regular season, the Pelicans, a time at the top of the Western Conference, had collapsed along the way, due in particular to the physical glitches of Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram. Despite a nasty series of 10 defeats in a row, they had managed to qualify for the “play-in” but the young team of the Thunder had made them bite the dust during the elimination round.
Barcelona in the lead
Author of 16 points and 18 rebounds in this game, the Lithuanian has seen his playing time go down over the season. Result: with 14 points on average (and 10 rebounds in 25 minutes), he signed his lowest production since his years in Toronto. Will the pivot be the first fuse to blow at NOLA, while the other major players (CJ McCollum, Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram or Larry Nance Jr.) are all under contract for several years?
One thing is certain, Jonas Valanciunas says he wants to stay and extend. ” Obviously during the season you try to help the team as much as possible, but when summer comes you try to mind your own business, like extending your contract and that kind of stuff. “, Continues the 31-year-old player, who does not yet know if Domantas Sabonis will accompany him to the next World Cup.
And if the negotiations with the Pelicans do not succeed, and the doors of the Great League end up closing, the pivot already has another option in mind.
“ I can see myself playing for a European club. I’ve always enjoyed European basketball, so I wouldn’t rule out such a possibility in the future. At the moment I prefer teams that have links with Lithuania, especially Barcelona with Saras (Jasikevicius) and Rokas (Jokubatis). Will I play it one day? It’s hard to say. Supporting the team and playing for it are two different things.. »
Jonas Valanciunas | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
2012-13 | TOR | 62 | 24 | 55.6 | 0.0 | 78.9 | 2.0 | 4.1 | 6.0 | 0.7 | 3.0 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 8.9 |
2013-14 | TOR | 81 | 28 | 53.1 | 0.0 | 76.2 | 2.8 | 6.0 | 8.8 | 0.7 | 3.1 | 0.3 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 11.3 |
2014-15 | TOR | 80 | 26 | 57.2 | 0.0 | 78.6 | 2.7 | 6.0 | 8.7 | 0.5 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 12.0 |
2015-16 | TOR | 60 | 26 | 56.5 | 0.0 | 76.1 | 3.1 | 6.1 | 9.1 | 0.7 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 12.8 |
2016-17 | TOR | 80 | 26 | 55.7 | 50.0 | 81.1 | 2.8 | 6.7 | 9.5 | 0.7 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 12.0 |
2017-18 | TOR | 77 | 22 | 56.8 | 40.5 | 80.6 | 2.4 | 6.2 | 8.6 | 1.1 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 12.7 |
2018-19 * | All Teams | 49 | 22 | 55.9 | 29.2 | 79.5 | 2.2 | 6.4 | 8.6 | 1.4 | 3.0 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 15.6 |
2018-19 * | TOR | 30 | 19 | 57.5 | 30.0 | 81.9 | 1.8 | 5.4 | 7.2 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 12.8 |
2018-19 * | SAME | 19 | 28 | 54.5 | 27.8 | 76.9 | 2.7 | 8.0 | 10.7 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 0.3 | 2.7 | 1.6 | 20.0 |
2019-20 | SAME | 70 | 26 | 58.5 | 35.2 | 74.0 | 3.0 | 8.2 | 11.3 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 14.9 |
2020-21 | SAME | 62 | 28 | 59.2 | 36.8 | 77.3 | 4.1 | 8.4 | 12.5 | 1.8 | 2.9 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 17.1 |
2021-22 | NOP | 74 | 30 | 54.4 | 36.1 | 82.0 | 3.1 | 8.3 | 11.4 | 2.6 | 3.3 | 0.6 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 17.8 |
2022-23 | NOP | 79 | 25 | 54.7 | 34.9 | 82.6 | 2.9 | 7.3 | 10.2 | 1.8 | 3.1 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 14.1 |
Total | 774 | 26 | 56.1 | 35.6 | 78.9 | 2.8 | 6.7 | 9.5 | 1.3 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 13.5 |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.