2. Jonas Valančiūnas
The other top center on the free agency market is Jonas Valančiūnas. The twelve-year veteran out of Lithuania brings the exact type of brute force this OKC squad needs.
They saw firsthand the type of impact he brings to a game when the Thunder and Pelicans squared off in the first round of this year's NBA playoffs.
In that series, Valančiūnas averaged 14.5 points and 11.0 rebounds a night in just 22.4 minutes per game. He is tenacious in the paint and is a beast on the boards.
JONAS SAID NOPE.
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) November 15, 2023
HAWK SAID YUUUUP. 3️⃣ pic.twitter.com/rEM3zVIKC9
Even in his twelfth season, he played in all 82 games for New Orleans. He shot 55.9 percent from the field and 30.8 percent from three-point range throughout the season.
For an NBA center, his efficiency from range isn’t too bad and could help with the already stellar spacing of this Thunder team.
Valančiūnas would also bring with him a strong veteran presence. He has made the playoffs eight times in his NBA career and even went to the Eastern Conference Finals with Toronto back in 2016.
Like with Hartenstein, Valančiūnas being a free agent gives a prime opportunity for OKC to make an offer to him if they choose. Could a veteran big like Val be the Thunder’s solution at center?