Now that the Sacramento Kings 2024-25 NBA Season is behind us, it is time to take stock of the players we have on the roster heading into next season. To do this, we need to discuss how they looked this year and how they can build on it in the future. So, over the next couple of days, we are going to go over each key returning player for next year and assign them a grade for their production in 2024-25.
Now, without further ado, let the grading begin.
Jonas Valanciunas 2024-25 Season
Jonas Valanciunas is the definition of a veteran journeyman. In 13 NBA seasons, he's played 995 games (58 playoffs) with five different teams.
This season, he started out the year with the lowly Washington Wizards before being traded to the playoff-hopeful Kings during the 2025 Trade Deadline.
Valanciunas was thrust into a poor situation from the get-go. Behind Domantas Sabonis, the Kings needed a backup big man who excelled in the areas that the All-NBA centered struggled in (rim protection and perimeter shooting).
Unfortunately, Valanciunas is basically like a lite version of Sabonis at this point in his career. He is a physical interior scorer who dominates the post and the glass but struggles defensively (1st percentile Defensive Estimated Plus-Minus, per Dunks & Threes) or stretch defenses with his jumper (21.6% from three). So, he was at an automatic disadvantage in Sacramento because he failed to offer the team the scheme versatility they desperately craved.
Still, Valanciunas was his usual and productive self. After being traded to the Kings, Valanciunas appeared in all 32 of their games, averaging 8.7 PPG, 7.0 RPG, and 1.8 APG on 60.4% true shooting in 16.9 minutes of action per night.
Valanciunas is under contract for the next two seasons at a reasonable rate (roughly 10.2 million per season, per Spotrac) for a backup center. However, if Sabonis is on the roster, the Kings will likely need to move Valanciunas if they want to build a more complete roster. On the bright side, though, the Kings know they can always count on Valanciunas as long as he is wearing a Kings' uniform.