The Sacramento Kings have solidified their frontcourt by acquiring Jonas Valanciunas from the Washington Wizards ahead of the NBA trade deadline. Valanciunas, a veteran center, will join fellow Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis, creating a formidable duo. The Kings parted ways with Sidy Cissoko and two second-round picks, namely a 2028 pick from the Denver Nuggets and their own 2029 pick. Valanciunas, who signed a three-year deal with the Wizards last season, has had a challenging year, serving mostly as a bench player behind rookie Alex Sarr.

This trade reunites Valanciunas with DeMar DeRozan, a former teammate in Toronto, while also reflecting the Kings' ambition to bolster their playoff prospects. Washington has also been active, having previously traded Kyle Kuzma to the Milwaukee Bucks for Khris Middleton. This maneuvering underscores both teams' strategic adjustments as they seek to enhance their rosters.