Report: C Valanciunas to return to Grizz on 3-year deal

Center Jonas Valanciunas is set to agree to a three-year, $45 million contract to return to the Memphis Grizzlies after free agency opens Sunday night, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported.

The 27-year-old Lithuanian declined a $17.6 million player option for next season to become an unrestricted free agent and negotiate a longer-term deal.

Valanciunas thrived with the Memphis after being part of the trade that sent center Marc Gasol to the Toronto Raptors on Feb. 7. Valanciunas averaged 19.9 points and 10.7 rebounds in 19 games (17 starts) for the Grizzlies, missing the final five games because of a sprained right ankle.

He had a streak of six straight double-doubles snapped when he was injured March 31. One night earlier, he scored a career-best 34 points and collected 20 rebounds in a win over the Phoenix Suns.

Prior to the trade, Valanciunas averaged 12.8 points and 7.2 rebounds in 30 games (10 starts) for Toronto, where he had played since 2012 after being the No. 5 pick in the 2011 draft.

Valanciunas has career averages of 12.1 points and 8.5 rebounds in seven NBA seasons.

--Field Level Media