Reports: Grizzlies re-sign Valanciunas for 3 years, $45M

After turning down a player option in order to become an unrestricted free agent, center Jonas Valanciunas has agreed to re-sign with the Memphis Grizzlies, according to multiple reports Sunday.

Valanciunas' agent confirmed to ESPN that his deal will be for three years and $45 million after he declined a 2019-20 player option that would have paid him $17.6 million.

The 7-foot Lithuania native was dealt to the Grizzlies from eventual NBA champion Toronto in February in four-player trade that sent long-time Memphis starting center Marc Gasol to the Raptors.

Valanciunas, 27, blossomed after the trade as a focal point of the rebuilding Grizzlies, with his scoring and rebounding averages spiking to 19.9 points and 10.7 rebounds per game in 19 games (17 starts) for Memphis compared to 12.8 and 7.2, respectively, in 30 games (10 starts) with Toronto.

Valanciunas has averaged in double digits in scoring in six of his seven NBA seasons since the Raptors took him with the fifth overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft. For his career, he has averaged 12.1 points and 8.5 rebounds in 489 games (461 starts).

In a separate move Sunday night, the Grizzlies acquired veteran forward Andre Iguodala (due to make nearly $17.2 million in 2019-20) from the Golden State Warriors, per ESPN. The Warriors also reportedly sent protected first-round picks in 2024 and 2025 and an unprotected first-round pick in 2026 to the Grizzlies.

There was no word in ESPN's report what Memphis would send back to Golden State to complete the deal.

--Field Level Media