The Jonas Valanciunas Thread

[KG1585]

Chad Ford's grades are up. Anyone who has insider access want to post his grade for the Raps?

[Pablonis]

U18 so this is the equivalent of HIgh School in the US, right?

FIBA Eurobasket U18 is the equivalent of FIBA Americas U18 - a continental championship where national teams with best players 18 or younger compete.

Valanciunas led Lithuania to Eurobasket U18 gold last year and will likely do the same in FIBA World U19 championship that starts in a week or so, since even U19 USA does not look threatening to a talented Lithuanian team.

[Garmfay]

Good pick for the future, even though I liked Knight this was a sweet pick. Potential to be Noah/Chandler type C for us. Hope all the Euro haters can GTFO this board

[SDM]

I wish his name was Jordan Valance and he was a nice boy from Compton. Forgive me for stating the obvious, but more people would like the pick. Look at the skillset and potential, not where his parents happened to be from.

[victor page]

Drafting the next Nikolas Tskitvilli is not my preference but what choice did BC have? Might as well swing for the fences, Brandon Knight ain't going to be a star PG (he played well in a down year in the NCAA, and even at that, looked lost for stretches of the season). He's a dreaded combo guard, not a gifted distributor.

I really like Kemba Walker but he's also a combo guard too and may have trouble defending at his height.

Hopefully JV will turn be Pau Gasol lite and play along side Bargnani (not sure where the rebounds will come from there). Ultimately I'm just happy they didn't take Biyombo, that dude is like 24 for one thing, and if he's lucky will be as effective as Pops Mensa Bonsu.

[Courtside]

I wish his name was Jordan Valance and he was a nice boy from Compton. Forgive me for stating the obvious, but more people would like the pick. Look at the skillset and potential, not where his parents happened to be from.

Jordan Valance - it's got that baller-rapper-actor sorta ring to it.

Watching a few clips, he reminds me most of Garnett, Chandler and Noah. He certainly doesn't hold the ball and let the defense set while he figures out what to do.

[J-Roc]

This has probably been posted, but for those who are trashing Jonas without actually having seen him play, there are full games on the Internet you can watch legally. Here's one:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypexEZ8BFxk&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

While you're at it, you should post that game Roko Ukic had vs the Spurs.

[JamesNaismith]

Jonas Valanciunas, C, Lietuvos Rytas

Valanciunas is improving at a remarkably impressive rate and I see little chance of him not becoming a top-10 center.

-Christopher Reina, RealGM

[J-Roc]

Jonas Valanciunas, C, Lietuvos Rytas

Valanciunas is improving at a remarkably impressive rate and I see little chance of him not becoming a top-10 center.

-Christopher Reina, RealGM

Top 10? For just centers? Goddammit.

[Van_Trump]

Honestly, I am not too excited about Jonas. He seems very, very weak physically.

Huge potential, but that's the risk.

I wonder if this selection was influenced by the likelihood of a lockout?
If we assume there will be a shortened season, this is a brilliant pick.

Have to admit, was a lot more juiced about Ed Davis last year than Val (somthin) this year, and he's a higher pick.

[So Clutch]

This has probably been posted, but for those who are trashing Jonas without actually having seen him play, there are full games on the Internet you can watch legally. Here's one:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypexEZ8BFxk&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

While you're at it, you should post that game Roko Ukic had vs the Spurs.

He gave you one game, and told you to watch other ones as well. Truly the inner ballboys are coming out of people after this draft.

[wazabifuzz]

I think most people already forgot we would have had an extra pick that we traded to Chicago for Johnson...
I guess the debate now would be is Johnson better than someone like Norris Cole, the answer is probably yes ...

[GideonRapfan]

Jonas Valanciunas, C, Lietuvos Rytas

Valanciunas is improving at a remarkably impressive rate and I see little chance of him not becoming a top-10 center.

-Christopher Reina, RealGM

Top 10? For just centers? Goddammit.

You realize he means top-10 center in the NBA, right?

[J-Roc]

You realize he means top-10 center in the NBA, right?

Yes. Goddammit. Don't we hear every year around all-star time how Bargs is a top-10 center.

[ItsDanger]

I think most people already forgot we would have had an extra pick that we traded to Chicago for Johnson...
I guess the debate now would be is Johnson better than someone like Norris Cole, the answer is probably yes ...

What if Cory Joseph turns out better than JJ?

[CharlieRunkle]

raptorsrepublic

Buyout for Valanciunas is $2.5M of which Raps can cover $500k. Source with Raps says there's a "good chance" of him coming over next season.

[elmer_yuck]

Does Jonas remind anyone else of ... Michael Bradley?

[bigdirty]

Does Jonas remind anyone else of ... Michael Bradley?

Bradley was a total mechanical stiff. I don't think the comparison is very valid.

[Justin33]

Celtics fan here,this mourning Danny Ainge came on local Radio WEEI and was asked who would be franchise players or just the best players in this draft.He mentioned D williams first but then said your guy with some flattering comparisons.When the link comes up I will post if you want.

Here is the link the Valanciunas stuff is @15:20 it's short
http://audio.weei.com/a/42048250/dany-a ... he-cap.htm

[Rhettmatic]

Chad Ford's grades are up. Anyone who has insider access want to post his grade for the Raps?

He gave us an incomplete, the coward.