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At first I was turned off by him because he has a 3 year contract with his club overseas but, apparently theres a deal already being structured to get him out of his contract. He seems like he really wants to come over here if he can get out his contract. I think he should be our main target for #3 and would look great next to favors. He's apparently listed at 6-11 w/o shoes, reportedly has a 7-6 wingspan and is currently 240 lbs. And unlike Kanter there are fewer question marks about what he could pontentially do in the NBA since he played very well for a rookie in his first Euroleague stint this past season (15.25 mins 7.7 pts, 5.8 rbs, 88% FT, 70% FG?). He also dominated the youth international leagues just like Kanter. He looks like he can become a rich man's Joakim Noah, which is fine with me. I know alot of people are not sold on Knight and I still get this Darko Millicic feeling with Kanter since all I've seen of him is against high schoolers basically just like Darko.

Sources:
Buyout talks in here:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ycn-8514315&bcmt=11290680#mwpphu-comment-11288953
Draft Express Profile
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Jonas-Valanciunas-5622/

A good video of Jonas Valanciunas in the Junior League
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jvPl5-wRsE[/youtube]

So should we consider him with the 3rd, unless Williams falls to us? (Draft express has him going 4th to the cavs)

I really like him. He's raw, but he's improved so much in the last few years that I think he should reach his potential. I could see him being a 16-11 player who plays really good help defense. Maybe not a huge shot blocking threat, but can cut off driving lanes and stop pick-and-roll on defense.

We've been talking about him on the draft board for awhile now. I think he will be fairly limited offensively, even when he's fully matured. But I do think he'll be a beast on the boards and a really good defensive player down the road. I think he's much less ready to play than Enes is, and that their rebounding will be about even, but that he is more of a defensive force down the road, whereas Enes is an offensive minded guy. Neither will be bad at either end of the floor, but the fact that (well, at least imo) Enes is more ready to go is the difference for me.

But I would love to get him. Think he could be had in a deal down, though.

Also, from what I've seen, the Jazz don't seem to have the interest at the spot where he would have to be taken. Fwiw.

That video is nearly two years old!

Here's something that has some more recent footage. He looks like Biedrins. I'm wary of picking this guy 3rd.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLa5yFCF6Go[/youtube]

no thank you. trade down and get this guy later? perhaps. but not at 3 even though many are projecting him to be the cavs #4 pick. if we take a big i prefer kanter(not including dwill23 as a big).

Yes at 12 but no at 3.. He is too much of a project.

HolyToledo wrote:Yes at 12 but no at 3.. He is too much of a project.

I agree. Unless Kanter just blows in his workouts I think you'd have to pick him at #3. The little I've seen of Kanter shows that he is quite smooth with the ball around the basket, and that's a skill that's just really hard to learn, not to mention he seems to be a great rebounder too.

I'm on team Kanter.

This guy seems like a gamble to me.

What does Kanter do better than Valanciunas?

I don't feel the love for Valanciunas. He is not very athletic and lacks strength. He has a high center of gravity and will have trouble holding position in the NBA. His moves are very elementary and will be snuffed out pretty easily. Also, given his contract, he may not play in the NBA for 2-3 years.

On the other hand, its not unreasonable to project him as a Biendrins type in a few seasons with a little less athleticism, more offense and excellent free throw shooting. That's a nice player. I just see several guys in this draft who have better prospects of being even more impactful.

Take Kanter-- he will be an immediate help, has much more court awareness, and can project as a longer Kevin Love type with a more refined offensive repertoire in a few years. Or perhaps an Al Jefferson with better rebounding and much better passing. There is really no contest at all which I would take. Valanciunas isn't even in my deliberations at 3.

Jazzfan12 wrote:What does Kanter do better than Valanciunas?

His offense looks like it is a lot more developed, his body is more filled out, in workouts he is absolutely dominating, etc. etc. I like Jonas, I have been on the bandwagon, but at 3 I want Kanter, Williams or Irving.

Both guys get most of their offense from pick-and-roll and offensive rebounding, Valanciunas is better at both. Both guys say they can shoot, the evidence that Valanciunas can shoot is more evident. Valanciunas is ten times the defender, just as good, maybe better of a rebounder. Kanter is bigger, but Valanciunas will be nearly as big in two years and will be way longer. Both guys have extremely simple post games that they won't use in the NBA.

Jazzfan12 wrote:Both guys get most of their offense from pick-and-roll and offensive rebounding, Valanciunas is better at both. Both guys say they can shoot, the evidence that Valanciunas can shoot is more evident. Valanciunas is ten times the defender, just as good, maybe better of a rebounder. Kanter is bigger, but Valanciunas will be nearly as big in two years and will be way longer. Both guys have extremely simple post games that they won't use in the NBA.

Unfortunately not many people have seen much of either, but Kanter's post game looks pretty developed to me. He also passes the "eye test", Val doesn't. I'm not saying I don't like Jonas, he looks like a young Marc Gasol to me, I'd just rather have Kanter.

He is far too big of a gamble for a #3 pick IMO. He is just too raw for such a high pick and there are plenty of other good (if not better) options.

If we draft anyone except Kanter, Irving, or Williams I'll be pissed!

UTJazzFan_Echo1 wrote:He is far too big of a gamble for a #3 pick IMO. He is just too raw for such a high pick and there are plenty of other good (if not better) options.

What makes him a bigger gamble than Kanter or Knight? Kanter has more question marks, Knight might be even less ready to play in the NBA.

Jazzfan12 wrote:What does Kanter do better than Valanciunas?

Kanter has a better body, appears much more coordinated, has a much more diverse offensive game, ans has been around e American game for 3 years now.

I'd rather hope to get him at 12, and if we miss him take domo at 12, but I wouldnt reach for him at 3.

Kanter is not more coordinated, he doesn't have a better body, Valanciunas has just as much diversity in his game, he didn't use it in Europe because it wasn't good enough for Euroleague yet, just like how Kanter wouldn't have used his post game or dribble drive game because he would have been stopped every time.

i think it's speaks volumes to the kind of player kanter will be that he has been the most impressive at the combine and he hasn't played competitively in years.

in todays chat Givony said that Biyombo is most nba ready, i dont see any reason why Jazz should pick Val and Kanter over him