So what are your thoughts on Valan?i?nas? (poll inside)

[Hassassin]

I think he will end up being an above average starting center in the league, but it will take him time to get there. His biggest challenge in the NBA will be his ability to stay on the floor without getting into foul trouble. I can easily see him having a prime-Biedrins like impact after a couple of seasons.

Raptor fans do need to temper their expectations a bit. He isn't going to save the team next season.

EDIT: He isn't going to be a Darko. Darko didn't give two **** about basketball.

[Bertrob]

Hes going to be an average starting center in the league
He'll max out at something like 12/10/1.5/1.8

[ManualRam]

he's more likely to become another gortat than another darko.
he's not incredibly skilled right now, but he does play with good energy. that itself should eliminate the darko comparisons.

[K1NG]

He`s a lock for runner up for Rookie of the Year. If he gets enough minutes, he could be ROTY. Expect 1.5 blocks, 9.5 RPG and 15 PPG.

10/8/1.3 might be more realistic.

[tidho]

lol, what a difference a week makes.

The reports coiming out of the tournaments just after the draft lead me to believe he was a lot farther along than he appears to be. Still a very good prospect, just a major project. I now wonder if he'd be better off staying in Europe a little longer. Not much value to rotting on an NBA bench.

[cs hauser]

Right now, he is easily as good as Tyson Chandler.

WOW! I had no idea. Dude has never played a game in the NBA, but he is already at a level of an All-NBA center who won an championship and a DPOY over the past year.

If All-NBA, NBA Champ, and DPOY is Jonas' floor.... what could be his celing? Olajuwon? Bill Russell? Wilt? This Valanciunas guy is Amazeballs! GOAT!!!! WowowEEEEE!!!

[backstreetboy]

Val = serge zwikker

[JWiLL02]

Judging him based on these Lithuanian NT games isn't exactly fair. I've never seen a player get looked off of or ignored more when he gets a pin down or seals off his man than JV. Their guards would rather throw up a contested floater than drop it off to a big, or kick it back out to jack up another 3. I don't expect them to make it very far at all these Olympics with their style of play.

He'll do well in Dwayne Casey's system. I wouldn't call his offense "raw" since his touch around the basket is elite and he's capable of shooting FTs at 85%+. He has a running hook and a little turnaround post fade which he never gets to use in international play being that his team doesn't believe in running the ball through the post.

He'll have struggles like any rookie big, but I expect him to make the All Rookie team quite easily. The way he runs the floor is incredible for a guy his size, he'll feed off of trailing in transition. I think he's in a somewhat similar situation that Rubio was, in that he'll benefit greatly from the more open style in the NBA.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZetxlmCrzT0[/youtube]

[aether1234]

Bust

[jazzfan1971]

My thought is that his last name is so hard to spell he'll need a good nick name in order for us Americans to be able to discuss him.

[marthafokker]

He will miss his country man and ask for him to be traded to Toronto.

[K1NG]

My thought is that his last name is so hard to spell he'll need a good nick name in order for us Americans to be able to discuss him.

We need to get Kyrie Irving up here, so we can have the dynamic duo known as Valkyrie.

[Ziggy Stardust]

most likely a bust or a decent role player

[JWiLL02]

My thought is that his last name is so hard to spell he'll need a good nick name in order for us Americans to be able to discuss him.

His first name is Jonas. Just call him Jonas with a hard J.

[SpeedyWindRose]

Right now, he is easily as good as Tyson Chandler.

I don't even.

[MannyRam99]

He`s a lock for runner up for Rookie of the Year. If he gets enough minutes, he could be ROTY. Expect 1.5 blocks, 9.5 RPG and 15 PPG.

Thats an all star center in this era, do you know who is the last center to average 15 and 10 in their rookie season ? you gotta go way back.

[bullsnewdynasty]

Probably will average something like 6 pts/6 rbs/1 blk. Won't be able to stay on the floor due to foul trouble. The problem is that most Raptors fans have really hyped the guy so that even if he has a pretty good season for a 20 year old center, he'll be bound to disappoint a lot of them with their high expectations.

[xprt]

Well Casey said he is better than Chandler was same age so he probably has potential to be rich man's Tyson( maybe less of a defender but way more capable offensive player). Future will tell.

[Niko23]

The Gortat comparison is about where I see him

[Chalk1]

he's more likely to become another gortat than another darko.
he's not incredibly skilled right now, but he does play with good energy. that itself should eliminate the darko comparisons.

Exactly, if nothing else, Val is the polar opposite of Darko as far as his motor and drive on the court.