After Ricky Rubio, Jonas Valanciunas=International Superstar

[Johnny Firpo]

Idk guys, Jeremy Lamb screams bust, imo.

I don't see it, what makes you think that? Very good athlete with a ridiculous wingspan, great shooter, smart player, with a refined offensive game, i don't see how he can be a bust, his shooting will most certainly translate, and that alone would prevent him from being a bust. He'll be a very good role player imo, possibly more.

[Mr13A]

Can't wait to see him play in the league.
The guy will be LOVED by raptor fans and everytime the raptors go on the road, you'll see a small group of lithuanian people watching the game somewhere in the nosebleed seats

Guy's got some good fundamentals though. He keeps the ball up high, can finish in traffic, his pumpfakes are very effective.
He's VERY good at knowing when to slip screens and you'll see a lot of dunks off his PnR's.
Free throw shooting is good.
Has a knack for knowing where to go to get the rebound.
WILL block a lot of shots.
Post defense will improve when someone teaches him NOT to just let the defender back into you and hope that you can block him at the rim.
He will make a lot of hilarious rookie mistakes.
His turnovers are likely to be high in his first year or so.

But yeah, love this guy, can't wait to watch him play with Kleiza.

[cloudXXI]

Nikola Mirotic and Valanciunas are, probably, the best young players in Europe right now.

Mirotic is better, but Valanciunas fits better in NBA game.

[UcanUwill]

The way you're describing, one may think you are talking about a "made" player. Marc Gasol was not only dominant in Europe, he was the next level. Plus, he arrived to the NBA with 23/24yo.

Jonas has potential, but let's not overhype him above what he currently is.

.

WTF? Geez, what are you talking about? Marc Gasol was not only dominant, but on the next level? What? he was good Eurocup center, ACB MVP thats for sure, but do you understand he played for ''Akasvayu''? If you consider that dominance, than we can also say Krsitaps Walters is on another level and is dominant...

I cant remember more efficient Euro player than Jonas. As a 18 year old Euroleague rookie, he was leading the entire league in TS%, 74.5%!!! His shooting percentages were 70% FG and 87.5% FT!!!

Before draft, Jonas was known as a defensive prospect, who is nowhere NBA ready and has a buyout. Nobody believed he has a chance to even make senior national team. But he not only made it, he was one of the best players out there, took NBA players like Ibaka, Kaman, Mozgov, Krstic back to school. Played excellent D on Dirk, grabbed 20 rebounds against Mozgov, Kirilenko/Russia.
He quickly develops post moves, mid range and upper body. If the draft was today, noway in hell, Kahn pass on that kid... He is true gem.


ANd Dr. Mufasa is stunning. Basically everything you said, is wrong Mr. Mufasa
.

Jonas' BB iQ is not average at best, its extremely high...

Jonas is not a post up threat and is uncomfortable anytime he makes physical contact with a player? Well, thats the most backwards thing to say... Are we talking about the same guy here?

''have average offensive instincts''; although he is one of the best pick and roll bigs, excellent decision maker, good passer, especially out of double teams, and has one of the most efficient players in Europe...
Just last year in the Euroleague :

1st. in TS%
2nd. in eFG%
11th. in PPP

[Ayt]

He's 20. He has very good strength for his age and height.

He's 19.

[metalinguss]

I'm sorry, but that's pretty funny. Jonas will be a monster though.

He literally came on his own dunk. Damn.

[WhatsaTDot]

Time to fap.

[Ong_dynasty]

Lol, with all due respect, Valanciunas is SO overrated. Putting up numbers against smaller non-athletic kids has no merit.

He relies on his physical dominance WAY too much. And that dominance would disappear in the NBA when meeting athletic freaks. He could do well, but he'll never dominate.

.

why do people always say this about euros.
but drool with ncaa prospects, which most games are against players that cant even get to a euro team.

[doc.end]

No, not really. Upside is Gortat IMO

This. From what I have seen he can't even dominate Eurocup teams. And before someone goes blaming his teammates it is not like he would get a great supporting cast in Toronto to do miracles on bigger level.

[UcanUwill]

No, not really. Upside is Gortat IMO

This. From what I have seen he can't even dominate Eurocup teams. And before someone goes blaming his teammates it is not like he would get a great supporting cast in Toronto to do miracles on bigger level.

And what do you mean ''he can't even dominate Eurocup teams''? Who dominates Euro tournaments anyway? You think NBA prospect should just dominate these sub par teams?

I think you guys don't really understand how Euro hops works...

The guy here already said

Marc Gasol was not only dominant in Europe, he was the next level.

And its just getting weirder...

During his last year in Europe, Marc Gasol averaged 13.6 ppg. (64FG%) 6.6 rpg. 2.5 apg. 1.4 bpg. in 27 min. per game in the Eurocup.

Jonas is currently averaging 10 ppg. (60FG%); 7.7 rpg. 0.8 apg. 1.7bpg. in 23 minutes per game., 12.3 ppg. 10.7 rpg. in 27 mpg. in the second round.

Those are very similar stat lines, VAL numbers looks even better IMO, and he is not a big fat 23 year old, he is 19 and is nowhere close to his prime body and strength.

If Jonas reaches Gortat's level on his prime, that may be alright, but I will be really disappointed... Saying that his ceiling/upside is Marcin Gortat is ridiculous. He is best Euro big prospect in recent history.

[Dr Positivity]

No, not really. Upside is Gortat IMO

Well, that's an improvement. A few months ago you were comparing him to Krstic.

It's entirely possible he ends up Krstic as well

[Dr Positivity]

A lot of people threw around comparisons to Pau Gasol even though JVal is not a post up threat and is uncomfortable anytime he makes physical contact with a player. JVal is horrible at setting screens, boxing out and setting up shots in the post. He simply is not strong enough or comfortable enough making contact in any situation at this moment. Turning 20 this year I think it's a major stretch to say he can turn into Pau in the post. He can turn into Pau like Anthony Davis can turn into Pau

I know you admit you don't watch basketball games and only form your opinions by reading draft sites and watching youtube videos, but you really need better sources.

Valanciunas' post game is many times superior to Pau's game at the same age. It's not even comparable. Ditto for his work as a screener (horrible?). And the same is true for most kids his age.

So that makes him likely to turn into Pau?

Is everyone who's as skinny as Howard and Bogut 18 likely to turn into the biggest guys in the league?

This is a mistake usually made in the draft, taking a player who's shown nothing in an area, finding a guy who showed nothing at his age but became a star at it, and assuming the young guy can do the same (and Pau certainly didn't have "nothing" at his age. He clearly had dynamic post talent that he proved later, even if he didn't immediately use it, and watching young Pau clips it's obvious he had a fluidity and feel for offense that Jonas doesn't have). Jonas has shown no indication of being a dynamic post player at this stage. Assuming Jonas can reach Pau like post talent is like assuming Harrison Barnes can be like Paul Pierce on the ball if he uses it more, or that Brandon Knight could have Deron like court vision/playmaking last year. Appealing to unlikely scenarios like that makes evaluating prospects useless.

And yes he sucks at setting screens

[sca]

No, not really. Upside is Gortat IMO

Well, that's an improvement. A few months ago you were comparing him to Krstic.

It's entirely possible he ends up Krstic as well

Wow Mufasa, I always thought you were a good poster but you disappoint me with this thread. Val and Kristic have like nothing similar at all. Krstic was nowhere near Val's level athletically, defensively or rebounding-wise before or post-injury. First you compare Val's ceiling to Gortat, and then Krstic? What does Gortat and Krstic have in common other than being white European basketball players that play at the center position?

[Kabookalu]

Even if he ends up becoming Gortat, that's still a solid basketball player that plays the most depleted position in this league. Though naturally since I'm a fan of the team he's going to play on, I think he could be better.

[Dr Positivity]

Never get less than twelve hours sleep; never play cards with a guy who has the same first name as a city; and never get involved with a woman with a tattoo of a dagger on her body, and never argue with Europeans about the superiority of their basketball players

[droponov]

No, not really. Upside is Gortat IMO

Well, that's an improvement. A few months ago you were comparing him to Krstic.

It's entirely possible he ends up Krstic as well

Entirely? Heh. Anyway, the point is that his ceiling now is quite higher than Krstic.

[Dr Positivity]

Wow Mufasa, I always thought you were a good poster but you disappoint me with this thread. Val and Kristic have like nothing similar at all. Krstic was nowhere near Val's level athletically, defensively or rebounding-wise before or post-injury. First you compare Val's ceiling to Gortat, and then Krstic? What does Gortat and Krstic have in common other than being white European basketball players that play at the center position?

They are about the same height and are good midrange players

The difference is Gortat has a great physical imprint on the game through his strength and mobility and his athleticism which looks to me to be a level better than Valanciunas'. Krstic is physically invisible but gets by on his skill

Krstic was also a very good player pre injury and it's not an insult that Jval could be "only" Krstic

[Dr Positivity]

Entirely? Heh. Anyway, the point is that his ceiling now is quite higher than Krstic.

I never said his ceiling is Krstic

I said his ceiling is Gortat months before last year's draft

[sca]

Never get less than twelve hours sleep; never play cards with a guy who has the same first name as a city; and never get involved with a woman with a tattoo of a dagger on her body, and never argue with Europeans about the superiority of their basketball players

Yeah, this quote automatically proves your point.

Hard to argue with logic this solid /s

[droponov]

A lot of people threw around comparisons to Pau Gasol even though JVal is not a post up threat and is uncomfortable anytime he makes physical contact with a player. JVal is horrible at setting screens, boxing out and setting up shots in the post. He simply is not strong enough or comfortable enough making contact in any situation at this moment. Turning 20 this year I think it's a major stretch to say he can turn into Pau in the post. He can turn into Pau like Anthony Davis can turn into Pau

I know you admit you don't watch basketball games and only form your opinions by reading draft sites and watching youtube videos, but you really need better sources.

Valanciunas' post game is many times superior to Pau's game at the same age. It's not even comparable. Ditto for his work as a screener (horrible?). And the same is true for most kids his age.

So that makes him likely to turn into Pau?

Is everyone who's as skinny as Howard and Bogut 18 likely to turn into the biggest guys in the league?

No. But you were the one suggesting that he wouldn't turn into Pau. And your second point is even more bizarre. I don't even know what's supposed to mean.

What you need to explain is why are you keep fantasizing about a lack of strenght from Valanciunas when nothing about him indicates he lacks strenght. Why you believe he won't develop a post game when he's been pretty solid playing the post whenever he faces his peers?

This is a mistake usually made in the draft, taking a player who's shown nothing in an area, finding a guy who showed nothing at his age but became a star at it, and assuming the young guy can do the same (and Pau certainly didn't have "nothing" at his age. He clearly had dynamic post talent that he proved later,

I certainly don't do that mistake. You're very critical for someone who doesn't even watch players.

You have no idea whatsoever what you're talking about in regards to Pau. When Pau was 19, he was a typical SF. You're just making up stuff.

It seems you'd need to see Valanciunas showing the post skills and the body strength of a veteran to believe he can develop them. But that's completely bizarre. 19 years old seven footers never have those things.