Jonas Valanciunas

[sisibilio]

Krstic? Collison? Are we watching the same games?
I think his athleticism is comparable to guys like Lamarcus Aldridge and Pau Gasol, not as fluid as the younger Pau but bigger than them at his age.

Remember, this was Gasol a few months older than Jonas is now.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE1iT2qOX4E[/youtube]

[droponov]

The overall competition level of the games might be higher in Euro league. But the standard of athleticism is much, MUCH higher in a typical Hoops Summit.

What do you mean by "standard of athleticism"? There's a lot more athleticism on the floor of an Euroleague game than in the Hoops Summit. It's not even close. Euroleague players are much bigger, stronger, faster, more explosive... they're professional athletes and grown men, of course their phisical abilities will be far superior. In the Hoops Summit there's more potential athleticism, but far less realized one.

The relevance of the Hoops Summit has nothing to do with the game being more athletic (it isn't), but because it gives a chance to see guys like Valanciunas playing against their peers and being able to dominate a game, to play a much bigger role. A role closer to the one you project a top pick to have in the NBA. You get to see how developed his game really is against high level competition - in most of youth tournament games it's too easy for them dominate; while in the Euroleague their role is often too small.

[droponov]

I didn't read the entire thread, but Valanciunas lacks the elite athleticism of guys like Dwight Howard and such, especially in terms of explosiveness. But he has some other athletic traits that are often more important - for example, he'll be a better rebounder than most guys with "elite athleticism" because he's extremely quick leaving the floor and has an excellent 2nd jump. If he had Howard's type of athleticism, he'd be a clear top-2 pick. Anyway, I think he's similar to guys like Haywood, Bogut, Gasol, etc. in terms of athleticism. Same type of good but not elite athleticism.

I'm still not sure why are people worried about his strength and size. Most Americans of his age aren't really much more developed than him in terms of bulk, let alone Europeans. He has a solid frame and body type, that's all it matters.

[Kirsten19]

Wow really looks like Valanciunas is getting all the hype like Darko Milicic once had.

Now, some of u will say "Darko didn't have Valanciunas' ...." but Darko was rated very very highly back in 2003, the fans n media made him the 2nd Hakeem in NBA. Not to mention Darko is probably one or two inches taller, much stronger and was picked in a much much better draft.

After 2004 and perhaps many other examples later on, I think GMs are more careful on pick Euro bigs. It takes time to adapt, to gain weight and they're generally non-comparable to all these elite athlete in NBA. In fact, I doubt Europe will ever produce a Josh Smith or Dwight Howard. That's the matter of their genes.

[Jazzfan12]

Darko pretty much never played before he reached the NBA. His hype was based around his incredible physical tools and high skill level he demonstrated during workouts. Valanciunas has been an incredible productive and his main question is his physical tools, that's a terrible awful comparison.

[peja_the_legend]

you are wrong.Milicic had at least one full season as a professional with a Serbian team(Hemofarm)

[Darknemo2000]

you are wrong.Milicic had at least one full season as a professional with a Serbian team(Hemofarm)

Yeah, though he never proven himself on Euroleague level. He did play in NEBL and in Korac but those arent really that great competitions.

And while he played the professional basketball before the level of competitions was still kind of low.

[Darknemo2000]

Nobody's saying Valanciunas won't have a long NBA career. But you don't want to get a Nenad Krstic with the #2-#5 pick

Krstic was a actually good player before the injury bug hit him. I would take pre-injury Krstic as a high pick really.

[Point-God]

Larry Brown is never blamed for what he did to Darko. Larry Brown isn't even blamed for hindering Felton's career. Darko was good when he first entered the league. Pistons players were on record as saying the guy will be really good in the NBA based upon what he did to them in practice. Larry Brown destroyed his confidence. This is why till this day people can't pin point why Darko physically isn't even average. He was mentally destroyed, so maybe due to his mental weakness he was never meant to be a super star, but he should have been above average.

[doc.end]

Wow really looks like Valanciunas is getting all the hype like Darko Milicic once had.

Now, some of u will say "Darko didn't have Valanciunas' ...." but Darko was rated very very highly back in 2003, the fans n media made him the 2nd Hakeem in NBA. Not to mention Darko is probably one or two inches taller, much stronger and was picked in a much much better draft.

After 2004 and perhaps many other examples later on, I think GMs are more careful on pick Euro bigs. It takes time to adapt, to gain weight and they're generally non-comparable to all these elite athlete in NBA. In fact, I doubt Europe will ever produce a Josh Smith or Dwight Howard. That's the matter of their genes.

Please explain yourself.

[BruceO]

so the people who like jonas, how good will he be? you are saying he'll be as good as which player? i personally find his movements awkward and disliked how much he was getting killed on the pick and roll by guards and how he could be posted up. small sample size but i saw enough. nba guards are far faster. bigs are stronger. i see him as a defensive liability and he isn't particurlarly skilled nor do i think he will be able to be a smooth scorer considering how he moves. he won't be helpful for some years.

[crosswalkryan]

Well, after spending nearly an hour watching all the highlights i could find of JV on youtube this is what I think:

Strengths:
- rebounding sense, has good timing
- length
- footwork on offense
- speed running the floor
- good hands near the basket

Weaknesses:
- physical strength to defend in the post - needs to gain AT LEAST 30 lbs to be effective in the NBA
- anticipation on D - doesn't move his feet to defend against spin moves
- pick n roll defense - seems lost

I see him as a project, will likely foul too much to stay in games in the NBA early in his career, but if he can bulk up and work with an effective big man coach then I could see him being a good NBA C. Really, really needs to add size and strength.

I kinda like him, but not for my team (Toronto) because of our track record teaching players to play D is well...non-existent.

[karolis1221]

Well, after spending nearly an hour watching all the highlights i could find of JV on youtube this is what I think:

Strengths:
- rebounding sense, has good timing
- length
- footwork on offense
- speed running the floor
- good hands near the basket

Weaknesses:
- physical strength to defend in the post - needs to gain AT LEAST 30 lbs to be effective in the NBA
- anticipation on D - doesn't move his feet to defend against spin moves
- pick n roll defense - seems lost

I see him as a project, will likely foul too much to stay in games in the NBA early in his career, but if he can bulk up and work with an effective big man coach then I could see him being a good NBA C. Really, really needs to add size and strength.

I kinda like him, but not for my team (Toronto) because of our track record teaching players to play D is well...non-existent.

yeah man i hope too. And i dont think BC going to draft another euro because fans will go furious

[Darknemo2000]

I kinda like him, but not for my team (Toronto) because of our track record teaching players to play D is well...non-existent.

Valanciunas kind of would fit what Toronto fans want in a big - because he pretty much is anti-Bargnani.

Rebounds, well, plays around the rim just like a true big should, but has a decent shot sense to finish FT at a high percent but wont shoot 3 or midrange (though he can make those shots) unless the time is winding down. Has high IQ so makes good decisions particularly on offense.

But he needs a good big man coach to teach him about defense more - he needs weight and more of experience to know how to move on the spins and not buy into the pump-fakes. And control his eagerness to block. He is a pretty good shot blocker because of his arm length even now and since he likes to defend (sadly you cant say that about many prospects) he has a potential to be a good defender. One of the better ones in this draft in my opinion.

But sadly while he could potentially suit the Toronto vision of a true big, he would need coaching staff to work on him and alas Toronto coaching staff are not the best in teaching defense.

[Darknemo2000]

so the people who like jonas, how good will he be? you are saying he'll be as good as which player? i personally find his movements awkward and disliked how much he was getting killed on the pick and roll by guards and how he could be posted up. small sample size but i saw enough. nba guards are far faster. bigs are stronger. i see him as a defensive liability and he isn't particurlarly skilled nor do i think he will be able to be a smooth scorer considering how he moves. he won't be helpful for some years.

Well some compare him to the Gasol/Noah mix in a sense that like Gasol he finishes well around the rim without being too physically dominating and like Noah seems to have a good motor and can rebound well.

For me he is durable Biedrinis with much more improved offense (confidence at FT much better hands and reflexes and finishing at the rim). Which is pretty good considering that Biedrinis if not his crappy offense and injuries would certainly be a good center.

[Kirsten19]

Well, to me, Valanciunas is a project and I think u are overrating him too much

the best prospects in this weak draft are Derrick Williams and Irving, Sullinger is beasting in college too.

I think Valanciunas needs at least a year or two to adapt and he'll find it really tough to guard elite athlete like Dwight Howard, Josh Smith or Blake Griffin in the NBA.

I dunno but Valanciunas doesn't look like a good complement next to Monroe

[Darknemo2000]

Well, to me, Valanciunas is a project and I think u are overrating him too much

the best prospects in this weak draft are Derrick Williams and Irving, Sullinger is beasting in college too.

I think Valanciunas needs at least a year or two to adapt and he'll find it really tough to guard elite athlete like Dwight Howard, Josh Smith or Blake Griffin in the NBA.

I dunno but Valanciunas doesn't look like a good complement next to Monroe

And I think you are underrating him too much. But I do agree with you that he needs at least a year or two, but again he has two years contract with Rytas after the season, so even if he is drafted there is a great chance he will stay in europe for that period.

[Dr Positivity]

I see him going at 11-14 now to a team like Golden State or Houston. Both are right for a project C

[BruceO]

my biggest problem with the gasol/ noah/ biedriens comparisons is that i don't believe jonas will be good defensively. i even question him offensively but defensively is the major part i question. what is he good at defensively?

[Darknemo2000]

my biggest problem with the gasol/ noah/ biedriens comparisons is that i don't believe jonas will be good defensively. i even question him offensively but defensively is the major part i question. what is he good at defensively?

Wingspan mostly. His arms a re longer than his frame so its easy to underestimate his reach, as usually one judges when playing the ball by the height, but in this particularly case you have to select your safe distance to shoot further than normally because his abnormal reach.

Players with longer than it should wingspan are Kirilenko and Prince, and this wingspan is a tool that helps a great deal on defense.

Another thing is that Valanciunas is eager to defend and likes defending just as much as scoring (which cannot be said the same about the other most attractive big prospects in this draft - Sullinger and Kanter). He is quick to learn as his work ethics is good so if he lands with a good coach he could really become a really good defender because he has the tools and the attitude to be one.