Jonas Valanciunas

[karolis1221]

For me it's very simple

Is he a multi year project? Yes, even his supporters would say so

If I'm taking a project top 7 I want him to have top end talent. Is Jonas a star talent? For me, no. He has length but not strength or athleticism. Raw length is overrated for me. He is a 6 out of 10 at best in raw talent for me. Project + 6/10 talent = I'm staying away.

you already told us 50times how bad he is, we got it now back to read some scouting reports and calculating other prospect stats

[carrottop12]

I just have no idea what to think about him. I could really see him excel and turn into post injury bogut, or he could fail and never put on much weight and be gone in 3 years.

Nothing about his game scream sure thing.

Looking back at 7'0 players in the lotto not taken #1 overall in the past 10 years that have made it and you can see all if them have a very distinct NBA skill coming into the league, and I don't know if Val has one.

Chandler was an elite, elite athlete from day one, I don't think Val is elite athletically.

Gasol was an elite offensive player from day one, good ball handler, scorer and passer. Again, I don't think Val has those tools.

Andrew Bynum came in with one of a kind size, rarely do 19 year olds have his height and weight. Val isn't anywhere near having drew's frame.

Lopez had an elite offensive game, he could score in a variety of ways, Val seems one dimensional scoring the ball, and he doesn't create for himself.

I do think there are a lot of thinks he absolutely has to do before he's a consistent contributor, and i don't think the odds of him doing all of them are through the roof.

[ATLTimekeeper]

I keep trying to wrap my head around the claim that he's unathletic. For those that are sticking to that, explain to me where how it's effecting him on the court. Are you watching him get out-jumped for rebounds? Dunked on? Having trouble finishing at the rim? Having trouble making it up and down the court? Having trouble contesting shots?

[trenekas]

karolis1221 ++++.
Dr. Mufasa sees only its own house in order. He can not imagine that Europe can play high level basketball. Euroleague is close enough to the NBA. Each in his post he says, how bad is Valanciunas and nothing more. In fact, Dr. Mustafa never saw him playing. I'm much laughter when he said that the clips can be very much to say about a player. Watch this.... Probably Mufasa watch this video and say that this is a super player. He is very athletic, good rebounder and defence and so on... [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP6j1puhFHE[/youtube]
But when he come to Lithuania championship he was a real loser (without hurting basketball player)... Video clips say nothing... Euroleague level is near NBA, so Valanciunas rookie season was good enough. He was only 18. Play limited minutes and have solid statistic. He is big talent and most of the scouts said it. Except for basketball genius Dr.Mufasa, who can say all about basketball player from youtube clips ha ha ha ha...

[jazzfan1971]

All I saw in those clips was a guy rolling to the basket for dunks. I have no idea why the other team continuously let him have a free path to the basket, I doubt that happens as egregiously in teh NBA. Also I saw him block some shots.

What I didn't see.

I didn't see JV do anything to free himself for a shot. No spin move. No up and under. No drop step. No fade away. No jab step. No reverse pivot. Nothing. All I saw was him with a clear path to the basket or getting a rebound and going straight back up. I didn't see anything that screams NBA player about that, other than his size.

On his blocks, I didn't see him get up high. It didn't even seem like he left his feet for his blocks. Just blocked shots of guys that had no business trying to shoot over him. I didn't see him providing weak side shot blocking either. All I saw was him being tall. Not athletic.

The scouts obviously see something I don't. And they are the pros and I'm just a dufous with a youtube clip and an opinion. So, he's probably got something going for him besides being tall. I just don't see what it is in those clips.

[carrottop12]

I keep trying to wrap my head around the claim that he's unathletic. For those that are sticking to that, explain to me where how it's effecting him on the court. Are you watching him get out-jumped for rebounds? Dunked on? Having trouble finishing at the rim? Having trouble making it up and down the court? Having trouble contesting shots?

He's not unathletic, but I doubt that he will be a top 10 athlete at his position in the NBA, and I struggle to think of guys who aren't top 10 athletes at their position that are above average starters. especially for his weight.

If you aren't a freak leaper, you need to have a big body, he doesn't really have that either.

[Steely Reserve]

There are a lot of people here with strong, albeit wrong, opinions who will just move on to overtly criticizing draft prospects next year.

Happens every year.

This guy Jonas is a lights out prospect. He played in a man's league and showed flashes at just 18 years old. When matched against his peers, he dominates -- period.

[carrottop12]

I don't think there is anything wrong with questioning the guy. Everything jf1971 is saying is a legit concer, especially considering the info he is banding it on.

Jonas doesn't score outside of 5 feet, he shows little offensive game outside of rolling to the hoop with out the ball or off an offensive rebound, he doesn't jump when he blocks shots, and his blocked shots are rarely out of his area.

Those are very legit concerns, I don't understand why he shouldn't ask those questions.

[Steely Reserve]

I don't think there is anything wrong with questioning the guy. Everything jf1971 is saying is a legit concer, especially considering the info he is banding it on.

Jonas doesn't score outside of 5 feet, he shows little offensive game outside of rolling to the hoop with out the ball or off an offensive rebound, he doesn't jump when he blocks shots, and his blocked shots are rarely out of his area.

Those are very legit concerns, I don't understand why he shouldn't ask those questions.

When matched against his peers he definitely shows more than a "a little offensive game".

It's laughable the short sighted nature of these arguments against Jonas but yet many gush over Kanter. Anyone have his Euroleague stats?

[karolis1221]

I don't think there is anything wrong with questioning the guy. Everything jf1971 is saying is a legit concer, especially considering the info he is banding it on.

Jonas doesn't score outside of 5 feet, he shows little offensive game outside of rolling to the hoop with out the ball or off an offensive rebound, he doesn't jump when he blocks shots, and his blocked shots are rarely out of his area.

Those are very legit concerns, I don't understand why he shouldn't ask those questions.

When matched against his peers he definitely shows more than a "a little offensive game".

It's laughable the short sighted nature of these arguments against Jonas but yet many gush over Kanter. Anyone have his Euroleague stats?

Dont think it matters, because he played at age 16 and barely got any chanse to showcase himself. but im really starting to rate jonas higher than kanter because guy likes to play and improving every day,week,month we see him and he takes every oportunity for this game. Now he is playing 2 years non stop in euroleague and with national team on summers and thats a huge ++

[jazzfan1971]

None of my points were based on stats, rather on skills. I've seen Kanter display some skills in clips. He's shown the ability to shoot from range. He's shown me he uses his body to create space to score. I think I saw a nice drop step out of him. Maybe a spin move. At least a couple of NBA level skills.

I guess we can talk stats if you like, we don't have many for Kanter, but, I'm sure we can dig up some all-star game stats from somewhere if you want. But, right now I'm not talking stats, just skills that would seem to translate to the NBA.

I guess Shawn Bradley made a nice career out of being tall. So, there is no reason to think that JV couldn't do the same, and drafting #4 or lower he might be a very good pick.

[horaceworthy]

I don't think there is anything wrong with questioning the guy. Everything jf1971 is saying is a legit concer, especially considering the info he is banding it on.

Jonas doesn't score outside of 5 feet, he shows little offensive game outside of rolling to the hoop with out the ball or off an offensive rebound, he doesn't jump when he blocks shots, and his blocked shots are rarely out of his area.

Those are very legit concerns, I don't understand why he shouldn't ask those questions.

I don't know if everything he said was a legit concern, although Valanciunas certainly isn't without question marks.

To me, he looks like a mobile, fundamentally sound big man with great length, a nice motor, good hands, and soft touch around the basket. He doesn't get great lift, but how high someone jumps is less important than how quickly they do it, and Jonas doesn't have to gather himself too much in order to get above the rim.

I'm actually more encouraged by the act that he doesn't have to leave his feet in order to block shots than I am discouraged by him not leaving his feet to do so. More bad than good can happen when a defender leaves feet.

He doesn't have Kanter's bulk, but he looks pretty sturdy for a 19 year old 7 footer. He also doesn't look to have Kanter's ability to hit from the outside and generate his own offense that way, but I really like the way he makes himself available to the ballhandler in screen-roll situations. I've seen some basic footwork in the post, but it's light years from watching Big Al take someone into the torture chamber.

If the Wolves do end up trading down from #2 to #4 and #8, Valanciunas and Burks would be a close to ideal draft to me.

[Jazzfan12]

In games that don't mean anything, both Valanciunas and Kanter are automatic on jumpshots. The difference is that Valanciunas has played games that do matter in the last several years. And I don't see at all how a guy moving well without the ball on pick-and-roll so he gets open easily can possibly be considered a con.

[carrottop12]

Moving with out the ball isn't a con, it's clearly his greatest strength, the problem is as far as as the videos show it might be his only strength.

[clockwork]

workouts are just workouts, it's not competition.

i once nailed 23/32 3 pointers at my gym too and they weren't off the dribble.

any professional player has ability to knock down shots, whole point of basketball is to make baskets, if some are forgetting. that doesn't mean that in the game you'll be able to do the same. kanter is no different from adam morrison in comparisons of "knocking down shots" in workouts.

please to all those people who adore kanter, explain what ACTUAL GAMES you've seen him play other than the one where he's against high schoolers, workouts don't count either! (i think everybody has seen hoop summit games for both the european prospects and usa juniors)

[clockwork]

as for valanciunas, i'm not worried in the least bit. he's hungry and he shows he wants to play in the nba, i have no doubt that given the opportunity that he'll pan out during the next few years with a larger frame.

kid is 19 and has his whole career ahead of him.

[Steely Reserve]

Moving with out the ball isn't a con, it's clearly his greatest strength, the problem is as far as as the videos show it might be his only strength.

He's an excellent rebounder, both offensively and defensively. Has great hands. Plays with a great motor. Absorbs contact well through the shot. Solid touch at the rim and backboard angles. Shoots excellent from the free throw line.

Need more "strengths"?

[UGA Hayes]

Moving with out the ball isn't a con, it's clearly his greatest strength, the problem is as far as as the videos show it might be his only strength.

He's an excellent rebounder, both offensively and defensively. Has great hands. Plays with a great motor. Absorbs contact well through the shot. Solid touch at the rim and backboard angles. Shoots excellent from the free throw line.

Need more "strengths"?

I can't speak for Jonas specifically, but I definitely agree that the above "type" of player doesn't get nearly enough credit and would love to have one playing for my team. The Varajaos and Noahs of the world are a lot more essential to winning than some of their conteparts who can score.

[Grits n Gravy]

I don't think there is anything wrong with questioning the guy. Everything jf1971 is saying is a legit concer, especially considering the info he is banding it on.

Jonas doesn't score outside of 5 feet, he shows little offensive game outside of rolling to the hoop with out the ball or off an offensive rebound, he doesn't jump when he blocks shots, and his blocked shots are rarely out of his area.

Those are very legit concerns, I don't understand why he shouldn't ask those questions.

I don't know if everything he said was a legit concern, although Valanciunas certainly isn't without question marks.

To me, he looks like a mobile, fundamentally sound big man with great length, a nice motor, good hands, and soft touch around the basket. He doesn't get great lift, but how high someone jumps is less important than how quickly they do it, and Jonas doesn't have to gather himself too much in order to get above the rim.

I'm actually more encouraged by the act that he doesn't have to leave his feet in order to block shots than I am discouraged by him not leaving his feet to do so. More bad than good can happen when a defender leaves feet.

He doesn't have Kanter's bulk, but he looks pretty sturdy for a 19 year old 7 footer. He also doesn't look to have Kanter's ability to hit from the outside and generate his own offense that way, but I really like the way he makes himself available to the ballhandler in screen-roll situations. I've seen some basic footwork in the post, but it's light years from watching Big Al take someone into the torture chamber.

If the Wolves do end up trading down from #2 to #4 and #8, Valanciunas and Burks would be a close to ideal draft to me.

i would be forever in debt to the basketball gods if that happened...i would literally cry with joy.

opening day
rubio(20)
wes(24) burks(20)
beasley(22)
love(23)
jonas(19)

[carrottop12]

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/21 ... _Least_$3M

3 Mil.

That's a lot of cash to bring Val over.