The Jonas Valanciunas Thread

[Dr Positivity]

I simply do not like this pick, I wanted Brandon Knight. Knight is tall, long, athletic, he can shoot, he can handle the ball, he's quite the scorer in general, has good defensive upside, I just see him being a very good player. A bit raw as a passer/playmaker, but sounds like a good, humble kid and a hard worker, with his tools he should do well. Val seems like a major question mark to me, what exactly does he do really well? If Knight was off the board I would have been fine with the pick, but with Knight available, I don't like it.

If he has the ball within 2 or 3 feet of the basket and has the space to get off a shot, it has a good chance of going in.

That's all I got. Not even convinced of his rebounding due to the fact that he has as much lift as Bargnani, he's probably going to get pushed around physically unless he bulks up huge, and all the videos I've seen of him haven't shown him using his body to rebound well as much as just using his length

He looks like skinny Rasho without a jumpshot right now

[Kabookalu]

If he has the ball within 2 or 3 feet of the basket and has the space to get off a shot, it has a good chance of going in.

That's all I got. Not even convinced of his rebounding due to the fact that he has as much lift as Bargnani, he's probably going to get pushed around physically unless he bulks up huge, and all the videos I've seen of him haven't shown him using his body to rebound well as much as just using his length

He looks like skinny Rasho without a jumpshot right now

I thought people were just being pessimistic about the Rasho comparisons, but the more I think about it, the more I believe it too. When he's grabbing rebounds it doesn't seem like he does a good job of battling for rebounding position; just tries grabbing it through the trees like he's trying to grab a bar of soap in the air. And I'm not sold on his defense. So we got a more mobile Rasho with probably less veteran savvy.

[DG88]

I simply do not like this pick, I wanted Brandon Knight. Knight is tall, long, athletic, he can shoot, he can handle the ball, he's quite the scorer in general, has good defensive upside, I just see him being a very good player. A bit raw as a passer/playmaker, but sounds like a good, humble kid and a hard worker, with his tools he should do well. Val seems like a major question mark to me, what exactly does he do really well? If Knight was off the board I would have been fine with the pick, but with Knight available, I don't like it.

A chance at getting a Tyson Chandler clone with better offense I'll take that anyday.

[Jonn]

Knight doesn't seem happy...

Knight on going late: "The draft is inexact." Now, he says, it's about making those teams that passed on you pay.

link?

[Relentless88]

Knight doesn't seem happy...

Knight on going late: "The draft is inexact." Now, he says, it's about making those teams that passed on you pay.

link?

Don't have a link. Someone posted the quote on the Pistons' board.

EDIT: Here it is http://www.ukathletics.com/blog/2011/06 ... uards.html

[WhatsaTDot]

Knight doesn't seem happy...

Knight on going late: "The draft is inexact." Now, he says, it's about making those teams that passed on you pay.

He's going to dunk on Jonas.

He'll be forced to go left and turn it over before reaching the rim

[mowcrowbar]

Knight doesn't seem happy...

Knight on going late: "The draft is inexact." Now, he says, it's about making those teams that passed on you pay.

He's going to get blocked by Jonas.

Fixed

[The Letter V]

Jonas' right elbow:

[DG88]

His profile on NBA.com

Strengths:
* Tremendous size and length (7-6 wingspan)
* Highly efficient shooter around the basket with jump hooks, & R/L layups, great touch
* Very good FT shooter
* Competes, has a good motor
* Pursues rebounds
* Good rim runner and very good pick/roll guy
* Works hard on his game
Weaknesses:
* Still needs to add strength and some bulk
* Needs some defensive improvement
* Continued work on developing a low post game

NBA projection:
Best young player in Europe, he's the inside version of what Ricky Rubio is on the perimeter. Lottery pick with great potential to be a good starting center in the NBA.

http://www.nba.com/draft/2011/prospects ... lanciunas/
People need to stop bitching we got ourselves a great palyer

[Laowai]

At almost 50% positive that is great in a very weak draft and so many people backing other players.
Think Jonas had one of the lowest supporters but think we got the gem in this draft.

[Bankai]

^^ Supposedly he also has a good feel for boxing out too, a rarity in Raptor Land.

[C_Money]

Is he gonna play this year or whats the deal?

[Aventador]

how come every scouting report seems to knock on his defense and we are apparently ok with this?

[Kabookalu]

how come every scouting report seems to knock on his defense and we are apparently ok with this?

I don't get it either.

[prototype]

So I just caught myself up to date by watching highlight videos of him. It's funny how BC keeps trying to pair guys with similar skill sets next to Bargs. Last draft it was Davis who was supposed to be a gritty rebounding, shot blocking, defense first PF. This draft it's Valanciunas who is supposed to be a high energy rebounding, shot blocking, defense first C. You can even go back to Amir Johnson who falls under the same skill sets.

Like I said, I like the pick but I wish BC would just give up on building around Bargs. We're going to need a Dwight Howard next to him not any of these Tyson Chandler, Joakim Noah, Udonis Haslem types.

[Dr Positivity]

I have almost never been more disappointed by the Raptors than by this pick. I almost hit rock bottom when a good 10% of me considered what it'd be like to jump ship to the Jazz or Rockets right now and cheer for Burks/Kanter and Morris/Motiejunas combinations next year but more than that, franchises that I trust to make smart sound decisions. But I'm going to try and bury it

What I do know is a lot of intelligent people and draft scouts are high on Valanciunas (mind you they were on Darko and Yi, but .. nevermind). It is naive to assume my instincts are surely more correct than theirs

It is also true that 1 starting C is worth 4 guards who can put up shots and score a little on a bad team. If Valanciunas ends up a Marcin Gortat or a taller Anderson Varejao as a big body who grabs 10 rebounds a game, is smart and gets clean up buckets, that is good value at 5. A 10 and 10 C is much higher value than a 17 and 6 .51 TS% score first PG (my projections for Kemba).

Power of positive thinking. Will now cheer for Jonas. Worst case scenario is he's an obvious bust his rookie season, but even if that's true, we'll have another big time rookie coming in next year to relieve the pain. I do think Demar and Ed were great picks so worst case scenario, 2 out of 3. Can't hit the bullseye every throw, especially when no great prospects were on the board

[darth_federer]

how come every scouting report seems to knock on his defense and we are apparently ok with this?

I don't get it either.

Because he isnt a bad defender perhaps?

Using Basketball Prospectus' college basketball translations, we have determined player comparisons for 2011 draftees. Through game tape, our Sebastian Pruiti explores what makes these players so similar as well as what these draftees are going to have to improve on to validate the comparisons.

In the 2011 draft class, there seems to be a influx of skilled bigs playing overseas. Maybe the most interesting of the bigs is Jonas Valanciunas, who looks like he could be the first of the internationals selected. Valanciunas' comparison is to Tyson Chandler, the big man who anchored the Dallas Mavericks' defense during their title run.

What's Similar?

Help Defense. The first thing that really sticks out when watching Valanciunas on tape is that defensively he is a terrific help defender. Valanciunas knows when to leave his man to help on dribble penetration or a cut to the rim, putting himself in position to contest or block the shot. This is an art that Tyson Chandler has mastered over the years and he really put it on display in Dallas this past season:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRqt1UVl5fA&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

This is more about his offensive ability and how he cuts to the right place when required. But the article compares him to Tyson Chandler which is pretty heady praise no?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGQlt1g0xHE&feature=related[/youtube]

He needs work on his post defense but that will come as he gets stronger. But the instincts and the skills are all there. He isnt a plodder.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxNz1W-GGLg&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

http://www.basketballprospectus.com/art ... cleid=1771

Basically hes the exact opposite of Bargnani. He plays hard for one, hes an excellent rebounder and a terrific help defender.

[Undefeated]

I think those scouting reports seem way too vague when referring to JV's defense. Based on what I've seen, JV needs to put on some weight so that he can effectively defend one-on-one down low and box-out. His weak-side help defense is more than terrific challenging shots. He can be slow to react defensively, but he does move his feet in an attempt to recover which is still good when defending pick-and-roll sequences. I'd argue it's reflective of his lack of experience. That's something that can easily be improve upon with more experience under his belt. I wouldn't be too concern with his one-on-one defense. With guards getting inside the paint at will in today's NBA game, having a Center who's a good rotational defender is far more helpful.

[TheRaptor!]

Learn to read...then learn to listen...then think before you type.

1. I never said Leonard would go fifth
2. BC said had Jonas went before our pick, they had moves lined up ...some to involve either moving back or acquiring another pick and movi another player
3. I thought you were done, why are you for looking for reasons to stay?
4. I never said it was going to happen, I was nearly passing on info from my legit source.. I guess I should post a "You Mad?" pic cause your jealous that all you got is your little sister tugging at your drawstrings for inside info.

You're full of horse dung...

I am pretty certain we are drafting Leonard, like 99.9% certain. It may not be the fifth pick, we may trade down or acquire another pick to get him, but he will be a raptor.

Don't forget I was also the first one to say who our new head coach was gonna be.

I have connections, and they always tend to be on the money

+1

He is going to be able to defend, and we need defence. I dont love the guy, but wont cry in my alphabits if we draft him.

I really think we will be grabbing at least two players from the first round. We will be the POR of this years draft class.

Either Knight or Walker

Who is your source The Raptor mascot? lol.... You have no source...

I can tell you right now I wasnt his source

[some_rand]

Potentially the best raptor C ever, aside from rasho of course