Jonas Valanciunas 11/12 Season Thread III

xprt · Post #1361 » by **xprt** » Tue May 22, 2012 3:56 pm

dagger wrote:
xprt wrote:I might be mistaking but I think Jonas allready has signed with Raptors contract which starts july1.

I don't believe that's the case. I might be mistaken, but since he didn't sign before the season ended, he can't sign until July 1. But there is nothing from stopping the Lithuanian fed from buying insurance. They might not want to do it for more than one NBA player.

I don't know Houston's intentions. Morey may prefer to wait until the Olympics are over before signing Montiejunas, which throws the onus on the Lithuanian fed and the player to decide whether he makes the team.

Couldn't he sign one after draft but with delayed start? For exmaple Fernandez had contract with European team while playing for Nuggets but that contract would only start when he leaves NBA. Could be something with Jonas. As for Motiejunas Lith fed tried to buy insurance but not a single company agreed to insure Motiejunas untill he signs contract.

RPzB · Post #1362 » by **RPzB** » Tue May 22, 2012 4:58 pm

From what I've heard, no insurance company wants to insure Donatas' contract, but of course I might be mistaking.

LithuanianOne · Post #1363 » by **LithuanianOne** » Tue May 22, 2012 5:20 pm

--

LithuanianOne wrote:
Laowai wrote:
LithuanianOne wrote:C'mon playing in Olympics is so much better for Jonas development you can't even compare it to summer league -

The summer league is to would be to build teamwork for the young Raptors so would be adventagous for Jonas being there developing team chemisty. I know that the likelihood is that the national team makes it.

I doubt Bayless and DD would even play in summer league. It's mainly for rookes, second year players and maybe third year players who didn't get much playing time in addition to a bunch of srubs that try to make the rosters as 13-14th man. And summer league sensations such as Anthony Morrow and Magic Randolph proved to be such great players right ? ( Although I like Morrow.

And "chemistry" is marginal bonus which can be easily replaced by training camp.

Plus Olympics is just every four years and just by being there Jonas would gain immense experience. Not to mention the fact that he will be playing against the best competition outside the NBA. If you're a Raptors fan I can't imagine why would you like him to play in the summer league as opposed to Olympics.

While all of this may be true, I'm a bit concerned about his conditioning if he were to play. He's been playing ball nonstop for more than 2 years.

The Olympic tournament ends in mid August ( that's if Lithuania makes it to the finals which is quite doubtful). I think he'll get plenty of rest before the start of the training camp.

P.S. Also Valanciunas won't have any problems with the insurance - he already has signed his contract with the Raptors and the federation will insure his contract. However, Motiejunas hasn't signed his contract yet and can only do this on July 2nd - on the day the Olympic qualifying tournament starts. Now the federation might insure his current contract which he has signed with the Polish club, however, that contract is pretty small. If Motiejunas suffers some sort of injury while training with the national team or playing preparation games he losses the possibility to sign his NBA contract. It's up to Motiejunas to risk his future while playing without insurance and that's a very hard contribution to ask from him.

On the other hand he could probably join the team after (if) they win the qualifying tournament. But coach Kemzura said that he wouldn't feel like replacing any players from the team if they win the tournament.

Regulio · Post #1364 » by **Regulio** » Tue May 22, 2012 5:57 pm

I certainly see a big progress in Jonas development this year. Guess it is due to enormous expectations his season is seen as disappointment. He improved in every area. Make such improvement for the next 3-4 years and he will be very solid C. Damn he was 19 all year and already the best player on his own team (borderline Euroleague level team mind you), I just don't get what people want him to do. It is not his fault really that in some games he had like 3 FGA...

hankscorpioLA · Post #1365 » by **hankscorpioLA** » Tue May 22, 2012 6:04 pm

“It was sad just looking at Valančiūnas at times. I hoped the team would use him better, that he would be given more opportunities and conditions to grow. I think that was his hope too."

Reading this thread (and its predecessors), I heard this a lot from folks in here. But then again, a lot of people think a lot of players should get more playing time.

However, seeing the same thing from an outside party appears to validate the claim.

I also wondered why Jonas was being so limited in terms of touches.

Regardless, the opportunity to redeem himself is at hand with the Olympics. His performance there will give us the best indication of what kind of player he actually is at this point.

HSOB SIRHC · Post #1366 » by **HSOB SIRHC** » Tue May 22, 2012 7:07 pm

Wait so how was JoVa able to sign a contract but not Motiejunas? I remember both having press conferences with their teams, so wouldn't that have been the perfect time to sign? Also, I didn't know it was possible for JoVa to sign with the Raptors while still having a contract with Rytas.

Turbo_Zone · Post #1367 » by **Turbo_Zone** » Tue May 22, 2012 9:17 pm

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

BC Magneto Vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJSQdERYrVo

prelude00 · Post #1368 » by **prelude00** » Tue May 22, 2012 9:20 pm

Turbo_Zone wrote:[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJSQdERYrVo[/youtube]

BC Magneto Vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJSQdERYrVo

lol epic! Needs sound though unless my computers just messed up :s

nelabai · Post #1369 » by **nelabai** » Tue May 22, 2012 9:22 pm

Turbo_Zone haha that was excellent

Turbo_Zone · Post #1370 » by **Turbo_Zone** » Tue May 22, 2012 9:23 pm

prelude00 wrote:
Turbo_Zone wrote:[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJSQdERYrVo[/youtube]

BC Magneto Vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJSQdERYrVo

lol epic! Needs sound though unless my computers just messed up :s

Was meant as a no-audio .gif but Photoshop limited me to 500 frames (30 Seconds), so there's no audio this time around. Lesson learned.

Just a quick visual then and glad you enjoyed it!

UcanUwill · Post #1371 » by **UcanUwill** » Tue May 22, 2012 10:10 pm

HSOB SIRHC wrote:Wait so how was JoVa able to sign a contract but not Motiejunas? I remember both having press conferences with their teams, so wouldn't that have been the perfect time to sign? Also, I didn't know it was possible for JoVa to sign with the Raptors while still having a contract with Rytas.

Motiejunas supposed to come over right away, but he dint... Because of the lockout I believe. He didnt had a buyout, he was a free agent, just like college kids. He just took less risky option at the time and signed with Polish team instead.

raptor21_85 · Post #1372 » by **raptor21_85** » Wed May 23, 2012 12:12 am

nice job Turbozone!

Post #1373 » by **itbobby007** » Wed May 23, 2012 1:43 am

TZ FTW!

Dr Positivity · Post #1374 » by **Dr Positivity** » Wed May 23, 2012 3:25 am

I watched the Zalgris game and the 1st half of Valencia... that was like reuniting with an old flame and having the feelings rush back, but the complete opposite. They made me feel like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9KyBdPeKHg

The positive: I liked that he's legit blowing up physically - he really could end up Bogut and Gortat size

The bad: Am I the only one who thinks he neither stands out athletically or as a defensive anchor on the LKL level (The finesse skill level not standing out goes without saying). To me it looks like the only difference between him and the Cs he's guarding is being taller/bigger. I didn't get a "this guy's talent is that of a different league" feeling comparing him to the other players there. If I didn't know anything about the players and was told one of them is a lotto pick going to the NBA next year, I would've guessed Rice

I know people want to hear it but I wouldn't bet any of my personal money on Valanciunas being in the NBA after his rookie contract. I'm not saying I'd predict that happens just that I wouldn't feel good about my money being on the line in that scenario. Just MO, feel free to hate.

Yoga · Post #1375 » by **Yoga** » Wed May 23, 2012 3:29 am

Dr Mufasa....the ultimate Jonas V hater

Yoga · Post #1376 » by **Yoga** » Wed May 23, 2012 3:30 am

Turbo_Zone wrote:[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJSQdERYrVo[/youtube]

BC Magneto Vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJSQdERYrVo

Well done, TZ. What movie is that from? Avengers?

dagger · Post #1377 » by **dagger** » Wed May 23, 2012 3:33 am

Dr Mufasa wrote:
I know people want to hear it but I wouldn't bet any of my personal money on Valanciunas being in the NBA after his rookie contract.

I've been waiting for you to say something so stupid about him that I can make a classic sig out of it.

You will not be allowed to forget this.

Book it.

God Squad · Post #1378 » by **God Squad** » Wed May 23, 2012 3:42 am

Yoga wrote:
Turbo_Zone wrote:[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJSQdERYrVo[/youtube]

BC Magneto Vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJSQdERYrVo

Well done, TZ. What movie is that from? Avengers?

X-men 3

nahom1319 · Post #1379 » by **nahom1319** » Wed May 23, 2012 3:58 am

Dr Mufasa wrote: If I didn't know anything about the players and was told one of them is a lotto pick going to the NBA next year, I would've guessed Rice

The post that keeps on giving :lol:

btw I gave you props for posts like this in the realgm awards hope you caught it.

UcanUwill · Post #1380 » by **UcanUwill** » Wed May 23, 2012 3:58 am

Dr Mufasa wrote:I watched the Zalgris game and the 1st half of Valencia... that was like reuniting with an old flame and having the feelings rush back, but the complete opposite. They made me feel like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9KyBdPeKHg

The positive: I liked that he's legit blowing up physically - he really could end up Bogut and Gortat size

The bad: Am I the only one who thinks he neither stands out athletically or as a defensive anchor on the LKL level (The finesse skill level not standing out goes without saying). To me it looks like the only difference between him and the Cs he's guarding is being taller/bigger. I didn't get a "this guy's talent is that of a different league" feeling comparing him to the other players there. If I didn't know anything about the players and was told one of them is a lotto pick going to the NBA next year, I would've guessed Rice

I know people want to hear it but I wouldn't bet any of my personal money on Valanciunas being in the NBA after his rookie contract. I'm not saying I'd predict that happens just that I wouldn't feel good about my money being on the line in that scenario. Just MO, feel free to hate.

Valencia is a Eurocup and Spanich ACB team, while Zalgiris is Euroleague team. Those are not presents LKL level and just one of them is from LKL anyway. No one expects 20 year old to be defensive anchor in Euroleague level competition.
That is true, he is no defensive anchor and often can be a liability and yes, he was drafted as a project, and his defensive potential is biased on his physical tools, length, quickness, foot speed and such. He is a great project to work with, he has everything you cant teach.
Anyway, when you are a good shot blocker and can provide help defense, you often considered being a good defensive player in the NBA already. And even tho Jonas' defense is far from reaching its prime, he can do those things defensively. Ibaka, who hilariously ended up being second in DPY voting, did played in Europe during lockout, and his defense looked arguably even more uncertain.