The Jonas Valanciunas Thread

jigga_man · Post #441 » by **jigga_man** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 1:28 am

I think most people who are upset with this pick are probably fans Brandon Knight aka Randy Foye 2.0

Brinbe · Post #442 » by **Brinbe** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 1:28 am

Double Helix wrote:Valanciunas was absolutely the BPA there. I ranked him the highest on my personal draft board with Knight and Biyombo tied second so I'm happy.

His potential is literally somewhere between Andris Biedrins and Pau Gasol at a position of value. Forget the Euro bias. This guy isn't just some jump shooter. He does his damage around the net, works hard and can knock down his free throws when he gets fouled down there.

It will take time but we will be happy to have this guy in a Raptors uniform in 2-3 years and that's not a lot of time if you're a pro sports fan. Everybody on here's always talking about how we need to get guys like Marc Gasol or reminiscing about how we could have/should have had Tyson Chandler. Well, this guy could have a bit of that to his game if we give him some time to grow. He's not a project. He's a talent with room to grow.

Yep, that's my main takeaway from this too... We always harp on about rebuilding properly, taking BPA, and the player with the most upside, and Val could be that. If his buyout wasn't an issue, he's probably gone to the Cavs, so perhaps we're lucky he dropped to us.

At any rate, we need to remain patient most of all because he'll definitely need a few years to show something, but like a Gasol or even a DeAndre Jordan this year, it'll be worth the wait when they eventually do blossom.

jigga_man wrote:I think most people who are upset with this pick are probably fans Brandon Knight aka Randy Foye 2.0

I'm a huuuge Knight fan, and probably would have pitched a fit if we took Bismack over him, but I'm fine with this.

Walid · Post #443 » by **Walid** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 1:29 am

STEELE_34 wrote:Raps fans are the only fans who get overly excited about players they have never seen or couple highlights at best.

Raps fans get overly aggressive about players they've never seen you mean...We're not overly excited, we're optimistic.

Steve Urkel · Post #444 » by **Steve Urkel** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 1:29 am

bigdirty wrote:I've been a fan of this team since day 1 you 100 post wonders. Y'all can cuddle those Araujo jerseys because I'm sure you loved that pick too.

I'll keep speaking the truth and you'll keep getting angry.

dude, you have to chill out man. There has to be a reason why Val was one of the most stable guys on most mock drafts all year, usually going in 5-10 range but at some points going as high as #2. There has to be a reason why many teams like the Spurs, who in R.C. Buford is probably the best evaluator of international talent in the NBA, wanted this guy. There has to be a reason why many scouts think this guy has a good shot at being the best player from this draft in a few years down the road and be a top 5 center in this league. You really aren't speaking any "truth", just arrogant speculation that you know more about the prospects in this draft than experts who evaluate talent for a living. I don't understand why you can't just embrace this pick and wish that he develops into a good player instead of just trolling the Real GM raptors forum.

chizll · Post #445 » by **chizll** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 1:29 am

I like this pick! Very happy about it!

Post #446 » by **darth_federer** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 1:29 am

STEELE_34 wrote:
darth_federer wrote:
STEELE_34 wrote:Still want to know what the homers and bandwagoneers have seen from this guy that make they think he is the bpa or something special.??????????????????????????????????

How many times or if at all have yall seen him play.

i cant stop laugh at this pick..

dead****

Ive been watching Jonas highlights and games since November. Ive been pimping him out for ages now. How many times have you seen him play?

You do know that highlights don't mane shyt right??
as for his games am curious to know how much games you actually watched against subpar competition out there in Europe.
As for me watching him play,i haven't seen any of his games as the euro league don't do it for me.
soccer yes,basketball no.
i can tell you this though the comparisons that are made of him arent to flattering
brezic/hawes aren't flattering.plus dude is weak..
most importantly there are better players to be had at 5

Like i said before colongelo history being in this town, along with raps fans being delusional will keep me entertained for some time.

Im one of the biggest Colangelo critics on this board but hes hit it out of the park 3 years in a row now. Val had a rebound rate of 22% last year. Kevin Love was 23%. People who come from Europe to the NBA see their rebound rate go up by 30%. He has amazing hands, can block shots, plays defense, is a great free throw shooter and he plays his heart out. Hes anything but soft. Hollinger liked him too.

All Im saying is give the man a chance. Stop with the xenophobia. Even though I would have been pissed if the Raps picked up Biyombo I would have given him a chance. Hes on our team now. Give it time.

So Clutch · Post #447 » by **So Clutch** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 1:29 am

J-Roc wrote:
J.Kim wrote:Can people who are against the pick just make a logical argument for why they don't like Valanciunas being picked here?

I just want to see one logical post so that I can see both sides of the argument.

Project picks are for good teams who don't need players on their team now. The Raps need players now. And before you talk about contending 5yrs from now or whatever, keep in mind how many years will DeMar still be here. Ed already looks ready to take a step in year two. Amir, Jerryd. Anyway, it's a logical argument.

Why do you think we need players now? Who on our team is ready to contribute to a playoff team in a large role right now?

bigdirty · Post #448 » by **bigdirty** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 1:30 am

J.Kim wrote:Can people who are against the pick just make a logical argument for why they don't like Valanciunas being picked here?

I just want to see one logical post so that I can see both sides of the argument.

We needed defensive toughness inside and/or a good PG prospect. We don't need a weak PF/C who might turn into a poor man's Gasol. We had Biyombo who people are comparing to Ben Wallace(EXACTLY what we need) and 2 PG prospects in Knight or Kemba Walker who I both think will be good NBA players.

Just an all around disaster. 3 good prospects I'd put ahead of Val and we went with him. Matter of opinion, but that's why I'm against Val.

Bankai · Post #449 » by **Bankai** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 1:30 am

Donut!! Rubio, Williams, Donut!? Championship time!!

basketball royalty · Post #450 » by **basketball royalty** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 1:30 am

Gotta say I am not happy with this pick. Especially not happy that we passed on Knight.

Volcano · Post #451 » by **Volcano** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 1:30 am

bigdirty wrote:
STEELE_34 wrote:These are the same fans that were excited about Arujo and Bargnani,now they want him out of town.
now this weakling.

the hilarity.

+1

Yup, the same fans who made excuses for Araujo over Iggy and still make excuses for Bargnani today.

You guys sound worse than Bargnani homers...and Bargnani homers are already pretty freaking bad.

STEELE_34 · Post #452 » by **STEELE_34** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 1:30 am

JWiLL02 wrote:
bigdirty wrote:Keep sucking that Colangelo Coolaid! 2 more years and hopefully the euro experiment will finally come to an end and we can be a real NBA franchise again.

Eat it haters.

Yeah...the "Euro expiment", that's definitely still going on. I mean: DeMar, Ed Davis, Amir, Sonny, Bayless, Barbosa, Wright, James Johnson, Joey Dorsey, Reggie Evans...ALL THESE DAMN EUROS HE KEEPS GOING AFTER.

GIVE IT UP BC.

bargnani
gheradini
belli
ajinca
kleiza
barbosa-although brazilian
jonas valanciunas

dude definitely trying to build a we are the world team.

mofo needs to be fired.

Visceral · Post #453 » by **Visceral** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 1:30 am

BC IS ON!!!! Raptors NBA TV

wtcantfw · Post #454 » by **wtcantfw** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 1:30 am

BC ON NOWWW

Post #455 » by **DG88** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 1:30 am

BC is on NBA TV Canada

basketball royalty · Post #456 » by **basketball royalty** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 1:30 am

Heres BC now. Raps tv

Tough Tony D · Post #457 » by **Tough Tony D** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 1:31 am

J.Kim wrote:Can people who are against the pick just make a logical argument for why they don't like Valanciunas being picked here?

I just want to see one logical post so that I can see both sides of the argument.

1. While we could see the college players, no one here saw the euros play really (hard to hate, but hard to love).
2. Being the Anchor of the defense (a real center) you should control the language well and being a leader. (Just look at his interviews, he looks shy, looks at his shoes etc)
3. If he does pan out, when will that be? In 5 years when Derozan and company will be tired of losing and long gone?

J-Roc · Post #458 » by **J-Roc** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 1:31 am

So Clutch wrote:
J-Roc wrote:
J.Kim wrote:Can people who are against the pick just make a logical argument for why they don't like Valanciunas being picked here?

I just want to see one logical post so that I can see both sides of the argument.

Project picks are for good teams who don't need players on their team now. The Raps need players now. And before you talk about contending 5yrs from now or whatever, keep in mind how many years will DeMar still be here. Ed already looks ready to take a step in year two. Amir, Jerryd. Anyway, it's a logical argument.

Why do you think we need players now? Who on our team is ready to contribute to a playoff team in a large role right now?

If you have no belief in any of the players on the team now, then offer them up for a trade. Like seriously, move DeMar now.

Post #459 » by **Schad** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 1:31 am

bigdirty wrote:
STEELE_34 wrote:These are the same fans that were excited about Arujo and Bargnani,now they want him out of town.
now this weakling.

the hilarity.

+1

Yup, the same fans who made excuses for Araujo over Iggy and still make excuses for Bargnani today.

Heh, are you kidding me? Look at some of the people who are happy with this pick. People like myself, Harry Palmer, Randle McMurphy, and several others who are widely considered to be haters because we have slagged a tonne of decisions that the Raptors have made.

Now the fact that people such as those like the pick might have others reevaluating their support.... :wink:

Post #460 » by **J.Kim** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 1:31 am

J-Roc wrote:
J.Kim wrote:Can people who are against the pick just make a logical argument for why they don't like Valanciunas being picked here?

I just want to see one logical post so that I can see both sides of the argument.

Project picks are for good teams who don't need players on their team now. The Raps need players now. And before you talk about contending 5yrs from now or whatever, keep in mind how many years will DeMar still be here. Ed already looks ready to take a step in year two. Amir, Jerryd. Anyway, it's a logical argument.

Thank you for that.

But do you really see the Raptors being able to compete before Demar and Ed hit FA? I think that's the only reason you'd want someone who can come in and play immediately.
I don't think that's the case and I think it's just better that they pick whoever is BPA, even if it means waiting on them a year or two.
(And by the sounds of it, it seems Valanciunas WAS BPA, according to a lot of experts)

Are you happy with the Raptors selection 5th overall?