While the Toronto Raptors are struggling to get through the season, their star prospect has been thriving in Lithuania.
So much so, that perhaps the Raptors should consider moving Andrea Bargnani prior to the trade deadline.
Jonas Valanciunas, the 6’11” center that the Raptors selected with the 5th pick in the draft last June, has been excellent this season for Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius of Lithuania this season. This past week, Valanciunas showed off his outrageous personality during the Lithuanian All-Star game, dressing up as a referee, an old man, and throwing down some big-time slams in between.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1RO2P6XCDo&w=560&h=315]
While his team just missed out on qualifying for the Euroleague, losing to first round prospect Furkan Aldemir’s Galatasaray team in the qualifying round, Vilnius has been playing in three strong leagues, the Eurocup (second division of the Euroleague), the regional VTB league, and the Lithuanian league.
Valanciunas has been putting up good numbers in the more difficult VTB and Eurocup competitions, posting averages of 10.6 points on 62% shooting from the field, 6.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in only 22.5 minutes per game. In Lithuanian league play, he has been outstanding, leading the league in scoring with 16.1 points per game, and third in the league in rebounding with 7.6 per game despite playing only 22.8 minutes per game.
While Valanciunas’ numbers already ooze with eye-popping efficiency, his transition looks to be even smoother when you consider that his biggest strengths are so crucial in today’s NBA game.
Valanciunas flourishes in the pick-and-roll on offense, with quick feet, excellent hands, great length and an excellent touch around the rim. Rolling to the basket, he is one of the elite finishers in Europe at such a young age, and he should have no problem executing in the league.
If you didn’t already know, he is young, fresh and fly.
Defensively may be where he has the biggest impact in Toronto. He has incredibly long arms, and is able to block shots without frequently biting on fakes or fouling. His quick legs give him the potential to switch out on guards, and his length makes him an excellent help defender. He currently is a bit thin for an NBA center, but most 19-year olds could stand to pack on some more pounds, and he could become a presence in the middle as his body matures.
The situation with Vilnius should make for a smooth transition to the NBA as he has gotten to play a tough 3-game per week schedule in three competitive leagues, and will have the added benefit of playoff experience in all three leagues. Vilinius currently is in the quarterfinals of the Eurocup against Ukranian BC Donetsk, stands to make the VTB league playoffs, and is currently sitting in second place in the Lithuanian league behind a Sonny Weems-led Zalgiris Kaunas squad.
Valanciunas has adapted to playing with an American point guard, going into battle every night with former Boston College guard Tyrese Rice. While Rice has had an excellent season, and has shown good chemistry with Valanciunas, the Lithuanian kid will make Jose Calderon seem like Steve Nash. (That is, assuming the Raptors don’t actually trade Calderon , or acquire Steve Nash this summer or at the trade deadline.)
While it may be too early to claim that Valanciunas will be rookie of the year next season, I don’t find it bold to predict that he will be among the top five NBA rookies next year in terms of impact and efficiency. He is a winning player who also makes a healthy contribution on the stat sheet, and should earn more than 25 minutes a night from the get-go. There is a reason he was taken 5th, even though his (now resolved) buyout situation was a bit murky prior to the draft, and he likely will end up as a top 3 player from last year’s draft class when everything is said and done.
With the 2012 draft class loaded with talent, and strong young pieces in forwards Ed Davis and Amir Johnson, perhaps the Raptors should look to move Bargnani for a more cost-effective option. Maybe a deal of Bargnani and Rasual Butler for Michael Beasley and Wesley Johnson would be a good move for both parties. The Raptors would get a nice young wing with potential in Johnson, and a cheap half-year look at Beasley. Meanwhile, the T’Wolves would be acquiring a unique player who could fit well next to Kevin Love as both a 3 and a 5, with the versatility that Rick Adelman tends to love in his players. With the emergence of Nikola Pekovic, there is less urgency for Minnesota to pull the trigger on a big spending move that doesn’t necessarily make them a contender, but this deal certainly would make the team’s playoff chances increase dramatically.
Toronto also could move Bargnani to Portland, where Gerald Wallace seems to desperately need a change of scenery. Both contracts are in the $9 million ballpark, and Wallace is the type of small forward the Raptors have been looking for – as demonstrated by their flirtation with Wilson Chandler. The Raptors probably would like to get in on a sign-and-trade deal for Chandler, but the changes to the league’s CBA have nixed the possibilities of Toronto making a play for Wilson, King of Prussia, until next season.
Things may seem bleak for Raptors fans at the moment, but it likely won’t remain that way for long. Between Valanciunas, and what is sure to be a top pick in a loaded draft, the Raptors should climb out of mediocrity soon enough for the rabid Raptors fans to keep their sanity.
AJ Mitnick is an American currently living in Israel and working for Maccabi Rishon Lezion of the Israeli Basketball Super League. A recent graduate of IDC Herzliya, Mitnick also maintains a basketball blog, http://mindlessdribble.net, and is pursuing a professional basketball coaching license from the Wingate Institute in Israel. Follow him on Twitter.
I have to agree with most of the comments writen here. This is an article writen by someone who has no idea what they are writing about. Yes, Iam looking foreward to seeing what the Kid can do when he arrives in TO. However, to think that somehow he and Bargs are similar pieces that can be swapped for one another is rediculous. Bargnani’s developement has been slow. But what do you expect for a 7 footer who can do everything 7 footers are not supposed to be able to do. Now that Toronto has a legit All star, and a piece that no other team in the league save Dallas has, you want to trade him? The only more unreasonable comment I heard this year was some yahoo suggesting we should trade Bargs away for a draft pick before the season started just to get him out of town. Expect Bargnani to be in Toronto for the rest of the decade at least. He will be worth big money. Do your research Dude!
WOW… I would feel like a terrible torontonian if i didn’t comment on this terrible rookie article.
All I have to say is article fail lol . Get rid of Bargnani Because Jonas is coming ? You must not catch alot of raptors games out there in Isreal but I shall a share a scecret with you. Bargnani happens to be our best player and our most consistent offensive player. It was also said that Bargnani would have made the allstar game if it wasn’t for his calf strain. I’de rather get rid of every other player on the team before Bargnani including Jonas. Just a big FAIL on this article dude. I’m hoping jonas can transfer his current level of success to the NBA but not many do , well at least not rite away.
Advice for who wrote this article…. Maybe you should … I dunno… Google a player before making …. wait for it…..preposterous statements. Maybe even watch some tape highlights on them. I don’t know just an opinion.
This has to be the worst article I have ever read on Sheridan Hoops
1. Bargnani is now playing PF when he plays
2. James Johnson has a WS/48 way south of break-even. He can be exciting but and plays decent defense at times but his shooting for a SF is bad. The Raptors points per 100 possessions drops significantly when James Johnson is on the floor. That is a fact.
3. The Raptors are now 7 – 19 without Bargnani which works out to 22 wins over an entire season. This is the same amount of wins they had last season. With Bargnani they are 6 – 7 this season and most of his games were at the beginning of the season. A season with a greatly shortened training camp which no doubt hurt the young team with a new coach.
I doubt the Raptors trade anyone of their regular rotation players, though they might trade their draft pick for an experienced player.
As far as Valanciunas goes. In watching him play this season last summer and last summer no doubt he is getting better. How good will he be next season? Too early to tell but we will get a better idea come this summer’s Olympics in London.
Corr:
In watching him play this season, last summer and last season etc
AJ Mitnick, this is a failure of a article…you should just delete this and pretend it never got posted..that is all.
I usually don’t leave replies on articles but this one is just so ABSURD I would be doing myself an injustice if I stayed silent. Kae, Michael, and Jake are correct. Jonas V and Bargs would complement each other and help Bargnani move to his natural PF position, a la Dirk Nowitzki. Also the trade ideas that involve any of Michael Beasley (jerk and head-case), Wes Johnson (we have DeRozan already), Gerald Wallace (not at this point in Raptor’s history), or Steve Nash (see previous) are equally as absurd. This isn’t NBA 2K12 as there are a lot more intangibles to think of in real life. The Raps are better off staying on course and drafting the best talent possible, regardless of position, then signing or trading for a complimentary SF that would fit the team for years. I actually don’t mind Calderon as PG. Finally this article can’t be taken seriously as, like AJ Mitnick’s blog, this is nothing but “mindlessdribble”… dot net.
You gotta be reasonable. Saying that Val will compliment Barg is just a guess. Bargnia is a hurting unit right now. A player needs to be on the floor to be usefull. The Raptors better trade Bargnia before teams start to realize he in the 10 million dollar inured list personal. To me the weakness is at center and shooting guard and pressure at the point and inside passing and Gm. With Val coming in we can get rid of Bargs for a top 2 pick. We could keep calderon or we can trade him because J. JOHNSON can pass the ball. And finally Raptors should draft a Center with their trade pick for barg and with their 6th or 7th pick draft J. Lamb or best player even if it is Ohio bigman. Peace.
You comment is as bad as the writer suggesting we trade Bargs for Beasley.
I LOL’d at this ridiculous garbage of an article. We drafted Jonas to accommodate Bargnani at his natural position and now you want to trade him? Stick to your day job!
Plus One
Agree with Jake 100%
We’ve been waiting for Bargnani to break out for 5 years. He finally does and the idea is to trade him?
They’ve also been searching for a C who’s skill set compliments Bargnani for YEARS. They finally get him and this guy wants to trade Bargs for absolute garbage.
Horrible idea.
Huh? Whoever wrote this article is clueless!!! See jake’s reply for the truth.
Just a quick question, I thought the wolves were looking for a 2 guard, why would they give johnson and their trade chip in beasley away for a pf?
You are stupid, Bargnani is a PF, Val is a Center.
They would create a scary front court, why the fuck would you deal Bargnani…
LOL this writer is trolling
Agree
I think the Raptors are going to look to hold on to Bargnani to try to see if he can maintain the tearaway form he had this season before the injury. His value would skyrocket if he could maintain that over a longer time.