Jonas Valanciunas: Patience And Hope

Photo by deep_shot on Flickr

 

Valanciunas might have the most upside of any draft pick in this year’s class. Who doesn’t need a scoring machine who can rebound, run and defend? He’s also a high-motor player.

Put it this way: If he was coming out of college after a year at UNC, he’d have gone No. 1 overall.

Via High Hopes for Knight, Valanciunas, 9/8/11

I was conflicted when I read that David Thorpe piece. On the one hand, I’m pumped to see Jonas Valanciunas here in Toronto. I’ve jumped off my couch a few times watching live streams, seeing him finish alley-oops and get weakside blocks. Right now, he’s a solid help defender and rebounder with a nice shooting touch. I’m a fan of his game and a huge fan of the energy he brings, so much so that I’ve felt a bit Lithuanian during this tournament. If a basketball mind like Thorpe’s thinks he can develop into a number one option who can draw double teams, I should be dancing. But, um, the most upside? No. 1 overall? Whoa.

“I don’t think I’m ready for the NBA yet,” [Valanciunas] said. “I still have one more year here and I’m going to do a lot of physical work, getting my body stronger. Then we’ll see.”

Via Valanciunas living up to all the hype, 9/12/11

I just watched Lithuania and Serbia play a EuroBasket consolation game. In the game, particularly In the first half, Kosta Koufos pushed Valanciunas around like the skinny 19-year-old he is. This should be a reminder that, even if we rightfully get excited seeing him hold his own against Spain’s ridiculous frontcourt, he’s a work in progress. Yes, he dominated Serbia like he did the entire U-19 tournament, but in Zach Harper’s words, the Serbs “didn’t defend anybody at the basket and he could just stand there and catch it.”

We knew going into the draft that Valanciunas needed to get much stronger and improve his post game. He’s had an impressive summer, but these things are still true. I believe he’ll develop into a more-than-solid starting center and, seeing Thorpe’s comments above and here, I’m inclined to believe he has All-Star potential. I’d be shocked if he won Rookie of the Year in 2012-2013, though — it’ll take a year or two to adjust to playing in the paint for 82 games at the highest level. Patience and hope, Raptors fans. Extra emphasis on “patience.”