Jonas Valanciunas will add a lot of much needed size to the Raptors roster.
I know Valanciunas is a young and talented center, but I did not think he was good enough to be selected with the fifth pick. His contract and buy-out situation with his club, Lietuvos Rytas, was another major deterrent in considering him a worthy selection. Also, I made it clear before that selecting another European big was not in the best interest of the team and the fans.
So, with all that said, why would I think that picking Valanciunas helps the Raptors and especially Andrea Bargnani?
I came to my senses on the selection because I realized that in order for the Raptors to actually have success in the future, they need a 'true-center' in every sense of the word - one that actually wants to play in the post.
- Andrea Bargnani's offensive game should soar to new heights with the addition of Valanciunas.
Andrea Bargnani, with five seasons already under his belt, has shown time and time again that he can mix up his game, but would rather play away from the basket. With Valanciunas, the Raptors have a pair of seven footers that will create match-up nightmares for opposing bigs and defenses. Bargnani improved offensively and proved that he can score pretty much on any opposing center; he averaged 21 points and 5 rebounds per game in the 2010-2011 season. Although his low post game is
improving and his 3 point attempts (223) was the lowest in five seasons, his natural instinct offensively is to jab step, take his man off the dribble, step back and shoot. Often when he gets the ball in the low post, he would pivot and face up his man.
In comes this young Lithuanian center that stands at a legit 7 foot tall with a 7'4 wingspan. His shooting touch is improving, but for Raptor fans, it is better that he has a limited range. At present, Valanciunas is capable of knocking down shots from about 12 ft. No need to panic until he starts launching 3 pointers. According to several scouts and some YouTube footage, Valanciunas lives predominantly in the post. He shot 70% from the field in the Euroleague last year and knows to give up the ball when double-teamed.
If all goes according to plan regarding the development of Valanciunas, (one cannot forget Ed Davis who can play the four and sometimes the five if he has to) the Raptors will have a roster of bigs that are more versatile than any other team in the league. Bargnani, who is arguably the best player on the Raptor squad, (at least until DeMar DeRozan proves that the second half improvement he displayed last year was not a fluke) should really count his blessings. He now has the freedom to play his style of basketball, without having to be told to spend more time in the post. Valanciunas and Ed Davis will be responsible for the land under and around the hoop. Also, Bargnani will not be asked to guard the opposing centers.
This, though, does not excuse Bargnani from improving his defense. As a matter of fact, he really needs to get ready for the most defensively grueling season in his young career.
The hiring of Dwayne Casey as the new bench boss is arguably the best move thus far this off-season. Maybe even better than drafting Valanciunas, who some pundits believe could have been the number one pick, if not for his 'almost' iron-clad contract with his Euro club (which Colangelo managed to negotiate a buyout, which only requires Valanciunas to play one more season in Europe). Casey's defensively focused game plan is exactly what these group of young Raptors need. He redesigned the Dallas Mavericks defensive scheme by utilizing the length and athleticism of the Dallas Maverick players. Casey managed to make Dirk Nowitzki show more effort on defense, while hiding his weaknesses on that side of the court.
When Valanciunas joins the team in the 2012/2013 season, Casey will have an integral piece in establishing a similar defensive system in Toronto- a system which is predicated on accountability and plenty of swarming help from each man on the court.
With the uncertainty of how long the NBA lockout will last, Valanciunas is currently the only player on the Raptors squad that could see competitive action this season. He gets to play one more season in Europe, before coming to the Raptors to make Bargnani's basketball life a lot easier.
