Jonas Valanciunas or Enes Kanter? (Poll added)

[JordanMariam14]

Which big man is better?
Which fits the Raptors better?

[Primer]

JV

[omgsomuchpotential]

Kanter:
- Great touch, will develop a 3pt range
- NBA ready body size-wise
- very quick & athletic
- very solid post game potential
- average length
- average hustle
- health red-flags (possibly due to body/knees not handling excessive muscle mass)
- unproven leadership quality

JV:
- Great touch, will develop a steady long-jumper, possibly a 3pt range at some point in his career (MAYBE)
- body not yet ready for NBA, needs to get stronger
- average quickness & athleticism
- very sound fundamentals
- solid post game potential
- great length
- great hustle
- great personality
- proven great leadership quality

So you decide. I personally much more prefer JV, maybe because I'm Lithuanian myself.

[tucas]

Idk why this is a question. JV is and will be much better.

[planetmars]

I was high on Kanter in the 2011 draft, and hoped the Raptors drafted 3rd so they could select him. He hasn't gotten much time in Utah, and when he has he's done remarkably well. If Kanter was given time to develop I could see him doing better than JV, but since he's in Utah where they have so many bigs (although that's up in the air with AJ/Milsap now free agents) then I see JV doing better.

Long story short, I am all about JV now since he's with the Raptors. No point looking back now. JV for the win!

[ReubenJRD]

I personally feel JV has the higher ceiling, but if both got equal playing time right now, Kanter would be much more productive and consistent.

[enlightenment]

I dont think its a legitimate question.

JV by far.

[Raptorsnz]

I think this is definitely a legitimate question, Kanter was putting up some good stat lines near the end of the season when he was actually getting some playing time.

I think it'll be interesting seeing how they move going forward, especially since Kanter and JV both look to feature a lot more next season.

[Hugmenot]

We're talking about players born in 1992 so it's too early to say which one is better.

[stretch]

I wonder how many of us actually watched a bunch of Utah Jazz games this season? It is interesting that Bill Simmons had the pair ranked together at numbers 46 and 45 in his 13th annual ranking of the NBA's top 50 most valuable assets.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/...e-value-part-1

[enlightenment]

I think this is definitely a legitimate question, Kanter was putting up some good stat lines near the end of the season when he was actually getting some playing time.

I think it'll be interesting seeing how they move going forward, especially since Kanter and JV both look to feature a lot more next season.

The question was which one is better, currently. And which fits on the Raps better currently.

JV for both, by far!

[japetas]

First of all, let's not forget that Kanter played his second season in the NBA, he's not rookie. Being a good player isn't all about stats, I haven't seen Kanter playing, but it's enough to see Valanciunas hustle and energy to say that he fits the Raptors really well... On the other hand, during these two years Kanter wasn't given a real chance in Utah to show that he can consistently play the highest level basketball.

[tkfu]

I'm a big Jazz fan; I grew up on Malone and Stockton, before the Raptors existed. So I still catch ~20-30 Jazz games per year.

1. If this were the 90s, Kanter wins hands down. He's really strong, he's a great rebounder (much better than JV), and he's got a bull-in-a-china-shop style post game.

2. JV is a much better player for the modern NBA. He moves his feet better, he's longer, and he's a better shooter. He can erase his teammates (and his own) defensive mistakes.

3. Kanter is much more limited on the defensive end. I like him paired with Favors on D, with Kanter guarding the primary post threat. That's something he's quite good at, because of his strength. But he's not yet able to provide quality help D without fouling.

So yeah, Kanter has his advantages. But I'd say JV's a slightly better player right now for today's game, and by next season will be significantly better.

[hateslosing]

Valanciunas is bigger and is in the mold of a traditional, back to the basket, center. Hid reach and height make him a good rim protector and he has good touch around the rim.

Kanter is a little shorter (an inch with 3" shoter wingspan), a little thicker, and maybe more athletic. I see him as being a power forward/center hybrid.

For the Raps JV is better. I'd prefer him on most team since finding that true center is very difficult to do in the NBA.

[Stahmenah_Vybz]

What difference does it make? JV is with us and we are not looking for a change. Maybe it should be JV or Pau would be more of a question NO?

[Craiger]

Valanciunas is bigger and is in the mold of a traditional, back to the basket, center. Hid reach and height make him a good rim protector and he has good touch around the rim.

Kanter is a little shorter (an inch with 3" shoter wingspan), a little thicker, and maybe more athletic. I see him as being a power forward/center hybrid.

For the Raps JV is better. I'd prefer him on most team since finding that true center is very difficult to do in the NBA.

I think its the exact opposite.

Val has a little more length, Kanter has a more bulk.

But Kanter is a pure back to the basket, low post, bruising style big man. While Val offers a little more range and quickness. Kanter is much more a pure C, while Val would be more likely to fill a pf/c role.

I think tkfu is more or less spot on (although I don't think there is a style that necessarily fits 'today's NBA' better per se). In the long run I'd put my money on Val, but I think Kanter has lacked any period of significant playing time the past 2 seasons (with Jefferson, Milsap and Favors in Utah) that Val got this year.

[NoPropsneeded]

Jv is a leaner more skilled big. Where as Kanter is more like pekovic. He's going to go through you not over you, JV will either go over you or around you because he's longer and faster. I'd go with JV cause i'm a homer and i love JV

[Soft Euro]

Like Stahmenah said, we got Valanciunas, so who really cares. Nevertheless, both get their offense in large part from playing in the post and Valanciunas hasn't done worse there than Kanter.

[RAPresenting]

I think both are nice players but like many previous have said are different. Wouldn't be apposed to either taking up a roster spot on my team. JV gets the edge with his hustle and length also his vibe he gives off. JV has that vibe that he's going to be great and be that guy who leads his team, I don't get that from Kanter.

[omgsomuchpotential]

I strongly disagree with both tkfu and Craiger. I think once JV will fill out, he'll be much much more of a true center than Kanter. JV doesn't mind banging in the paint. I imagine JV having Bogut-esque type body, but with a much much better offensive game. Kanter will be more of a PF/C, since he's probably gonna be quicker than JV in their primes and thus should keep up with most of the PFs in the league.