Draft Profile: Jonas Valanciunas

[Tim W.]

Best player 3 years from now..Knight could be that guy, but the Jazz seem to be smitten with him. I don't really have faith in Walker. You never knows what happens with Valancuinas and how he pans out or if he'll ever come over (maybe another Fran Vazquez situation) and Biyombo is an enigma. Could Vesely be the guy? Or Leonard? I wouldn't be upset if Leonard is the guy we get. At least we know that he's a tremedous athlete and plays D right out of the gate.

Knight's a PG without PG skills or the leadership abilities. Outside of the physical, he simply lacks the skills to ever be a good PG. WHo cares if he's just 18. He could be 16, but that doesn't change the fact that he isn't a PG and doesn't seem to have the personality to be one.

Yes, Valanciunas might end up being a Vazquez, but more likely he'll just end up being a Rubio. I'm certainly willing to wait on the guy for a year or two if he's got the most upside.

If Kanter and Valanciunas is gone, I'm starting to think the best option will be Leonard.

[Tim W.]

The hype does not make sense right now, no combine, no workouts. Kanter at 2 seems odd and risky to me.


I would take Williams at that position without hesitation.



All these internationals get extra hype around draft time. If you recall history, Rubbio wasn't going to last till 3, and he went 5th. Heard the same talk with Yi, and even Rudy Fernandez. They were all going to take the league by storm. It just seems that the players that are unknown quantaties always enjoy more hype.

Rubio dropped, in large part, due to questions about whether or not he was going to come over right away and whether there would be a buyout issue. Kanter has no such issues.

[Quixotic]

okay here is a crazy trade...


Bargs and our first rounder next year for Jefferson. I doubt they would do it, but would be cool.

We would draft Knight


Jefferson
Davis
????
DeMar
Knight

looks good, but highly unlikey

Are you serious? Not good, not good at all.

[Quixotic]

I agree; whats with all the love for Jefferson?

The love is because we haven't had him yet. Once we have him, watch the hate rise.

[Quixotic]

I can't see Kanter falling to 5. However, stranger things have happened. If Minnesota passes on him at 2, I can't see Utah or Cleveland picking him up.

I could.

I know everyone keeps pointing to Utah having Millsap, Jefferson, Okur and Favors, but they also have Devin Harris. Whether they go with a PG or a C, the prospect will be playing behind someone barring a trade. Okur expires next season, and if there is going to be a lockout, Kanter becomes more of a possibility for them. I don't see Millsap or Jefferson being long-term solutions for them, and if that's the case, Kanter can take over when they're gone. Then again, they could also seek to trade down and nab Vesely at a lower spot.

Cleveland doesn't have the talent to be picky. If they pick Irving at #1, they'll likely just pick the BPA at #4, whether they think that's Kanter, Valanciunas or Leonard. Yes, they have Hickson and Varejao, but they're not exactly so deep at the 4 and 5 to pass up on a big (if they deem him the BPA).

[Quixotic]

The hype does not make sense right now, no combine, no workouts. Kanter at 2 seems odd and risky to me.


I would take Williams at that position without hesitation.



All these internationals get extra hype around draft time. If you recall history, Rubbio wasn't going to last till 3, and he went 5th. Heard the same talk with Yi, and even Rudy Fernandez. They were all going to take the league by storm. It just seems that the players that are unknown quantaties always enjoy more hype.

That's partially true, but the key difference this time, I think, is there's not much else to pick from. Every player beyond Irving and Williams has significant question marks (and those two aren't exactly question mark free either).

[e2thed]

Minnesota doesn't need another European center, they got 2 already, what they need is a good homegrown, stolen-from-Africa-n American small foward.

[Tim W.]

I could.

I know everyone keeps pointing to Utah having Millsap, Jefferson, Okur and Favors, but they also have Devin Harris. Whether they go with a PG or a C, the prospect will be playing behind someone barring a trade. Okur expires next season, and if there is going to be a lockout, Kanter becomes more of a possibility for them. I don't see Millsap or Jefferson being long-term solutions for them, and if that's the case, Kanter can take over when they're gone. Then again, they could also seek to trade down and nab Vesely at a lower spot.

Cleveland doesn't have the talent to be picky. If they pick Irving at #1, they'll likely just pick the BPA at #4, whether they think that's Kanter, Valanciunas or Leonard. Yes, they have Hickson and Varejao, but they're not exactly so deep at the 4 and 5 to pass up on a big (if they deem him the BPA).

I can see Utah picking Kanter, but I wouldn't be surprised if they don't. Next year, they will have $46 million tied up at their 4 and 5 position. I see it being a little tough to unload either Okur or Jefferson with their salaries.

Cleveland definitely might pick Kanter, but you just never know. It depends on who they pick first and who they think is the best player. If they pick Williams #1, then I wouldn't be surprised to see Knight or Walker picked 4th.

Still, I think in this draft there's a chance that Kanter could be available at 5.

[Chr1s1anL]

I like Brandon at #5 if his there. His a big guard that can shoot the 3 and defend. Brandon Knight would be a good fit he could play the role that Jerryd Bayless played this year. He could contribute right away getting like 20 mins per game. He would be the best player on the board and he would fit a need shooting and defending the perimeter.

[Employee]

I can see Utah picking Kanter, but I wouldn't be surprised if they don't. Next year, they will have $46 million tied up at their 4 and 5 position. I see it being a little tough to unload either Okur or Jefferson with their salaries.

Cleveland definitely might pick Kanter, but you just never know. It depends on who they pick first and who they think is the best player. If they pick Williams #1, then I wouldn't be surprised to see Knight or Walker picked 4th.

Still, I think in this draft there's a chance that Kanter could be available at 5.

I read somewheres that Utah is saying they really like Knight. I could see them liking that type of player.

Another thing to think about is the Cavs could totally afford to take a gamble on Jonas with their #4 since they already got Irving locked.

[ezz_bee]

A lot of people had Alabi going in the 20s. That's one of the reasons why the Raptors felt they got such a steal. He fell due to having hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B is a real bad rap.

[Chr1s1anL]

I read somewheres that Utah is saying they really like Knight. I could see them liking that type of player.

Another thing to think about is the Cavs could totally afford to take a gamble on Jonas with their #4 since they already got Irving locked.

Utah GM Kevin O'Connor has been enamored with Knight since the season and now is in position to grab him as a replacement to Deron Williams. Knight is an absolute gym rat and a tremendous kid who will work hard on his game. It has become a PG dominated league and Knight has the size and speed to be a standout at the position. He may have some holes and take time to round into a complete point guard, but it's hard to argue with opting for such a strong competitor and character guy here. A clutch shooter, Knight has go to ability with his quick first step and ability to create shots. Long rated at the top or near the top of his class, Knight has elite level speed and quickness for a player his size. Despite lacking much leaping ability, he's a prolific scorer with a killer instinct. Knight has a professional mind set, always looking for ways to improve his game and has worked extremely hard in the weight room resulting in a chiseled physique. He's a bigtime shooter, but detractors point to his lack of passing ability/point guard skills. An excellent end to the year guiding UK to the SEC title and 2 game winners in the NCAA tourney taking them to the Final Four has his stock on the rise. He's a potential top 10 pick if a team believes he can develop into a full time starting PG


Dan Gilbert doesn't seem like his a real patient guy that would want to wait on Jonas Valcanciunas, so I thiink he would go for Kanter cause he NBA ready.

[Employee]

Utah GM Kevin O'Connor has been enamored with Knight since the season and now is in position to grab him as a replacement to Deron Williams. Knight is an absolute gym rat and a tremendous kid who will work hard on his game. It has become a PG dominated league and Knight has the size and speed to be a standout at the position. He may have some holes and take time to round into a complete point guard, but it's hard to argue with opting for such a strong competitor and character guy here. A clutch shooter, Knight has go to ability with his quick first step and ability to create shots. Long rated at the top or near the top of his class, Knight has elite level speed and quickness for a player his size. Despite lacking much leaping ability, he's a prolific scorer with a killer instinct. Knight has a professional mind set, always looking for ways to improve his game and has worked extremely hard in the weight room resulting in a chiseled physique. He's a bigtime shooter, but detractors point to his lack of passing ability/point guard skills. An excellent end to the year guiding UK to the SEC title and 2 game winners in the NCAA tourney taking them to the Final Four has his stock on the rise. He's a potential top 10 pick if a team believes he can develop into a full time starting PG

Wow. Thanks for the info (no joke).

Do you work for Knight's PR firm? (joke)

[Matt52]

Utah GM Kevin O'Connor has been enamored with Knight since the season and now is in position to grab him as a replacement to Deron Williams. Knight is an absolute gym rat and a tremendous kid who will work hard on his game. It has become a PG dominated league and Knight has the size and speed to be a standout at the position. He may have some holes and take time to round into a complete point guard, but it's hard to argue with opting for such a strong competitor and character guy here. A clutch shooter, Knight has go to ability with his quick first step and ability to create shots. Long rated at the top or near the top of his class, Knight has elite level speed and quickness for a player his size. Despite lacking much leaping ability, he's a prolific scorer with a killer instinct. Knight has a professional mind set, always looking for ways to improve his game and has worked extremely hard in the weight room resulting in a chiseled physique. He's a bigtime shooter, but detractors point to his lack of passing ability/point guard skills. An excellent end to the year guiding UK to the SEC title and 2 game winners in the NCAA tourney taking them to the Final Four has his stock on the rise. He's a potential top 10 pick if a team believes he can develop into a full time starting PG


Dan Gilbert doesn't seem like his a real patient guy that would want to wait on Jonas Valcanciunas, so I thiink he would go for Kanter cause he NBA ready.

I read this somewhere else. Make sure you include the source.

[Chr1s1anL]

I read this somewhere else. Make sure you include the source.

It's from NBADraft.net mock draft 2.0

[Maleko]

Friggin hell these threads should get merged. There are too many different ones on the draft and ridiculous to read it all.

[Fanchie]

Reading these posts, it seems that no one will slip. Well at some point, there will be someone available at #5. Whether it's Williams, Knight, Kanter or Walker, one of them is gonna be there when we get our call.

Just pick this one, or even BB or Jonas and we'll see what we do with it. What's the risk ? We have a pretty good young nucleus, even if this pick is useless, well : that happens.

The very important pick, the one we should absolutely keep and select extremely carefully is next year's : don't deal it BC !

If (when) we get a high pick next year, if we get the right guy in a loaded draft, then we'll be in a pretty good position with DD entering his 4th year and ED his 3rd : just as it was easier for Harden to find his marks in OKC with Durant and Westbrook having already put the team on the right trail.

These 3 guys will be our championship core. And if this year's pick turns out better than expected, well that'll save us a couple of year on our way to success, but no pressure.

[Matt52]

Reading these posts, it seems that no one will slip. Well at some point, there will be someone available at #5. Whether it's Williams, Knight, Kanter or Walker, one of them is gonna be there when we get our call.

Just pick this one, or even BB or Jonas and we'll see what we do with it. What's the risk ? We have a pretty good young nucleus, even if this pick is useless, well : that happens.

The very important pick, the one we should absolutely keep and select extremely carefully is next year's : don't deal it BC !

If (when) we get a high pick next year, if we get the right guy in a loaded draft, then we'll be in a pretty good position with DD entering his 4th year and ED his 3rd : just as it was easier for Harden to find his marks in OKC with Durant and Westbrook having already put the team on the right trail.

These 3 guys will be our championship core. And if this year's pick turns out better than expected, well that'll save us a couple of year on our way to success, but no pressure.

DD and ED, as much as I love them on the Raptors, are nowhere near the talent of Westbrook and Durant. I am not comparing those players at this stage in their careers, I am comparing Westbrook and Durant when they were heading in to their 2nd and 3rd years.

[Jclaw]

The clip below summarizes my reaction to getting the 5th pick...


.....at the end of the day, assuming we would have had to been lucky to get 1 or 2 and should really have just expected 3, who did we really want at 3 who may not be available at 5? If you polled everyone on the site, you might find a third wanting Kanter, a third wanting Walker and a third wanting Knight (and, in the spirit of Yogi Berra, the last third wanting someone else). We're al least going to get one of those which is the same we could have said if we were picking at three. Ahhhhh..acceptance!

[Fanchie]

DD and ED, as much as I love them on the Raptors, are nowhere near the talent of Westbrook and Durant. I am not comparing those players at this stage in their careers, I am comparing Westbrook and Durant when they were heading in to their 2nd and 3rd years.

Agree, but we are clearly rebuilding around them, so their relevancy as our core nucleus is not to debate anymore. Maybe our ceiling around these guys is Conference Finals while OKC will end up winning it all, but our choice is already made, so we have to assume it 100%.

And maybe that third guy, the one from next year's draft, is our Durant, which would mean that DD and ED would be Westbrook and Harden/Ibaka : talentwise, that would sound more realistic. Or maybe it'll take them a few more years to get where these guys are but honestly, after 16 years, a couple of extra seasons doesn't make a big difference.