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This is the MAN we need at #3 - C Jonas Valanciunas

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mdalby said:
It is difficult to fully evaluate since he wasn't in the combine and we have to takes some measurements at the players word BUT, I think Jonas Valanciunas has the most potential for growth, both physically and as a player, among the bigs that are mentioned this high in the draft.

This kid is still maturing and growing. He reportedly has a 7'6" wingspan and could top out over 7' in height. He appears to be more gifted physically than Kanter. Valanciunas is a legit Center versus Kanter that wants to be a PF.

I think DWill 2 just doesn't have the physical tools to be a special player at the next level. Game wise, I think DWill is likely to be anther Michael Beasley type player BUT DWill appears to be much better in attitude and work ethic etc.

I hope the top of the draft goes like this:

1 Cleveland - Kyrie Irving
2 Minnesota - Enes Kanter
3 Utah - Jonas Valanciunas
4 Cleveland - Derrick Williams
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Ah, so you're a Cavs fan. Good for you.
 
Catchall said:
I would take Kanter and pencil in the 11 rebounds and toughness. Then I'd let Favors and Jefferson continue to play from outside the lane and kill people in the paint. With players like Favors, Jefferson and Kanter pounding the ball inside, it's going to force the defense to collapse and open seams for Hayward and the athletic wing we draft at #12.

I think Valanciunas might have to fight the "soft" label. I'm like David Locke. I'm just not seeing the big-time skills that say Lottery.
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Why would lanes open up when a defense collapses? Just like last year when "lanes" "opened" up when the D collapsed on Jefferson?
 
This post was good. It talks about the difference between the competition in the NBA, the hoops summit, and the euroleague.

Its not as simple as just saying Player X can't play in the NBA and can play in Europe so therefore European results mean jack. Its not an apples to apples comparison. There are elements of European basketball that are close or equal to NBA-level. For instance, the size-to-size ratio is pretty much equal. European bigs (at the highest levels) are just as big (maybe even bigger) than NBA bigs. But the athleticism between the average 6'10" NBA guy and 6'10" EL guy? No comparison.

Because of this, certain things translate better from Europe than other things. A penetrating guard, for example, is less likely to be able to succeed than a dominating rebounder and shot blocker. I think the things that Valanciunas does are more translate-able (lol) than the typical Euro prospect. I think the same thing about Kanter, too. Not so high on Vesely, though, as he seems to lack a few of the most important things it takes to succeed as an NBA wing (and he clearly isn't suited to be a real PF).

Still, its not an excuse to dismiss the Hoop Summit. It has proven in the past to be a very good tool for evaluating NBA talent. Both are very valid forms for evaluating, and I would struggle to put one above the other in terms of importance.
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When defenders get pulled into the post, it opens up space on the perimeter, giving ball handlers angles to work with and drive. The problem with the Jazz last year is that the outside shooters weren't great shooters or quick ball-movers, and they couldn't drive the ball reliably. Miles was the only player who could slash at all once we lost DWill.
 
Catchall said:
When defenders get pulled into the post, it opens up space on the perimeter, giving ball handlers angles to work with and drive. The problem with the Jazz last year is that the outside shooters weren't great shooters or quick ball-movers, and they couldn't drive the ball reliably. Miles was the only player who could slash at all once we lost DWill.
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That didn't really answer my question. A "lane" is a lane to the basket. How would there be more lanes if there is less space?
 
NUMBERICA said:
That didn't really answer my question. A "lane" is a lane to the basket. How would there be more lanes if there is less space?
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If you look at how Kobe used to play off of Shaq and how Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili would play off of Tim Duncan, you'll see that the defense would sag on the player in the post, giving those skilled perimeter players space to drive into the lane. All it takes is for a defender to back off to cover passing lanes to the post or hedge toward fronting the post in order to give a skilled perimeter player more room to drive into the paint. If the player is attacking from the weak side, there can be a completely open lane to the rim if the player with the ball can get by his man.

It's even better if a team has a strong post player and one or two spot-up players on the wings to spread the floor. Then there are wide lanes to attack. The Lakers used to kill us by having Gasol in the post, two shooters on the wings (i.e., Fisher and Vujacic), and Kobe and Odom attacking from the space this opened up. Lamar would wait near the high post. Kobe would drive. If Kobe missed, Odom would clean it up. If Gasol got doubled, he'd either hit a cutter or a wing shooter. It all starts by having players who can pound it inside.

If the Jazz have two skilled bigs who can score inside and one of them can pick-and-roll, it's almost impossible to defend. It would be like having Stockton, Malone and Rony Seikaly--which almost happened, btw--flanked by Hornacek and Bryon Russel. The modern-day version of this would be Harris (or another PG), Favors and Kanter, flanked by Hayward and some new wing talent we draft. That's why Kanter and Singleton/Burks/Brooks, etc. would be a pretty safe draft.
 
The Spurs always had the court spaced with 3 point and mid range shooters besides Parker. If you have outside shooters this works.
 
Dwill_PwnasaurasRex said:
The Spurs always had the court spaced with 3 point and mid range shooters besides Parker. If you have outside shooters this works.
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Low-post play can only be a winning model if you have shooting. While that's generally true of any offense, you cannot afford to leave a ball just stopping inside if you don't have shooters to space the floor or punish the defense for cheating.
 
I have been a JV fan for awhile but his failure to attend the camp has me a bit soured on him. I guarantee KOC will be looking long and hard at him though because he is the only lottery play with true center size. We do not currently have a true center, and its the hardest piece to get. 7' in shoes with a 7'6 wingspan and 9'5 standing (estimating) is elite. The fact he hits his free throws at near 90% is unprecedented for a player his size outside of Dirk Nowitski. It just projects to me that he will be solid from 18" in very soon in his career. You would have to look long and hard to find a 90% free throw shooter who wasn't able to develop a good jumpshot. Its not just a matter of endless practice either, or Shaq wouldn't be a career long 50% shooter.
So if we agree on that then, add to the fact his length will allow for several easy put backs, he should be more than adequate offensively..

So that leads us to the real red flag - his weight. Jonas is not big boned like Kanter, so 260 might be a reach for him even on a NBA weight program. He is fairly broad shoulder to shoulder though, so 250 seems realistic if he is 240 now. Its still a concern, so don't necessarily have him above Kanter, but it's not a black and white decision between the two.
 
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