Jonas Valanciunas ??

[hud11]

Here's the thing that stands out for me, that makes me most nervous...if TT were in this tournament, I highly highly doubt that he would be putting up similar type of numbers as Jonas. Yeah the Lithuanian team is solid, but I just don't see TT as big time scorer on any level, but maybe he could match jv on the def side? Let's hope so.

 

[Birdy89]

If JV continues to progress and ends up panning out, it won't be long before people are left to yell GRRRAANNNTTT because Kahn will be fired and CG will become the leagues resident dunce for picking TT over JV because of his "advanced metrics".

 

[Jon]

Here's the thing that stands out for me, that makes me most nervous...if TT were in this tournament, I highly highly doubt that he would be putting up similar type of numbers as Jonas. Yeah the Lithuanian team is solid, but I just don't see TT as big time scorer on any level, but maybe he could match jv on the def side? Let's hope so.

Put TT in a competition playing against guys typically 5" shorter and a couple years less experienced on a team that's strategy revolves around getting him the ball, and I imagine he'd put up some impressive numbers.

 

[Jon]

If JV continues to progress and ends up panning out, it won't be long before people are left to yell GRRRAANNNTTT because Kahn will be fired and CG will become the leagues resident dunce for picking TT over JV because of his "advanced metrics".

That all depends what TT does. Hopefully they both pan out, but TT proves to be the better fit for our team going forward.

Keep in mind that Grant has never stated that he took TT due to "advanced metrics".

 

[NarlCavs]

It doesn't appear anyone believes either of these players are going to be superstars. Personally I take the projected solid C over the projected solid PF every time.

No one thinks this tournament is the ultimate judge of how a player will be in the NBA. Valanciunas is only continuing an impressive run and is at least showing the potential many believe he has.

I still believe that unless you have a superstar at another position you need solid quality players at both C and PG. Cavs had a chance to fill both those spots for potentially the next 10-12 years in this draft and they passed up on doing it. I don't dislike Thompson as a prospect but I also don't see anything so special in him or his potential that I pass up on the C.
Thompson should have a long solid career. Cavs did draft their higher rated player according to all they have said. My concern is that the Cavs end up on a long search in the coming years to find a long term option at C.

 

[Jon]

Personally I take the projected solid C over the projected solid PF every time.

So would the Cavaliers. It's absolutely certain they see something in TT they don't see in Jonas, or Biyombo for that matter.

 

[billmac91]

Wow...irregardless of talent level, you just don't see 7 footers move like this guy does. He reminds me so much of Tyson Chandler in his movement and athletic ability. He's a better player than Chandler was at 19 from what I remember though.

This kid is going to be special, IMO. Just so fluid and athletic....certainly not your typical 7 foot European that just picks and pops from 18 feet and looks stiff under the hoop.

 

[Jon]

Wow...irregardless of talent level, you just don't see 7 footers move like this guy does. He reminds me so much of Tyson Chandler in his movement and athletic ability. He's a better player than Chandler was at 19 from what I remember though.

This kid is going to be special, IMO. Just so fluid and athletic....certainly not your typical 7 foot European that just picks and pops from 18 feet and looks stiff under the hoop.

Chandler averaged 26 & 13 with 7 blocks per game his senior year in high school.

nbadraft.net scored Tyson a 107, with 11's in athleticism and potential, even gave him a 9 for his jumper and 8 for his post skills, and compared his upside to Rasheed Wallace. Tyson was super-hyped. otoh, they gave Jonas a 93 and compared him to Spencer Hawes and Primoz Bezic.

As Chandler demonstrated, being one of the best players in your draft even with exceptional length and athleticism guarantees nothing when the guys you're being compared to aren't all that good.

http://www.nbadraft.net/players/tyson-chandler
http://www.nbadraft.net/players/jonas-valanciunas

I'd love to compare what Givony said about Chandler back at the time he was drafted, but he has a funny habit of flushing out old content. Imagine that...

 

[th1]

5 minutes ago JV became a world champion. 36 points, 13/18 2 pointers., 10/14 free throws; 8 rebounds, 3 blocked shots and MVP of the championship

 

[ohiorulez]

the only thing that can make up (in my mind) for us taking TT over Jonas is getting Andre Drummond next year or the year after

 

[daddywags]

Alright, listen to MYoung before you all slit your wrists over this tournament. And remember, Milan Macvan was MVP of this exact same tournament when he was 17 years old - two years younger than JV is today (well, maybe 1-1/2 years younger).

 

[Man Called X]

So would the Cavaliers. It's absolutely certain they see something in TT they don't see in Jonas, or Biyombo for that matter.

Stop this absolutely certain bullshit. The only thing absolutely certain is they passed up a center for another PF that can't shoot. When you claim you grabbed your two highest rated guys 1 and 4, you're obviously lying. If they really had him rated so fucking highly, then they have Hollinger on the payroll and were listening to him solely for drafting advice. You know who was a better ranked player based on Hollingers ratings? Michael Sweetney. You know who was ranked lower than Sweetney and TT? Bosh. I've had enough of this advanced stats bullshit.

Houston for all it's advanced metrics didn't win a thing. It took Dallas how many years to keep blowing up the team before it finally won? Yet another team that relies way too heavily on advanced stats.

When advanced stats don't hold up to the eye test, there's a problem.

 

[Triumph36]

That's because meaningless is the wrong word. The problem is the disparity in JV's experience and size .vs. the other players in the tourney. If JV was playing terribly against this field in spite of his advantages, it would be a bad sign. No doubt if he was our player, we'd look for ways to excuse him ... that his teammates were failing him, that he just wasn't in to it, or that he needed more time to fill out, etc, but he'd need an excuse ...

Him playing terribly against this field would be a bad sign just as him playing well is a good sign. You could just point out how he's grown significantly in the past few yrs and isn't totally comfortable playing at his new height and that it's still a small sample size. In the end, his play - bad or good - is not exactly a precise indicator of his future NBA success. As of now, he's living up to the hype. Will that continue once he makes the jump? Maybe. Maybe not.

I'd love to compare what Givony said about Chandler back at the time he was drafted, but he has a funny habit of flushing out old content. Imagine that...

...

DX wasn't even around when Chandler was drafted.

the only thing that can make up (in my mind) for us taking TT over Jonas is getting Andre Drummond next year or the year after

So basically you're counting on a pipedream.

 

[Ayatolla of Slamola]

Jonas Valanciunas' averages for the FIBA U-19 tournament: 23.0 PPG, 13.9 RPG, 3.2 BPG, 59.5 FG%, 81.1 FT%

I'm going to be sick...

 

[Man Called X]

Jonas Valanciunas' averages for the FIBA U-19 tournament: 23.0 PPG, 13.9 RPG, 3.2 BPG, 59.5 FG%, 81.1 FT%

I'm going to be sick...

But Tristan Thompson sucked in the same tournament, so it's okay. Thompson will be a stud, Valan will be a flop. GRANT SAID SO!