The Toronto Raptors are one of the best teams in the NBA early on in the 2018-19 season. But there are cracks in the armor starting to show. While the Raptors haven’t had any trouble scoring the ball, it’s their defense where the issues rest. Kyle Lowry and Kawhi Leonard have been marvelous, but what has happened to Jonas Valanciunas’ playing time and production?
For the season, Valanciunas is averaging 13.0 points and 7.6 rebounds but doing so in only 19.5 minutes per game. Those are great statistics given the efficiency, but considering what the Raptors’ cap situation looks like, a trade is the best option for the near future in Toronto.
Valanciunas will be paid $16.5 million this season, but the kicker is, he has a player option in 2019 for $17.6 million, per Spotrac. If the Toronto Raptors did not have a promising young player in big Pascal Siakam, then keeping Valanciunas would be the best move. With Siakam and veteran Serge Ibaka having significant roles in Toronto’s rotation, Jonas may be expendable. But is there someone willing to take on his contract?
For most teams, this would be a gamble, but it may be one worth taking.
With his playing time reduced, it’s clear that Toronto has gone another route regarding paint production. But still, Valanciunas can help a team in dire need of points and rebounds from the low-post and via rolls to the rim. This season, with limited time, he’s still giving the Raptors 13.0 points and 7.6 rebounds; per 36 minutes, he’s averaging 24.0 points and 14.1 rebounds (which would be both career-highs), per Basketball-Reference. His 24.9 PER (which would also be a career-best) isn’t too shabby, either. He can help someone.
No, his numbers are not up there with the likes of Andre Drummond or Joel Embiid, but Jonas can still produce. He’s only 25 years old, has missed just 52 games in seven seasons (this season included), and has averaged no more than 28.2 minutes per game (2013-14) while in the NBA. His career averages of 11.7 points and 8.5 rebounds are not exactly Hall of Fame worthy, but he can help a contender or even be a nice rebuilding piece for a younger team.
While most centers today are focused on trying to be the next Stephen Curry, Valanciunas is a throwback to when big men loved to play in the post. He does hoist up an occasional perimeter shot or two from time to time, but is nothing like Embiid. This season, he’s shooting 55.6 percent, which brings his career average to 55.8. Who wouldn’t want that on a nightly basis?
The question is, how much will a team be willing to pay for Valanciunas? That is what the Toronto Raptors must be considering. While they may get away with hiding him on the bench this season, it’s the summer of 2019 that could either make or break the Raptors.
For starters, not only will Jonas Valanciunas be able to opt-in, but the big decision of Kawhi Leonard (an impending unrestricted free agent) will have a significant impact on the team. While it’s still early to see if Leonard will lead them farther than DeMar DeRozan, there’s no denying that things have gone well so far. But looking ahead, the Raptors can’t afford to keep this core together much longer.
According to Spotrac, the Raptors will have four players making over $15 million in 2019 if Valanciunas and Leonard pick up their options. If they can make it to the NBA Finals, that’s something different, but why spend that money on a player riding the pine when you get can bench players for cheaper?
A few of the teams who may be in need of a player like Jonas Valanciunas are the Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, and Memphis Grizzlies. There is a market for a traditional center like Valanciunas, it’s just a matter of if general manager Masai Ujiri and the Raptors organization are willing to let him go.
