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His Eurocup’s numbers show that he did a great job (11.3 ppg., 64.1% 2FG, 7.9 rpg., 1.6 bpg., 16.9 index) and of course the Toronto Raptors that have his NBA rights are watching him and waiting to sign him this summer, as team vice president Maurizio Gherardini clarifies to Eurohoops.net. “Yes, our plan is to sign him this summer as we hope he can be a key piece of our core group of young talented players, a very nice piece for the future of the Raptors”, he says and he doesn’t mind if he has to wait a little more, because of Valanciunas’ commitment to Lithuanian National Team that will compete in FIBA pre- Olympic tournament in Venezuela and probably in the London’s Olympics: “We do not have any objections as we understand how much any player in the world would like to do whatever it takes to represent your country with the National Team and, in this specific case, to make it to the Olympic Games”. EuroHoops.net

Toronto Raptors, Maurizio Gherardini, Jonas Valanciunas 

But where he really shone, according to the excellent Simonas Baranauskas of Lithuania Basketball, was in his showmanship: Valanciunas spiced up his performance by dressing up as an old man with a cane, interrupting the game by carrying a banner onto the court encouraging his teammate Renaldas Seibutis. It wasn't the end of the show, as the player started the second half of the game dressed up as a referee, wearing sizably too short pants and slippers, while the referee stepped on the court wearing Valanciunas' jersey. The center was enjoying the power of the whistle, calling a non-existent travel on Tyrese Rice and then a technical foul on the referee that replaced Valanciunas on the court. I choose to believe that Raptors.com's Jay Satur is right and that Valanciunas' "old man with a cane" get-up was actually a Gandalf costume, if for no other reason than I like to imagine him hedging to hem up a point guard on a pick-and-roll and screaming, "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!" (Lithuanian basketball + "Lord of the Rings" = slam dunk. Thanks again for reading Ball Don't Lie, your home for the nerdiest possible joke combinations.) Yahoo! Sports

Toronto Raptors, Jonas Valanciunas 

Due to the lockout and the late start of the NBA season, Bryan Colangelo had not had a chance to see and talk live with top prospect Jonas Valanciunas since last summer. Toronto’s president and general manager rectified that situation recently by having productive meetings with Valanciunas, Lietuvos Rytas head coach Aleksandar Dzikic, its owner and Lithuanian national team head coach Kestutis Kemzura. “It was just more than anything, an expression that all of our interests are aligned. We want what’s best for Jonas, want him to be as prepared as possible to make the best possible entrance into the NBA,” Colangelo said before his Raptors took on the Celtics on Wednesday night. “Everybody now is certainly on the same page.” Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Bryan Colangelo, Jonas Valanciunas 

“We had a chance to learn a little bit more about the situation, which is always good. Bridge a little bit of communication between all the parties, which is equally important when the buyout is concerned (the Raptors will buy Valanciunas out after Rytas concludes its season) … more than anything, making sure everybody had the same vision and I think that is very much the case.” Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Bryan Colangelo, Jonas Valanciunas 

For Toronto, having Dzikic as the coach helps ensure that Valanciunas will be able to make a smooth transition to what the Raptors do on the court. “That’s a big thing,” Casey said, “because when he comes over next year, he is already going to know the system. I know Alex. They have the same defensive principles, the same system we have here. And he is going out and running it against men, against professionals who are 28, 29, 30 years old. He is not playing against college kids there. I think, when we get him, we are going to be very happy with where he is, basketball-wise.” Sporting News

Toronto Raptors, Jonas Valanciunas 

Lietuvos Rytas, for its part, has been open to the Raptors’ involvement with Valanciunas. “They were pretty clear during the discussions, prior to the lockout, that there was some reluctance obviously to us having any kind of input or presence, basketball-wise,” Colangelo said. “But they had no problem with the other aspects of things. Anything we could be doing to help him, to supplement some of what he was already doing to have him ready for the next step, they had no problem with it. You don’t want to put yourself in a position where there is any kind of animosity from the team toward the NBA club. They might see it as interference, and we have been careful not to do that. We just want him to be as developed as he can when he comes.” Sporting News

Toronto Raptors, Jonas Valanciunas 

Will Jonas Valanciunas be a Raptor in 2011-12? Don’t get your hopes up Raptors fans. The odds of that happening are miniscule, though ESPN’s Chad Ford at least floated the idea on Saturday. Citing a source close to the Raptors, Ford said there’s a small chance Valanciunas could leave Lietuvos Rytas in Lithuania and join Toronto at some point this season. But Raptors president/general manager Bryan Colangelo threw cold water on the scenario, telling the Toronto Sun: “He’s under contract and the buyout calls for him to play the year out in Lithuania. Beyond that, there is nothing else to report from our side.” Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Lithuania, Jonas Valanciunas 

When the Toronto Raptors tip off this season, it doesn't appear that Jonas Valanciunas will be with the team. According to the Lithuanian Basketball official site, Valanciunas, who the Raptors took with the fifth pick in the 2011 NBA Draft will remain with his current team until the end of the season. "I'm currently with Lietuvos Rytas and I'm not really interested in those talks, Valanciunas said. "There's a lot to be done here. I'm in Lietuvos Rytas, not the Raptors." TSN

Toronto Raptors, Lithuania, Jonas Valanciunas 

The Toronto Raptors drafted Jonas Valanciunas with the No. 5 pick in the 2011 NBA draft knowing it would be at least a year before he came to the NBA. But a source close to the team told ESPN.com on Saturday that there's a small chance they might be able to get him this season. ESPN.com

Toronto Raptors, Jonas Valanciunas 

The source said that the team reached out to Valanciunas' agent over the weekend to gauge the center's interest in joining the Raptors this season. If Valanciunas has interest, the Raptors would have to work out a buyout with his team in Lithuania, Lietuvos Rytas. ESPN.com

Toronto Raptors, Jonas Valanciunas 

Ryan Wolstat: Have been informed Jonas Valanciunas' cap hold ($2.9 million under old CBA) counts against cap until season starts and he is still in Lithuania ... Twitter

Toronto Raptors, Jonas Valanciunas 

He remains, for one more year, under contract to the Lithuanian club Lietuvos Rytas before becoming a free agent and available to temptation by the Raptors. Many in Ontario -- perhaps scarred by the Andrea Bargnani factor -- were perturbed when a lottery pick was used on a relative unknown, especially one who isn't immediately available for duty. "I don't think I'm ready for the NBA yet," he said. "I still have one more year here and I'm going to do a lot of physical work, getting my body stronger. Then we'll see." ESPN.com

Toronto Raptors, Jonas Valanciunas 

There is a genuine work ethic that has impressed his country's staff in recent months. Valanciunas admits he needs to improve his low-post game -- and he has been using the limited practice time here to add to his repertoire. "He's a player who is very clever," declared Lithuania's assistant coach Valdemaras Chomicius. "You can communicate with him and he takes it on board immediately. You show him things, he concentrates on it and tries to put it into use quickly." ESPN.com

Toronto Raptors, Jonas Valanciunas 

Andrea Centenari: Sabonis said at a spanish tv that his favourite for this #Eurobasket is Spain and Valanciunas represents the future of lithuanian baskeball Twitter

Toronto Raptors, FIBA, Spain, Arvydas Sabonis, Lithuania, Jonas Valanciunas, Eurobasket 

Sean Deveney: Raps coach Casey says he's heading to EuroBasket. Can't say who he wants to see but I'm guessing it starts with V and ends with Alanciunas. Twitter

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey, FIBA, Lithuania, Jonas Valanciunas, Eurobasket 

Ryan Wolstat: I still can't believe they played the Jonas Valanciunas rap at halftime today in Lithuania. Pretty hilarious Twitter

Toronto Raptors, Lithuania, Jonas Valanciunas 

But Valanciunas’ outing at the Junior Championship has made some doubters believers. Lithuania will host the Eurobasket next month and a lot of attention will be put on his play at the tournament – assuming he’s there. “First I have to make the team,” said the humble Valanciunas, who’s actually a virtual lock to be at the European Championship. HoopsHype

Toronto Raptors, Lithuania, Jonas Valanciunas 

That humility is one of the traits that has made Valanciunas, who’s just 19, so successful to this point, according to Darius Maskoliunas, his head coach at Lietuvos Rytas last season. “He works hard in practice and never talks back,” Maskoliunas said. “He’s 100 percent concentrated. It was a pleasure to work with him. “I first saw him four years ago and in that time you had the feeling that this guy could do something special. He was skinny, but from a young age you could tell he was an intelligent player. You didn’t have the feeling that you were watching a star, but he worked hard and every year he improved something.” HoopsHype

Toronto Raptors, Jonas Valanciunas 

“I see him as a Chris Bosh type,” Maskoliunas said. “He can play back to the basket, facing the basket… He has to take that mid-range shot. He can shoot it. But he can run, he can rebound, he even has a three-point shot.” Although some analysts consider him a potential star in the league, Valanciunas doesn’t want to hear none of it. Actually, he didn’t see himself as a future NBA player till last season. “(It was then) that I realized I could make it into the NBA,” Valanciunas said. “The scouts came to watch my games and spoke with me. That’s when I realized I could make it.” HoopsHype

Toronto Raptors, Chris Bosh, Jonas Valanciunas 

Valanciunas made his debut for Lithuania’s senior team on Saturday and led the team to a 94-73 victory over the Czech Republic with 26 points and 11 rebounds. Valanciunas was particularly effective inside, either finishing with dunks or getting to the line where, like usual, he hit most of his free throws. “I was more nervous than usually … (but) there wasn’t a moment that I thought of the statistics, I just went on the court and showed what I can do,” Valanciunas told reporters afterwards. Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Jonas Valanciunas