HoopsHype.com Rumors

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 

Lithuania have launched their preparations for the EuroBasket in Druskininkai and the country’s hottest name is battling for a place in the squad. Jonas Valanciunas, the MVP of the U19 FIBA World Championship in Latvia, is the youngest of the 20 players in the preliminary group. Lithuania coach Kestutis Kemzura believes that despite the quick return to the court after the success in Riga, where Valanciunas led the country to the gold medal, the 2.10m center will be able to cope. "Take into account the fact that he only had one week to recover after the World Cup," Kemzura said. "Jonas Valanciunas has already reached a certain peak athletic form, played a lot of games. "After this exercise at a young age, he is recovering quickly and is with the team but we're trying not to put too much on him." FIBA.com

Lithuania, Jonas Valanciunas 

Oh yeah, this Jonas Valanciunas kid from Lithuania is leading the world juniors in scoring (20.7 points per game) and rebounds (13.3 boards per game) through the first two rounds. He keeps that up and NBA people might be talking about him. And so might be fans of those NBA teams. I know there are those who’ll discount his numbers because it’s “only” the world juniors but he’s still putting them up and dominating at times and that’s not a bad thing at all. Maybe he’s “supposed” to but that doesn’t always happen. Toronto Star

Toronto Raptors, Jonas Valanciunas 

The deal also means the Raptors will have some relationship with the club next year as far as Valanciunas’s development is concerned. Financial details of the deal were not immediately clear, but the buyout for the 19-year-old Valanciunas was reportedly worth US$2.4-million. By rule, an NBA team can contribute just US$500,000 to a buyout before it counts against the salary cap. “I would like to come here as soon as possible because it’s my dream,” Valanciunas said as he was introduced to the reporters on Friday. “I am working on the court. It’s my job, on the court. There are agents who are working on the business things. I’ll leave that job for them.” National Post

Toronto Raptors, Jonas Valanciunas 

Eric Koreen: A source with knowledge of the negotiations confirms #Raptors reach buyout agreement with Lietuvos for Valanciunas. He joins TO in 12-13. Twitter

Toronto Raptors, Draft, Jonas Valanciunas