Toronto Raptors’ Jonas Valanciunas could be an All-Star

When the Toronto Raptors took Jonas Valanicunas with the fifth-overall pick in the first of the 2011 NBA Draft, they clearly had high hopes. Jonas Valanciunas has been a solid player and many believe his summer playing for Lithuania in the FIBA World Cup could be a prelude to a big 2014-2015 season.

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Joel Brigham of Basketball Insiders see Jonas Valanciunas as a future All-Star, perhaps as early as this season.

"Valanciunas looked like he might have the opportunity to break out last season but came along a little more slowly than both he and the Raptors would have liked. Still, the year was a step in the right direction, as Valanciunas averaged 11.3 PPG and 8.8 RPG, and at only 22 years old he still has plenty of room for improvement. He’ll get plenty of burn in the Raptors frontcourt this season and could conceivably average a double-double for the first time in his career. If anybody on this list looks seasons for his first All-Star appearance, it’s probably him."

The Raptors will return mostly intact so they need younger players like Jonas Valanciunas to step up if they plan on contending in the Eastern Conference.

Last season, Jonas Valanciunas averaged 11.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 0.9 blocks and 0.7 assists per game while shooting 53.1% from the field and 76.2% from the free throw line. Over the course of his two-year career, he has put up 10.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 0.7 assists per game while shooting 54.0% from the floor and 77.3% from the charity stripe.

Be sure to check FanSided’s official NBA page to keep up to date on the latest news and rumors from around the league as we close in on the regular season.

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