NBA Trade Rumors: Raptors shopping Jonas Valanciunas
By Adam Stocker
The Toronto Raptors are reportedly shopping starting center Jonas Valanciunas and the 23rd overall pick.
Toronto Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri is reportedly shopping the team’s starting center Jonas Valanciunas and the 23rd overall pick, according to Sportsnet’s Michael Grange. Valanciunas has spent his entire five-year career with the Raptors. Toronto drafted the 25-year-old Lithuanian center fifth overall in 2011. Valanciunas has averaged 11.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game in his career. However, Valanciunas has never fit in head coach Dwane Casey who often limited his minutes in the fourth quarter.
A couple of league sources have told me that Raps are looking into moving Jonas Valanciunas and the No.23 pick.
— Michael Grange (@michaelgrange) June 22, 2017
With the NBA salary cap expected to be only $99 million next season, the Raptors might be looking to dump salary according to ESPN’s Zach Lowe. The Raptors are hoping to avoid paying the luxury tax next season. Toronto has to re-sign Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka who are both free agents this summer. If the Raptors are able to re-sign both players they would likely be in the luxury tax. If the Raptors do find a trade partner for Valanciunas they might also be able to afford one of Patrick Patterson or P.J. Tucker, who are also free agents this summer.
Raps quietly exploring a lot of different things. Need to cut money. https://t.co/FoenZYIrHQ
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) June 22, 2017
If Toronto does trade Valanciunas, Ibaka might become the team’s starting center. The Raptors have two other centers on the roster. Former ninth overall pick Jakob Poeltl and 16th overall pick Lucas Nogueira. However, both players have struggled with consistency in Toronto.
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It’s unclear what Toronto could get in a trade for Valanciunas. A straight salary dump would provide short-term relief but would essentially be giving away a solid asset for nothing. Valanciunas is currently in the second year of a four-year contract that pays him around $64 million. Toronto is likely talking with teams who have salary cap space to absorb Valanciunas’ contract.