Toronto Raptors: Ranking the roster’s trade value
12. Jonas Valanciunas
It might seem disrespectful to have Jonas Valanciunas ranked this low, and from a talent perspective he is certainly more valuable than many players above him. But when you factor in contract and playing style Valanciunas’ value dips considerably.
Valanciunas currently has two years left on his contract after this season, with the last year being a player option he is almost certain to accept. Over the course of that contract Valanciunas will make an average of over $17 million per year.
With those contract values it really is not clear if Valanciunas is a negative or positive trade piece at this point. Teams desperate for a center might give him a look, but will first try to find out for comparable pieces at a discounted rate.
Valanciunas has not gotten worse in his time as a Raptors. In fact, his production per 36 minutes has steadily improved.
The game around him, however, has changed rapidly. With improved spacing and more mobile centers Valanciunas is having problems staying on the court. This season Valanciunas has played less minutes than rookie OG Anunoby and non-starter Delon Wright.
Valanciunas is still productive when on the court, but teams will be hard-pressed to trade for a player with his playing style and contract.
11. C.J. Miles
Since coming over in a trade from the Indiana Pacers, C.J. Miles has been a minor disappointment. Despite playing with a better supporting cast, he has been slightly less efficient this season and has not shot the ball quite as well from deep as the Raptors had hoped.
The Raptors can receive a part of the blame for his decreased shooting numbers. Last season, Miles shot more than 30-percent of his three-pointers from the corner. This season, he has become more reliant on above-the-break triples, with less than 20-percent of his threes coming from the corner.
Despite a slight down-tick in production, Miles still remains a productive player. He also is signed to a reasonable contract.
Miles currently has two more years remaining on his current deal at around $8.5 million per year, with a player option on the last year. With the cap spike of a few years ago, a bevy of teams are currently paying a lot more for a savvy veteran that can space the floor and knows how to play.
Teams all-around the league are looking for wings and floor spacing. Miles, while not a superstar, provides both at a decent price. If the Raptors ever look to deal Miles they would not have no problem doing so, although due to his age and production they might not receive much in return.