Toronto Raptors season report cards: Grades for each Individual

Jonas Valanciunas

For all the offseason trade speculation that surrounded Valanciunas prior to the regular season tipping off, it’s scary to think where Toronto would’ve been without the big Lithuanian…

Despite averaging the fewest minutes per game of his career, “JV” enjoyed arguably his best season as a pro. Playing fewer minutes did little to his overall effectiveness when you consider he enjoyed the highest usage rate of his career (22.7 percent in the regular season & 26.2 percent in the playoffs). His defensive limitations will always be there, but he even improved slightly in that sense, compared to past iterations of himself – it’s worth noting that Valanciunas possessed the lowest defensive rating on the team of anyone who played at least 500 minutes (in this case, low = good).

At only 26 years old, Jonas still has time, and room to grow. He introduced the three-point shot, albeit he never looked that comfortable taking them. Watch Al Horford pick and pop…that’s comfortable. Valanciunas has always been at his best when he’s decisive with his decision-making – when he thinks, he tends to over think.

Overall it was a positive season for him. However, with so much uncertainty surrounding the team, it’s not outside the realm of possibility that our gentle giant finds himself on a new team. After all, this core has numerous playoff failures on its résumé and team president Masai Ujiri has never been afraid to shake things up.

And to think I thought I’d never view players as stocks. That’s precisely what they are folks! – well, they’re people too obviously. If he does wind up leaving, I’ll always have my Itty Bitty Baller…

GRADE: B+ (A- in the playoffs)