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Toronto Raptors: Creating the team’s all-time roster

By Mike Bossetti

Tracy McGrady (L) consoles Vince Carter after Carter fouled out against the Charlotte Hornets April 27, 1999. Kevin Willis (r) looks on dejectedly. (BERNARD WEIL/TORONTO STAR) (Photo by Bernard Weil/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
Tracy McGrady (L) consoles Vince Carter after Carter fouled out against the Charlotte Hornets April 27, 1999. Kevin Willis (r) looks on dejectedly. (BERNARD WEIL/TORONTO STAR) (Photo by Bernard Weil/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors – Jonas Valanciunas (Rick Madonik/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /

Jonas Valanciunas(2017-2018): Starting Center

Jonas Valanciunas was going to make this team easily, the only decision was whether or not he was a starter. Personally, I believe JV is a starter. For now at least.

JV’s offense is versatile enough that he is able to pair relatively smoothly with Bosh. JV averaged more than 20 points per 36 minutes last season, and did so with an insane 59-percent effective field percentage.

He also posted 13.8 rebounds per 36 minutes, the best on the team and the highest mark of his career.

But solid play isn’t enough to start on this team. With talented scorers such as Chris Bosh and Vince Carter taking the majority of the shots, this team needs spacing. Luckily, last season Valanciunas flashed for the first time in his career. Valanciunas shot greater than 40-percent from beyond the arc, placing him right between Fred VanVleet and Kyle Lowry.

Defensively, Valanciunas is better than he is given credit for. His defensive metrics have always been not only solid but above-average. While he might struggle against the league’s top perimeter threats, this flaw has been overblown at times.

If this hypothetical Toronto team is playing someone like Boston and they need the additional quickness JV might be moved to the bench, but for now Valanciunas is too talented to sit behind players like Rudy Gay or (can’t stress this first word enough) young Tracy McGrady.