Drafted fifth overall in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors, Lithuanian big man Jonas Valanciunas quickly emerged as one of the more reliable back-to-the-basket centers in the league. While his hulking frame helped him become a quality post scorer and rebounder, he was unable to help Toronto compete for a championship.
In order to acquire Marc Gasol, Toronto shipped him off to the Memphis Grizzlies, where he has played some of the best basketball of his career, averaging 15.9 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game as a physical post presence alongside the electric Ja Morant. There’s no way Memphis would consider getting rid of him, right?
Well, they do need some perimeter scoring to take some of the pressure off of Morant, and the impending return of former No. 4 overall pick Jaren Jackson Jr. could create a frontcourt logjam between Jackson, Valanciunas, Brandon Clarke, and center Gorgui Dieng’s $17 million cap hit. If Memphis starts to sell, could the Raptors make a move for Valanciunas?
Jonas Valanciunas could become an instant starter for the Toronto Raptors
Jackson is one of the best young bigs in the game, and he played most of his minutes last year at the center position, which doesn’t bode well for Valanciunas. Clarke might be a 24-year-old sophomore, but his stock continues to rise, which could also make it tough for Valanciunas, a free agent after the 2021-22 season, to stick around.
Dieng might be the leats productive of the four, but his cap hit means that he could end up being the most difficult player to get rid of. Given how well he has produced and the Raptors’ need for his services, Valanciunas, who spent parts of seven seasons with Toronto, might be able to get a solid return for the Grizzlies.
Aron Baynes has failed miserably as a Gasol replacement, and Toronto needs to find an upgrade over him if they want to both keep Chris Boucher on the bench and get a center that will positively impact the game on both ends.
If the Raptors flipped Baynes to the Grizzlies, alongside a coveted perimeter scorer like Norman Powell, Toronto could reunite with Valanciunas and gear up for another deep run in the 2020-21 postseason.
While Valanciunas is a limited offensive player in terms of his ability to create his own shot, he is a terrific post defender with the ability to finish off looks on the inside, all the while not demanding too many touches.
As loyal and effective a player he was in Toronto, Masai Ujiri was left with no choice but to make the Gasol trade. Years later, with a need for a player exactly like Valanciunas, Ujiri could get on the phone and swing a trade with Memphis to bring the beloved center back to the Raptors as they gear up for a postseason run.