Toronto Raptors: Ranking the last 10 first-round picks
3. Jonas Valanciunas
Comparing Jonas Valanciunas to Bargnani seems like a cheap opportunity to match top European prospects drafted by the Raptors. But it’s hard to avoid the temptation after the Raptors made Valanciunas the fifth pick of the 2011 NBA Draft (he didn’t join the team until the 2012-13 season, though).
Valanciunas recorded a double-double during his NBA debut, just the second member of the franchise to do that as a rookie. He wound up averaging 8.9 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, earning a place on the All-Rookie Second Team.
After earning MVP honors during the succeeding Summer League season, Valanciunas took the next step in his development averaging 11.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game his second season. His numbers would hang around these averages throughout the rest of his Raptors career, meaning he was always a solid player, but never an All-Star and never capable of shouldering the alpha role such a high draft pick generally warrants.
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In December 2018, Valanciunas dislocated his left thumb, ruling him out for several weeks. That marked the unceremonious end of his Raptors career, as he was dealt to the Grizzlies at the Trade Deadline in the deal that netted Toronto Marc Gasol. Valanciunas has seen his production soar in Memphis and signed a contract extension with them before the season.
In six and a half seasons with Toronto, Valanciunas averaged 11.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. He’s still just 27 years old.