You have two concerns if your team drafts a European player that you've never seen. You worry that he's not going to be tough enough, because of an unfair stereotype that Euros are soft, and you worry that he's not athletic enough to hang with the NBA game.
Raptors fans, say hello to Jonas Valanciunas, 2011 first-round pick, recently signed center, and monster behemoth.
Off-the-backboard, in transition, make it rain.
Valanciunas will be entering a much better Raptors team than was there last year. He'll be able to work with Kyle Lowry. Andrea Bargnani has taken a step forward with his development at both ends of the floor. The Raptors can make big strides under Dwane Casey and the playoffs aren't totally out of the realm of possibility.
And hey, he can dunk, too.
