2011 NBA Draft Grades: Jonas Valanciunas Contract Officially Bought Out

Toronto Raptors Buy Out Jonas Valanciunas European Contract

The big concern about big man Jonas Valanciunas going into the 2011 NBA draft was that his contract over in Europe still had some time left on it and it looks like he wasn?t going to be bought out.

The problem than was that even though he would get drafted high he was most likely going to have to spend another year over in Europe, and even though it would be good for him developmentally, he wouldn?t have the chance to help a team right away.

Many people felt the risk was worth it though being that he displayed the most potential out of all the big men in the NBA draft, and many think he is going to be a star given time.

The Toronto Raptors took the chance on Valanciunas none the less, and it looks like it paid off.

GM Bryan Colangelo told Mike Ganter and the Toronto Sun that the contract situation has been taken care of.

?I can confirm the buyout is in place,? Colangelo said a few hours after he looked on like a proud parent as Valanciunas was introduced to the Toronto media.

The 7-foot Lithuanian centre was brought to the Air Canada Centre straight from the NBA draft headquarters in Newark, N.J. The team presented him with his No. 17 jersey ? the first genuine smile one onlooker said he had seen since the draftee arrived. The number is actually Valanciunas? age when he signed his first pro contract.

Now that Valanciunas is officially a member of the Toronto Raptors I expect that we will see big things out of him right away. Like I said, many considered him to be one of the most talented players in the draft, and now we won?t have to wait to find out.

Stayed tuned to Bleacher Report for all things NBA Draft from Live Results to Grades and Trade Rumors.

-Andrew Kulha

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