TORONTO -- Jonas Valanciunas appeared in 80 games for the Toronto Raptors last season, and in 23 of them, he sat out for the entire fourth quarter. In the other 57, he averaged 5.1 minutes in the final frame, compared to 7.8 for Kyle Lowry and 7.0 for DeMar DeRozan -- the team's other two returning starters.
Valanciunas' continual end-of-game absences have been routine throughout his first three years in the NBA, but they were a bigger topic of discussion last season as he developed into one of the league's most efficient post scorers. Raptors coach Dwane Casey knew that some people wished things would change, and he brought the subject up unprompted on Monday.
"There's been a lot made about JV finishing games," Casey said at media day. "Well, he's getting to the point of his career, with the experience, that he should be able to do that. I noticed they didn't use him as much in Europe at the end of games, but we plan to use him, especially offensively, down the stretch.
"Father time is a great teacher and developer of those kind of situations," Casey added.
Amir Johnson, Tyler Hansbrough and Chuck Hayes signed with Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets and Los Angeles Clippers, respectively. If Casey is to sit the 23-year-old Valanciunas, there's no longer a veteran safety net. Bismack Biyombo is the backup center, and Toronto's troupe of power forwards -- Patrick Patterson, Luis Scola and Anthony Bennett -- don't have the size to easily shift up a position.
For Valanciunas, who signed a four-year, $64 million extension last month, this is a chance for a true breakout. He's made progress in each of his three years in the league, but has never averaged more than the 28.2 minutes per game he did in 2013-14. Toronto will be looking for him to become more mobile on defense, protect the paint and avoid foul trouble. He said that he's ready and in shape to play a lot of minutes, especially after a strong showing at EuroBasket for the silver medal-winning Lithuanian team. It's his time now.
