Next season, the starting lineup for the Raptors needs to shift from one that features a presence down low, to one that can stretch the defense. A starting lineup without the likes of Jonas Valanciunas does just that.
Having been a Raptor since he was a fifth-overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, Valanciunas is the stereotypical inside force at the five.
A rebounder and high-percentage scorer within the paint, Valanciunas has seen the era of the big man pass him by, something ex-coach Dwayne Casey saw early. Last season, the Lithuanian played just over 22 minutes a game, though he started all 77 in which he played.