The Raptors and Valanciunas are reportedly inching closer to a contract extension that would lock Valanciunas up for four more years, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.
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Valanciunas, meanwhile, gets a deal that would have been around his max under the previous cap system without really accomplishing all that much.
Reports of advanced discussions reveal a four-year deal worth more than $60 million is on the cards. The former fifth overall pick has averaged 10.9 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and 26 minutes in three seasons with Toronto, and the team plans on keeping their big man around for at least another four seasons.
“I love to play here”, said Valanciunas outside of the Raptors’ locker-room at Air Canada Centre. Part of that is schematic-he averaged fewer touches per game than Carlos Boozer last season-but it’s also because Valanciunas tends to settle for a background role. So, then, the question remains: is Valanciunas worth the price tag, and if so, can he live up to the heightened expectations that will surely follow the deal? (The Thunder were 6.8 points per 100 possessions worse defensively with Kanter on the floor last year.) So for whatever reason, his defensive impact simply hasn’t shown itself through his first three years in the league. Valanciunas provides a more stable option. Since the 23-year-old is still playing out what’s left of his rookie deal, the huge payday wouldn’t kick in until 2016-17.
Their commitment to Valanciunas typically waned as games went on.
But despite that reality and his relatively underwhelming performance in 2014-2015, the Raptors have major incentive to sign him long-term regardless – especially at a cap number this relatively low.
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The Toronto Raptors have managed to find themselves in the top half of the Eastern Conference in the past couple of seasons, banking on a the strength of a young roster that should be expected to only get better the longer they play together.
