RaptorsHQ Lunchbox Links for February 2, 2012

Cody Zeller. LOL. That is funny! They gotta get a star with their pick next draft or all the suffering has been a waste.

PEG solution to clense myself before my colonoscopy!
Really a sour and degrading night.

Wish I could bug Colangelo’s phones and find out what kinds of offers they are getting (if any) for Barbosa and Calderon

Nice up-date on the European leagues. While Jonas is our main area of concentration, Giorgios leading the Greek league in PER is, well, a surprise. I forget if we still ahve his rights or did we dish him off recently?

http://basketball.realgm.com/article/218736/European_Domestic_League_Power_Rankings_For_February

By Ryan Wolstat ,Toronto Sun

First posted: Wednesday, February 01, 2012 08:57 PM EST | Updated: Wednesday, February 01, 2012 09:02 PM EST

BOSTON – Due to the lockout and the late start of the NBA season, Bryan Colangelo had not had a chance to see and talk live with top prospect Jonas Valanciunas since last summer.

Toronto’s president and general manager rectified that situation recently by having productive meetings with Valanciunas, Lietuvos Rytas head coach Aleksandar Dzikic, its owner and Lithuanian national team head coach Kestutis Kemzura.

"It was just more than anything, an expression that all of our interests are aligned. We want what’s best for Jonas, want him to be as prepared as possible to make the best possible entrance into the NBA," Colangelo said before his Raptors took on the Celtics on Wednesday night.

"Everybody now is certainly on the same page."

Colangelo insisted there were no issues before and definitely aren’t any now.

"We had a chance to learn a little bit more about the situation, which is always good. Bridge a little bit of communication between all the parties, which is equally important when the buyout is concerned (the Raptors will buy Valanciunas out after Rytas concludes its season) … more than anything, making sure everybody had the same vision and I think that is very much the case."

Colangelo and executive vice-president of basketball operations Ed Stefanski watched Valanciunas put up a strong outing against Bennetton Treviso (17 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks by his count) and saw him go through a spirited practice, despite being tired.

"He had a spectacular game when we were there and also a very solid practice. They had just come in from playing a game in the Czech Republic," he said.

This summer, Lithuania will be playing in a last-chance Olympic qualifying tournament in Venezuela. If the team qualifies for London, Valanciunas will not be able to attend NBA summer league, alongside whoever Toronto selects in the 2012 draft.

The tournament goes from July 2-9, while summer league should start about a week later.

"It’s safe to say, if they qualify, he’s going right back into training at the Olympics. If they don’t qualify, he’ll be in a better position to join us," Colangelo said.

Considering how good Lithuania is, a trip to Las Vegas doesn’t seem to be in Valanciunas’ future this summer.

Go Team Lithuania

Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin says he won’t enter NBA slam dunk contest – ESPN Los Angeles

The best rookies are not dunkers so I don’t see anyone getting hyped as much as BG did last year.

I say he should go for it.