Jonas Valanciunas has started negotiations on the release agreement with his team in Lithuania, sources said, an important step in the 2011 lottery pick finally being able to join the Raptors. While it has been expected all along that Valanciunas would be in the NBA in 2012-13 after a final season in his native country, news of talks with Lietuvos Rytas are a comforting development for Toronto fans who missed having their center of the future in 2011-12. The release agreement is part of the process before Valanciunas can pay the $2.4-million buyout to the team in Lithuania and sign in Toronto. The Raptors are allowed to pay $550,000 of that.

Is Charles Barkley right? Could Anthony Davis and the Kentucky Wildcats actually beat the Toronto Raptors? The Wages of Wins Journal attempted to answer that question, but we'd be interested in reading your thoughts in the comments. Do you think a college team - even one as stacked as the current Kentucky squad - actually has a chance against an NBA team? UPDATE: For the record, Stan "The Hedgehog" Van Gundy thinks the idea is absurd. UPDATE #2: Basketball Prospectus doesn't think it's likely, even in a simulation that generally makes favorable assumptions.

The Toronto Raptors announced Tuesday night that guard Jerryd Bayless is expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the 2011-12 season with a partially torn left oblique muscle. Bayless underwent tests on Tuesday at Toronto’s Mount Sinai Hospital after leaving Monday’s game against the Orlando Magic early in the second quarter. Bayless, in his second season with Toronto, has averaged 11.4 points, 3.8 assists and 22.7 minutes. He started five games from March 11-17, averaging 21.8 points and 7.6 assists.

On the heels of news that the Toronto Raptors signed Michigan State alum and former Charlotte Bobcat Alan Anderson to a 10-day contract, the team has inked a 10-day deal with University of Tulsa product Ben Uzoh. The balance of power has shifted in the East. Adjust your expectations accordingly.

For all those that followed the Canadian Women's Junior National program over the last few summers, this should not be a surprise. Fields has been playing like a star every summer for Canada on the international stage and has been a top rated female player in the US high school ranks for the last two years. The recent UCLA commit and current Mater Dei guard was announced to the annual McDonald's High School All American game and may be the first female Canadian to be named to the annual event. Big shout to Nirra and you can bet we'll be looking out for her, and Anthony Bennett too I guess for the event.

We must pay tribute to the best Canadian baller ever to suit up for an NBA team, likely, in our lifetime. So in honor of Mr. Nash who turns 38 years young today, here's a few video clip to help you remember why is so damn good. Remember to pay tribute to the man that did it and reminded us that even regular guys can work and be the best and he's still stuntin' on cats half his age in The League.