Toronto Raptors big man Jonas Valanciunas has been sidelined for over a month due to a broken thumb he suffered during a win over the Golden State Warriors in mid-December.

However, the center may be nearing his return.

According to Josh Lewenberg of TSN, Valanciunas has been cleared for full contact and went through a full practice on Tuesday. He is no longer wearing a splint on his hand, but his thumb was taped up.

Due to the popularity of smallball lineups in today's game, Valanciunas' role has shrunk over the last couple of years, and thus far this season, he is playing a career-low 18.8 minutes per game.

Over that time, the Lithuanian center is averaging 12.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while shooting 57.5 percent from the floor and 81.9 percent from the free-throw line, so he has been productive in the time he has been given.

That being said, due to Valanciunas' defensive deficiencies, he often presents matchup problems for the Raptors. He is not quick enough to effectively guard the pick-and-roll and switch on the perimeter, and in spite of his seven-foot frame, he is not much of a shot-blocker, as he has registered less than a block a game in each of the last three seasons.

The 26-year-old was originally selected by Toronto with the fifth overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft. He has been an incredibly consistent force on the Raptors' front line, as he has averaged in the neighborhood of 12 points and nine rebounds each year since his second season.