The Toronto Raptors announced Thursday they will be without Jonas Valanciunas for at least four weeks after undergoing surgery on his dislocated thumb. Valanciunas will be in a cast for those four weeks and then be re-evaluated after that timeframe.
Valanciunas dislocated his left thumb on a play when he was tied up with Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green. He was in visible pain immediately after it happened. It was clear that the injury was more than just a jammed finger.
In the meantime, head coach Nick Nurse has the luxury of having Greg Monroe as his third center to back up Serge Ibaka. Monroe is a nine-year veteran and a great option in a pinch. He's not the same player he was earlier in his career, but he's a suitable option for the time being.
The Raptors can also play small, experimenting with Pascal Siakam at center for stretches. Siakam has the versatility to match up with bigger players, which can force teams to go small to counter Siakam at the 5.
Furthermore, the Raptors are bringing up two-way player Chris Boucher. The Canadian born player has been tearing up the G League with Raptors 905. Boucher is averaging 29.5 points, 11.6 rebounds, and a jaw-dropping 4.6 blocks per game. Boucher has never played significant minutes at the NBA level, but this could be an excellent opportunity for the Raptors to start giving him a chance.
Losing Jonas Valanciunas won't be easy for Toronto, but they have the depth to survive the next month or so without him. It may even be a blessing in disguise if young guys like Siakam and Boucher take advantage of the opportunity.
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