KinoLive

Please tell your own view on it with some arguments

box1992

I think he will be here atleast till the deadline, just because of JV

bjjs

He isn't needed. JV can speak English.

But Kleiza is a good bench guy to have - he comes in and plays with an edge and with confidence and he plays to win.

I take him over James Johnson 10 times out of 10

LET'S GO RAPTORS!!!!!

LKZ for Prince and Detroit's first rounder. Detroit saves at least 11 million in salary but sacrifice the 9th pick. Raps get back2back picks in the lottery. I'd be willing to add Indy's 2nd rounder, maybe ours as well.

Dario

Lk's gonna stay, JV only wants to play for the raps because of him

0nekhmer

I don't know if he was really 100% or not last season but he was a beast when we used him right. Guy has so much grit and doesn't shy from anyone. He would be a good role player to have and would be useful going small at times. I personally think James Johnson fills that spot better though

KinoLive

Will see Linas Kleiza in Venesuela with national team and probably in London Olympic games. When we will see, how can him play now and how him will be used by Kemzura (coach of Lithuanian team). And by the way it will be the first time together play by LK and JV.

rapsmannn

i like kleiza, his agression and toughness is needed on a team that is soft, the team is just tougher when he is on the court

Dario

Linas Kleiza AKA Mr. Troll Face

jeffb

Is he needed, not really as long as we go out and get a starting SF. At the same time I really like his swagger and toughness, he'll laugh at anyone who's trying to intimidate him and I love that. Also, I was impressed with him early in the season after missing a year (Not easy). I think he hit the wall after a couple months but that was expected. I really want to see what he can do off the bench here at 100%. I do have a feeling though that he won't be back.

Dario

You think he's gone next season?

jeffb

Yep. Unless JJ's blowup with Casey was worse then reported. Look we're supposedly getting a new starting SF that will likely play 30mpg (just a guess). That leaves JJ playing some minutes at the 3 and some minutes maybe at the 4 at times. There is also a chance that we draft a 3 (Barnes or Jones??) And there is also the fact that DD can also play some 3. And we haven't even metioned Anderson yet. There is also the fact that some of our players will be dealt at some point and I would render a guess that 5-6 won't be back. Kleiza is also a candidate to be amnestied if we need the extra capspace.

Outside of Alabi, Magloire and one of Amir/Davis who's the next candidate in line that can go......Kleiza imo. I would maybe also put Bayless there but he's a RFA. He's expendable once we add a new starter at that position. And I don't buy the notion that he'll be kept b/c of Valanciunas.

numbah eleven

Come on, LK is staying as long as JV needs a translator. Let's just at least wait to see how both of them do this summer.

jeffb

Translator? I've seen him talk, his english is already a lot better.

Sumon

What kind of argument is "because of JV"? That sounds extremely dumb and illogical. The only thing they have in common is their nationality.

LOG

why are you so angry all the time?

yes the only thing in common is their nationality, which means they will play together in the national team, LK would make JV's transition in to the nba much easier..

Sumon

I'm an angry man.

Paying if I'm not mistaken 5 million dollars a year to a player only so he could help a rookie assimilate to NBA is kind of a luxury, don't you agree? If Raptors do get a few new faces in Kleiza's position as some say, it would be best for both parties to either amnesty Kleiza or include him in a trade deal.

LOG

Well in my opinion he is worth the 5mil we are paying him, he is not an answer to our SF need even when 100% healthy, but is a great guy to have off the bench.

Admiral

agreed, at his price he is fine on this team

jrob23

if James Johnson and Linas Kleiza are getting all the minutes at SF again we are destined for another year in the lottery