Raptors pick up options on Valanciunas, Ross
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Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - The Toronto Raptors announced Thursday that the team has exercised contract options on center Jonas Valanciunas and guard Terrence Ross for the 2014-15 season.
Valanciunas, the fifth overall selection of the 2011 NBA Draft, put together a solid rookie season in 2012-13 following a year playing in his native Lithuania. The 7-footer averaged 8.9 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks while starting 57-of-62 games to earn a spot on last season's NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
The 21-year-old built on his promising debut by being named the MVP of the 2013 Las Vegas Summer League by averaging 18.8 points and 10.0 rebounds over four games.
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Ross, taken eighth overall by the Raptors in the 2012 draft, averaged 6.4 points and 2.0 rebounds over 73 games last season. The highlight of the 22- year-old's rookie year came during All-Star Weekend, when Ross won the 2013 Slam Dunk competition.