TORONTO

Raptors sign rookie centre Jonas Valanciunas

The Canadian Press Published Wednesday, July 18, 2012 9:15PM EDT

Mirza Begic , right, of Slovenia is challenged by Jonas Valanciunas, left, from Lithuania during the EuroBasket 2011, European Basketball Championships classification for 5th to 8th place match in Kaunas, Lithuania, Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011. (AP /Mindaugas Kulbis)

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TORONTO - The lengthy process to bring Jonas Valanciunas to Toronto is almost over.

The Raptors announced Wednesday that they have signed the seven-foot centre rookie contract.

The deal is for two seasons, with two team option years to follow.

The Raptors drafted Valanciunas with the fifth overall pick of the 2011 NBA draft. But they had to wait before they could bring him to the NBA as he had a US$2.5 million buyout with Lietuvos Rytas, a club team in his native Lithuania.

Valanciunas averaged 14.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 23.5 minutes in 23 games last season with Lietuvos. He also played for the gold-medal winning Lithuania team at the 2011 under-19 world championships. He averaged 23.0 points, 13.9 rebounds and 3.2 blocks en route to the most valuable player award.

"We are very pleased to welcome Jonas to the organization," said Raptors president and general manager Bryan Colangelo in a statement. "We are certain that Raptors fans will soon realize that the year-long process was worth the wait."