Music: {allcanada} Raptors add some European grit in Kleiza

Monday, July 26, 2010

{allcanada} Raptors add some European grit in Kleiza

Linas Kleiza is a Toronto Raptor.

The team announced Monday they have signed the forward to a multi-year contract. Kleiza's rights technically became property of the Raptors on July 17 when an offer sheet was not matched by the Denver Nuggets.

"We are very happy to add a tough-minded, hard-nosed forward who will certainly get a chance to contribute given the departure of Hedo Turkoglu," said Raptors president and general manager Bryan Colangelo," in a release. "Linas has that unique inside/outside game that makes him a tough cover at a couple of different positions."

Kleiza played last season in Greece with Olympiakos after four seasons (2005-09) with the Nuggets.

He averaged 14.0 points and 5.1 rebounds in 31 regular season games with Olympiakos. He shot .596 from the field, .374 from three-point range and .800 from the foul line.

In 22 Euroleague outings, Kleiza contributed 17.1 points and 6.5 rebounds. In the regular season he finished second in the Euroleague in scoring at 19.7 points per contest. He led Olympiakos to the Euroleague Championship game in Paris.

Kleiza averaged 8.3 points and 3.5 rebounds in 301 career games with Denver.

He saw action in 26 postseason games, where he averaged 6.4 points and 3.2 rebounds. He averaged 14.0 points and 6.5 rebounds in the 2008 NBA Playoffs.

Kleiza, 6-foot-8, 245 pounds, was born in Lithuanian, attended high school in Maryland and played NCAA basketball at the University of Missouri.

He was selected 27th overall by Portland in the first round of the 2005 NBA Draft.