NBA Thread

[dineke]

This is not 2010. Things are changing for this franchise. Leiweke is well respected around the league and do not underestimate the importance of Drake. Guy knows everyone in the NBA. The ASG in 2016 is going to be a wonderful showcase for Toronto. Most of the players love this city too. Freaking Lebron always flies up here and hosts parties at different nightclubs in the city. He doesn't do that in many other places. Drake can attract every single superstar in the hip hop game to OVO Fest during Caribana. There is no reason to think his influence is only limited to hip hop. He's a fantastic salesman.

 

This is exactly the defeatist attitude that we need to eliminate.

 

Yes players like visiting Toronto, but living here is a whole different story. It's not a defeatist attitude, it's just reality.

[GD]

Cap space won't be an issue.

 

Best case scenario over the next two years: We make it to at least the 2nd round in both years, JV turns into a beast, and the Knicks TANK next year (we have their first rounder from the Bargs trade). Also hitting a homer in this years draft wouldn't hurt (might be some talent in the 15-20 range, never know).

 

Don't we just have the lower of the Knicks/Nuggets' picks?

 

Still wouldn't mind using Derozan to trade up and grab an impact guy.

[GD]

http://breakingbluedynasty.proboards.com/thread/4/draft-slot-selection-thread

 

http://cdn.gifbay.com/2012/10/there_is_no_need_to_be_upset-4390.gif

[eastcoastjaysfan]

Kyle Lowry with a triple double tonight!

[eastcoastjaysfan]

Yes players like visiting Toronto, but living here is a whole different story. It's not a defeatist attitude, it's just reality.

 

The only s***** thing about Toronto is the weather in the winter. It has everything a young, rich man would want. Awesome options for living downtown, great nightlife, incredible women, USD goes further here, ACC is one of the nicer facilities in the league.

 

If they show some promise over the next year or two and the money is there, then I wouldn't be surprised to see a huge name come here. The new ownership knows the importance of having premier talent.

[P2F]

DeMar is +13 tonight.

[eastcoastjaysfan]

DeMar is +13 tonight.

 

10/22 shooting

34 points 9 boards

 

Yeah he better make the ASG.

[letsgobjs]

Kyle Lowry definitely deserves to make the ASG, but he probably won't.

[Cooler Heads Prevail]

Yes players like visiting Toronto, but living here is a whole different story. It's not a defeatist attitude, it's just reality.

 

Maybe your reality. Have you travelled anywhere at all ? Seriously, Toronto is a great place to live. I realize that trashing Toronto is one of the most popular topics on here but god it's such bs. Housing prices are through the roof now.

[dineke]

Maybe your reality. Have you travelled anywhere at all ? Seriously, Toronto is a great place to live. I realize that trashing Toronto is one of the most popular topics on here but god it's such bs. Housing prices are through the roof now.

 

Did I say Toronto wasn't a good place to live? Read again.

 

My point is that American players don't want to play for a team in another country, as demonstrated by the last 20 years.

Edited January 25, 2014 by dineke

[eastcoastjaysfan]

http://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/2014/01/24/toronto_fcs_transformation_was_colourful_journey_led_by_tim_leiweke_kelly.html

 

He could not negotiate with the player — that’s tampering (though it’s a widespread practice). So he focused on Defoe’s closest advisor, his mother, Sandra.

 

MLSE invited Sandra for a week in Toronto in early November. Three staffers were assigned to care for her. She was put up at the Ritz. When she got to her room, there were flowers waiting. From Drake.

 

“Are these really from Drake?” Sandra asked.

 

Leiweke assured her they were.

 

They brought her to the ACC on the morning of Nov. 5 before a Raptors game with the Miami Heat. As part of the tour, Sandra visited the hockey dressing room. A Leafs’ jersey emblazoned with Defoe’s name was hung in every stall.

While there, staffers tried to connect Sandra to her son via Skype. They had trouble getting a steady connection. Eventually, they had to move out onto the ice.

 

Out in the hallway that runs from the Leafs’ dressing room to the basketball visitors’ quarters, LeBron James was waiting to accidentally bump into Sandra.

 

Leiweke had reached out to James’ manager, Maverick Carter, to ask for the favour.

 

Still fiddling with the laptop, she missed her window. James returned to begin his pre-game routine.

 

He’d do his part later. During a break in play in the Raptors game, he approached Sandra, who was sitting courtside with Leiweke. As he walked toward her, James wagged his finger in a familiar, teasing way. Sandra goggled. The most famous athlete on the continent leaned in to suggest Defoe would be happy in Canada.

 

Sandra turned again, delighted: “That was LeBron James!”

 

“Everyone loves Toronto,” Leiweke said.

 

After Sandra left, Leiweke sent Drake back in. The rap star was out on tour. Leiweke worked out a detailed pitch that Drake would make to Defoe over the phone. Defoe would later describe the call as “surreal.” This holistic come-on worked. Within a week, negotiations became serious. -"

 

--

 

TL;DR

 

Leiweke even had Lebron f***ing James trying to help lure Jermain Defoe to Toronto

 

This new ownership group is not the same garbage team run by Richard Peddie. This group has the pull that very few others do.

 

One of the big names (might not be Lebron or Durant, but someone) will be a Rap in 2016.

 

We should all be very excited in this new direction of MLSE.

[P2F]

http://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/2014/01/24/toronto_fcs_transformation_was_colourful_journey_led_by_tim_leiweke_kelly.html

 

He could not negotiate with the player — that’s tampering (though it’s a widespread practice). So he focused on Defoe’s closest advisor, his mother, Sandra.

 

MLSE invited Sandra for a week in Toronto in early November. Three staffers were assigned to care for her. She was put up at the Ritz. When she got to her room, there were flowers waiting. From Drake.

 

“Are these really from Drake?” Sandra asked.

 

Leiweke assured her they were.

 

They brought her to the ACC on the morning of Nov. 5 before a Raptors game with the Miami Heat. As part of the tour, Sandra visited the hockey dressing room. A Leafs’ jersey emblazoned with Defoe’s name was hung in every stall.

While there, staffers tried to connect Sandra to her son via Skype. They had trouble getting a steady connection. Eventually, they had to move out onto the ice.

 

Out in the hallway that runs from the Leafs’ dressing room to the basketball visitors’ quarters, LeBron James was waiting to accidentally bump into Sandra.

 

Leiweke had reached out to James’ manager, Maverick Carter, to ask for the favour.

 

Still fiddling with the laptop, she missed her window. James returned to begin his pre-game routine.

 

He’d do his part later. During a break in play in the Raptors game, he approached Sandra, who was sitting courtside with Leiweke. As he walked toward her, James wagged his finger in a familiar, teasing way. Sandra goggled. The most famous athlete on the continent leaned in to suggest Defoe would be happy in Canada.

 

Sandra turned again, delighted: “That was LeBron James!”

 

“Everyone loves Toronto,” Leiweke said.

 

After Sandra left, Leiweke sent Drake back in. The rap star was out on tour. Leiweke worked out a detailed pitch that Drake would make to Defoe over the phone. Defoe would later describe the call as “surreal.” This holistic come-on worked. Within a week, negotiations became serious. -"

 

--

 

TL;DR

 

Leiweke even had Lebron f***ing James trying to help lure Jermain Defoe to Toronto

 

This new ownership group is not the same garbage team run by Richard Peddie. This group has the pull that very few others do.

 

One of the big names (might not be Lebron or Durant, but someone) will be a Rap in 2016.

 

We should all be very excited in this new direction of MLSE.

 

It's funny, I just found and read that story last night. I hadn't even realized if it was new or not, it's just that I had went looking to find a story on the new players and this article was at the top of the search results.

 

Great read!

[Frag]

MLSE seems to be taking the Raptors and TFC in the right direction, but the Leafs in the wrong direction.

[GD]

I think they'll right the ship with the Leafs eventually. But basketball is huge to me and I really do enjoy soccer a lot so I can't say I'm even a little disappointed.

[dineke]

I don't think you can say the Raptors are heading in the right direction. They are as of now, firmly planted on the treadmill.

[dineke]

I think they'll right the ship with the Leafs eventually. But basketball is huge to me and I really do enjoy soccer a lot so I can't say I'm even a little disappointed.

 

Keep dreaming, Nonis has a 5 year contract remember?

[GD]

Keep dreaming, Nonis has a 5 year contract remember?

 

I think Tim's alpha enough that if he's not seeing results soon enough, he won't care.

[theblujay]

They've got a chance to beat the Clips tonight, both teams on a back2back. Should be a good game

[dineke]

I think Tim's alpha enough that if he's not seeing results soon enough, he won't care.

 

Nonis is already on his way to crippling the franchise with the long term contracts he's giving out. TL giving him a 5 year contract after less than a year on the job was very dumb.

[eastcoastjaysfan]

Let's do this. Big game.

[eastcoastjaysfan]

JV is going to get absolutely tooled down low tonight vs Jordan and Griffin.

 

I would've started Chuck Hayes tbh.

[Abomination]

This might be a really high scoring game.

[theblujay]

Crawford is just one of those guys that kills the Raps.

[theblujay]

And we really need Hansbrough back

[eastcoastjaysfan]

Both teams shooting the lights out.

 

Crawford with 18 already lol

 

This is not the type of game we want to be playing here. Slow it down, play some D

[eastcoastjaysfan]

f*** I hate Turkoglu.

 

GTFO

[eastcoastjaysfan]

Ross with 15 early... Why is he sitting? Get him back in there Casey.

[eastcoastjaysfan]

Omg please be ok

 

f***ING TURKAGLU

[Abomination]

Omg please be ok

 

f***ING TURKAGLU

 

Lol, anyone who wants to become popular just needs to look at Turkaglu ... and do the opposite. The guy is a master.

[GD]

f*** OFF HEDON'T TURKOSHIT

 

Ugh please be okay