NBA Thread

[burlingtonbandit]

Bird Rights means we can essentially offer him slightly more than any other team, right? But he's not going to be a max salary guy, is he?

 

Means you can go over the cap to sign him. He's not a Max guy but who knows with NBA FA.

[GD]

Boston probably makes a move so its not only the Cavs that the Raps need to get by. Patterson needs to get healthy.

 

Ibaka-PP lineups will be fun.

 

Who else is out there though? Hawks keep saying Millsap is off the table and he might actually be, plus its hard to see how Boston can afford him without trading one of their good players. They have a lot of good young talent like Smart, Bradley, Crowder but do they want to trade it for a year of Millsap? And then the rest of it is late first rounders and guys like, idk, Terry Rozier and RJ Hunter if he's still around.

 

 

I'm really curious as to how good Masai thinks Ibaka is right now. This is a good move from any standpoint, but I have to wonder if he made it from a scouting one or an analytical one. Cause that'll be very relevant when it comes time to re-sign him.

[TRM]

If Norm takes the step forward we all expect him to, can a Lowry-DD-Norm-Ibaka-JV lineup compete with the Cavs or GSW. Probably not.

[jaysblue]

Masai probably got scared about Lowry leaving so he pulled the trade. Wasn't much to give up tbh but I don't know if I want to re-sign him this summer over Patterson.

 

Patterson is not a starting caliber PF on a team with championship aspirations. If he was, then there would be no need for Ibaka.

[jaysblue]

If Norm takes the step forward we all expect him to, can a Lowry-DD-Norm-Ibaka-JV lineup compete with the Cavs or GSW. Probably not.

 

Outside of the Spurs, can any lineup compete with the Cans or GSW?

[TRM]

If they are willing to spend deep into the luxury tax, then this is a very good team for at least 1-2 years. Also has a lot of depth to trade for another upgrade. Just probably not good enough to beat either of the super teams...

 

Lowry-Joseph-Wright - FVV

DD - Norm

DC5 - Norm

Ibaka - PP - Pascal

JV - Bebe - Poeltl

[TRM]

I expect Sullinger will go before the deadline for a 2/3 who can shoot.

[burlingtonbandit]

Patterson is not a starting caliber PF on a team with championship aspirations. If he was, then there would be no need for Ibaka.

 

To be fair I don't think Ibaka is either. Certainly not on this Raptors team.

[Orgfiller]

If Norm takes the step forward we all expect him to, can a Lowry-DD-Norm-Ibaka-JV lineup compete with the Cavs or GSW. Probably not.

 

Not even LeBron and associates can compete with GSW. They upgraded Harrison Barnes to Durant, that's insane.

[TRM]

To be fair I don't think Ibaka is either. Certainly not on this Raptors team.

 

In a world where Durant went back to OKC, I think it might be close. The past 15 games are not indicative of the quality of this Raptors team, and they just got materially better.

[jaysblue]

To be fair I don't think Ibaka is either. Certainly not on this Raptors team.

 

Ibaka at least is an improvement over Patterson. Not one of the best PF, though probably best available at this time. I like PP, though he isn't a starting caliber PF. He's a 6th man, great body to have off the bench. Hopefully the Raptors don't throw $70 million at him or more as you were suggesting a while ago.

[jays_fever]

Love this move. He matches up with the Celtics and Cavs bigs beautifully. Ibaka isnt the rebounding liabiity Patterson is

 

Go get Gallo now and we have something

[John_Havok]

39 points scored and 58 given up in the first half against the Bulls.

 

This team is so out of it right now

[dineke]

how did this team become so bad

[TRM]

Casey needs to be fired methinks

[GD]

Casey needs to be fired methinks

 

It's been so many years

[TRM]

It's been so many years

 

Who's available?

[TRM]

People often forget that the Raptors were a Frank Vogel tactical error (resting George Hill and PG13 at the same time last year) from likely losing the Pacers in the first round last year.

 

Quite frankly, Casey has never been good enough.

[Dr. Dinger]

Firing the coach of a team 8 games over .500 that went to the Conference Finals last year? That pretty much never happens.

[TRM]

Firing the coach of a team 8 games over .500 that went to the Conference Finals last year? That pretty much never happens.

 

May I kindly direct your attention to...

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015%E2%80%9316_Cleveland_Cavaliers_season

[Dr. Dinger]

May I kindly direct your attention to...

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015%E2%80%9316_Cleveland_Cavaliers_season

 

Wasn't that LeBron's decision? If LeBron wants a coach gone, you do it.

[Orgfiller]

May I kindly direct your attention to...

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015%E2%80%9316_Cleveland_Cavaliers_season

 

Everyone knows the head coach in Cleveland is just a Lebron puppet. Gotta please the king.

[TRM]

Wasn't that LeBron's decision? If LeBron wants a coach gone, you do it.

 

If Lowry wants a coach gone, and the coach happens to be Dwayne Casey, you do it.

[Dr. Dinger]

If Lowry wants a coach gone, and the coach happens to be Dwayne Casey, you do it.

 

There's a pretty good chance that Lowry is leaving soon tho.

[burlingtonbandit]

Who's available?

 

I think Nick Nurse the current assistant will be a great coach. He was the one that came in and installed the offence which has been really good for the last few seasons. You never really know how well they will do game management style but if he's really smart on offence I think he can can adjust to the other parts.

[GD]

Who's available?

 

Funny enough I'd like to see Blatt. Never really got a chance to show off his pass-friendly offense. Nurse or Rex or Jama or Stackhouse are all good internal options. Also, obligatory: Steve Nash!

[jaysblue]

Firing the coach of a team 8 games over .500 that went to the Conference Finals last year? That pretty much never happens.

 

Yeah as much as I'd love to see Casey gone right now, it won't happen at this moment. Unless this team loses badly in the first round of the playoffs like two years ago, then I could see Masai making a change.

 

If the Raps continue to struggle however down the stretch and keep falling further back, it's possible.

[jaysblue]

There's a pretty good chance that Lowry is leaving soon tho.

 

I hope not. If the Raps lose Lowry, this team will be fighting just to stay in playoff contention. Masai realizes how important Lowry is and I'm sure he'll do everything in his power to keep him. I could see Lowry staying in Toronto if he's happy. Him and DeRozan work so well together in the backcourt and have a great friendship as well, so that could play a huge role. As well, if the Raptors continue to be a top team in the East, why not? Hopefully the Ibaka trade shows Lowry that upper management is serious about taking that next step forward.

[Laika]

Firing the coach of a team 8 games over .500 that went to the Conference Finals last year? That pretty much never happens.

 

Habs just fired Therrien while in first place!

[jaysblue]

Habs just fired Therrien while in first place!

 

All it took was a little slide by the Habs so if the Raps continue this slide after the All-Star break, it's definitely possible. Especially if a player like Lowry or Demar go to management and express their displeasure about playing under Casey.