NBA Thread

[gruber92]

Raptors are still a top 4 EC team with a chance at a second round in the playoffs. Better than Miami that just added a big FA. This is not the time to blow it up, but keep together a somewhat zombie year and prepare for the next two when there is some cap space to play with. Plus with the coaching and defense who knows if this team can outperform. Siakam, FVV massively improved their games. Powell is sometimes useful. Anunoby hopefully bounces back. Gasol > JV for at least another year.

 

Last thing you wanna do is blow this thing up and lose the Raptors momentum and recent history as a consistent winner. Why did the Jays sign Molitor, Morris, Winfield etc in the early 90's despite being in the dreaded foreign country? Because those players always saw the Jays as a winning and classy franchise all through the 80's while their s***** teams got walloped by them every year. Take the 45-50 win season, take the first or second round exit and reconvene next season. Don't become the Atlanta Hawks.

 

Unless there is an absolute steal of a deal for Lowry or Gasol, they stay put. I don't want any Ross Atkins moves here.

 

Thank goodness Masai is not Ross (Corey Ham) Atkins.

[gruber92]

Yeah I think Raps could still come out of the weak East if they add some talent. Gallinari isn’t the most efficient scorer but he’s a solid piece. Now their 1st rounders are more appealing as well. I don’t think you can count on anything for FA, so it’s trades and drafting. I’d probably try to package multiple 1sr rounders for an impact player if it were available

 

Nah.. They'll be competitive this year as things stand. Wait until after next season to get creative with Lowry, Ibaka and Gasol coming off the books.

[jaysblue]

Not sure if the reports are true, but OKC offered the Raptors both Paul George and Russell Westbrook if Masai was willing to build a deal around Siakam. Possibly could have lead Kawhi to re-sign back in Toronto. Doubt it would have happened since the Raps didn't have the picks like the Clippers to pull of that type of deal but that's interesting.

 

Westbrook could be on the Raptors radar possibly, if those reports were true.

[connorp]

Nah.. They'll be competitive this year as things stand. Wait until after next season to get creative with Lowry, Ibaka and Gasol coming off the books.

 

Toronto’s strategy for planning around cap space would be more fruitless than the Knicks doing it. No max players are coming to Tor. Write that down (even if it’s not exactly a secret). So you can only sign 2nd rate players for more than they’d get elsewhere, just like the Knocks used to.

[jaysblue]

Raptors are still a top 4 EC team with a chance at a second round in the playoffs. Better than Miami that just added a big FA. This is not the time to blow it up, but keep together a somewhat zombie year and prepare for the next two when there is some cap space to play with. Plus with the coaching and defense who knows if this team can outperform. Siakam, FVV massively improved their games. Powell is sometimes useful. Anunoby hopefully bounces back. Gasol > JV for at least another year.

 

Last thing you wanna do is blow this thing up and lose the Raptors momentum and recent history as a consistent winner. Why did the Jays sign Molitor, Morris, Winfield etc in the early 90's despite being in the dreaded foreign country? Because those players always saw the Jays as a winning and classy franchise all through the 80's while their s***** teams got walloped by them every year. Take the 45-50 win season, take the first or second round exit and reconvene next season. Don't become the Atlanta Hawks.

 

Unless there is an absolute steal of a deal for Lowry or Gasol, they stay put. I don't want any Ross Atkins moves here.

 

There is some potential growth with players like OG and Siakam will definitely get better. FVV could take another step forward and we've seen Powell be useful. No need to knock it all down, especially after winning a championship. If OG could take a really big step forward this year and get a lot out of him, Raptors could still be a Top 2-3 team. Masai still needs to add another solid player though to this roster though which I'm sure he'll do.

[gruber92]

Not sure if the reports are true, but OKC offered the Raptors both Paul George and Russell Westbrook if Masai was willing to build a deal around Siakam. Possibly could have lead Kawhi to re-sign back in Toronto. Doubt it would have happened since the Raps didn't have the picks like the Clippers to pull of that type of deal but that's interesting.

 

Westbrook could be on the Raptors radar possibly, if those reports were true.

 

Why would Westbrook be on our radar? I'm sure Masai was the one approached and shot it down.

[jays4life19]

Toronto’s strategy for planning around cap space would be more fruitless than the Knicks doing it. No max players are coming to Tor. Write that down (even if it’s not exactly a secret). So you can only sign 2nd rate players for more than they’d get elsewhere, just like the Knocks used to.

 

That may have been true 5 years ago but i don't think it is anymore. I don't think NBA players view Toronto like it's Serbia anymore.

[jaysblue]

That may have been true 5 years ago but i don't think it is anymore. I don't think NBA players view Toronto like it's Serbia anymore.

 

Some still do.

[dineke]

Toronto’s strategy for planning around cap space would be more fruitless than the Knicks doing it. No max players are coming to Tor. Write that down (even if it’s not exactly a secret). So you can only sign 2nd rate players for more than they’d get elsewhere, just like the Knocks used to.

 

This. They should use that capspace to absorb bad contracts for draft picks. We need to draft our own superstar.

[gruber92]

Toronto’s strategy for planning around cap space would be more fruitless than the Knicks doing it. No max players are coming to Tor. Write that down (even if it’s not exactly a secret). So you can only sign 2nd rate players for more than they’d get elsewhere, just like the Knocks used to.

 

I still think there are a few top end players who will come, as long as Masai is in the picture. If not, f*** the typical American born player who thinks playing in Toronto is like playing in Cambodia. Giannis imo will have no issues signing a max here and Masai is the perfect GM to get that done. There are also tons of quality Euro talent flooding the NBA.

[dineke]

Giannis can sign a supermax and the bucks are favourites in the east. I doubt he even reaches free agency.

[Dick_Pole]

Not sure if the reports are true, but OKC offered the Raptors both Paul George and Russell Westbrook if Masai was willing to build a deal around Siakam. Possibly could have lead Kawhi to re-sign back in Toronto. Doubt it would have happened since the Raps didn't have the picks like the Clippers to pull of that type of deal but that's interesting.

 

Westbrook could be on the Raptors radar possibly, if those reports were true.

 

Yeah I think that's ********. Even with Siakam involved, no way do the Raptors have the pieces to get BOTH of those guys. OKC isn't the Ottawa Senators.

[jays4life19]

"Had Presti been able to strike a deal for George with Toronto -- and Leonard was willing to stay -- George was believed to be willing to join the Raptors, sources said. Presti pursued a package of Russell Westbrook and George to the Raptors -- with the NBA's Most Improved Player, forward Pascal Siakam, as the centerpiece of a broader, asset-crippling deal -- but Ujiri couldn't keep up with the Clippers' willingness to unload unprotected first-round picks into the middle of the next decade, league sources said"

 

from espn

[Captain Adama]

[Dick_Pole]

Toronto’s strategy for planning around cap space would be more fruitless than the Knicks doing it. No max players are coming to Tor. Write that down (even if it’s not exactly a secret). So you can only sign 2nd rate players for more than they’d get elsewhere, just like the Knocks used to.

 

Connor, I hope your rent-a-bride holds off from calling her Russian sleeper agents to kill you and steal your identity just long enough so you can see Giannis sign with Toronto and you have massive egg on your face.

[Dick_Pole]

 

Saw that earlier. Best meme on this yet.

[Dr. Dinger]

If they had enough room to sign Kawhi to a max contract, I think it should be around $30 million left. Could be wrong though.

 

Absolutely wrong. We could only re-sign Kawhi due to Bird rights, not cap space.

[Orgfiller]

If I’m Masai, I’m trying to trade for Westbrook now. Expiring contract (Lowry?) + Anunoby + future 1sts.

 

Ewwwwww

[Krylian]

I'd take the championship and call it

 

Second time around is never as good anyways

 

Except sex. Second time is always better.

[Krylian]

I know we got a championship out of it but it still stings sooooo bad. Almost deep down feels like a ton of people are sitting back and laughing at us (Tor) because we couldn’t keep it together any longer then a year. I bet deep down DeMar is laughing inside.

 

Dude. There's no laughing. A championship is the ultimate achievement. Teams lose FA's all the time with no title to show for it. The Raptors will always be 2019 NBA Champions. No one can ever take that away.

Edited July 6, 2019 by Krylian

[connorp]

Connor, I hope your rent-a-bride holds off from calling her Russian sleeper agents to kill you and steal your identity just long enough so you can see Giannis sign with Toronto and you have massive egg on your face.

 

I do believe your original mind orgy was Giannis coming to Toronto to join forces w/KL and rack up titles. I guess it’s good that you’re able to watch reality extinguish your dreams and then just redirect to a new one

[Carlos Danger]

I still think there are a few top end players who will come, as long as Masai is in the picture. If not, f*** the typical American born player who thinks playing in Toronto is like playing in Cambodia. Giannis imo will have no issues signing a max here and Masai is the perfect GM to get that done. There are also tons of quality Euro talent flooding the NBA.

 

Toronto has tried the Euro route, didn't work out so well.. Need some old fashion when the going gets tough the ballers get balling like Kawai.. They have tried that s*** in hockey also... Same result...

[Carlos Danger]

I know we got a championship out of it but it still stings sooooo bad. Almost deep down feels like a ton of people are sitting back and laughing at us (Tor) because we couldn’t keep it together any longer then a year. I bet deep down DeMar is laughing inside.

 

There is NO reason for DeMar to be laughing at s***.. He should have his head between his legs crying.. Benched in the playoffs, choker, to the point a team was willing t trade him for 1 yr of a guy that everyone thought was 90% going to go to California regardless.

 

DeMar was benched in San Antonio also. DeMar is not even on the same planet as Kawai and the fact is, the moment he left we had our best season ever to include a Championship. In a few years and probably anyone under 15 yrs old now will not even remember the name DeMar.

 

Best trade ever, and it paid off. The goal of an NBA team and season is the Championship.. Mission Accomplished.

[Terminator]

I know we got a championship out of it but it still stings sooooo bad. Almost deep down feels like a ton of people are sitting back and laughing at us (Tor) because we couldn’t keep it together any longer then a year. I bet deep down DeMar is laughing inside.

 

This is typical Canadian little brother syndrome. No one is laughing. And flags fly forever.

[dineke]

12 franchises have won an nba title the last 30 years and we're one of them. Unreal. I wouldn't trade this title for 5 years of Kawhi who has a degenerative leg condition. I'm excited for the future of this franchise especially if Masai stays long term.

[Dr. Dinger]

I would rather see my team win one championship than have LeBron for his entire career with no chips. I’ll always have love for Kawhi and I’m honestly just glad he didn’t sign with the Lakers because that would be terrible for league parity. The Clippers should be a really fun team to watch and I’ll be rooting for them to win the West. An all-LA WCF would be awesome to watch.

 

The Raps will be a playoff team this year and then tear it down, c’est la vie. That was going to happen anyway if we didn’t trade for Kawhi and we’d have nothing to show for it. I won’t let this departure obscure the fact that this championship could be a once-in-a-lifetime event.

[Terminator]

Demarcus Cousins to the Lakers.

[connorp]

Demarcus Cousins to the Lakers.

 

Fantastic pickup for what he’ll get (close to vet minimum)

[Carlos Danger]

Fantastic pickup for what he’ll get (close to get minimum)

 

Only thing is, is he going to fit with his personality and all those egos and other personalities.. To include management?

[connorp]

Only thing is, is he going to fit with his personality and all those egos and other personalities.. To include management?

 

He played with AD already and there were no reports of issues...I think (not sure) he’s friends with LeBron