NBA Thread

[Dr. Dinger]

The only way to get Beal without taking Wall’s contract would be have to involve Siakam, and probably Powell and FVV to make the $ work. It wouldn’t make sense for the Raptors future. Wall is overpaid but he’s young enough that I think he’ll be an impact player again, certainly a guy you would rather have than Lowry 2 years from now.

[jaysblue]

The only way to get Beal without taking Wall’s contract would be have to involve Siakam, and probably Powell and FVV to make the $ work. It wouldn’t make sense for the Raptors future. Wall is overpaid but he’s young enough that I think he’ll be an impact player again, certainly a guy you would rather have than Lowry 2 years from now.

 

Can even use load management with Wall (don't play him back-to-back games) and limit his minutes. Raps could afford to do that with FVV in the fold. If John Wall is healthy, he's an elite player. Getting Beal is the main piece though so anything extra you get out of Wall, consider that a huge bonus. And if these trades would still allow the Raps to make a run at Giannis in two years, then I'm ok with it.

[jaysblue]

This is peak NBA casuals talk.

 

I have Raptors season tickets. Far from a casual.

[Chappy]

There is no reason to take on a bad contract at this point. Draft picks are great, but this team should still win 45 at the minimum, discounting any major injuries ovcourse. I expect this to be a low 50 win team that enters the playoffs with a good seed and at least makes it to the second round. I don’t expect a finals visit, but playoffs with a bunch of expiring contracts and a ton of cap space after just winning a title is an excellent position to be in. We all wish Kawhi signed, but he didn’t win it on his own, he came to an already very good team that was missing a true leader. We have some key young pieces to build the next team around and this front office seems very capable of getting us into serious contention very quickly.

 

They may very well trade for a bad contract and bring in a Westbrook, but we really don’t need too when we can still be playoff bound this coming season and then be able to strengthen the team the following two season with all the cap space.

Edited July 8, 2019 by Chappy

[connorp]

John Wall makes $47 million dollars in 2022 and even has a 15% trade kicker. He is potentially the biggest anchor the NBA has ever seen.

 

Gilbert Arenas before him too lol

[Spanky__99]

You guys are f***ed.

[connorp]

LeBron to officially to be the PG.

 

Nice signing of Avery Bradley as well with their exception.

[Terminator]

LeBron to officially to be the PG.

 

Nice signing of Avery Bradley as well with their exception.

 

I hate a lot of the Lakers moves this offseason including this one. Bradley has been awful the past couple of years, one of the worst in the NBA according to +/-. Rondo is even worse. That said, they did enough to be serious contenders. Lebron at PG helps some.

 

C: Cousins / McGee

PF: Davis / Kuzma

SF: KCP / Dudley

SG: Green / Bradley / Daniels

PG: Lebron / Rondo / Caruso / Cook

 

I'd play Caruso more than Bradley or Rondo but I'm not sure they'll actually do that. But if they do that's a pretty damn good 9 man rotation.

[connorp]

I thought AB was an elite defender? Haven’t seen him play since he was in BOS. I had heard he was declining but again for vet mins and exceptions you’re only going to get so much.

[Dick_Pole]

I really like that Stanley Johnson signing. That has the possibility to be a massive get if the Raptors can improve his offensive game.

[Dick_Pole]

LOL Lakers. Yeah what can go wrong putting a 6'8" 250 pound 35 year old at PG. There must have been some major ego stroking getting him to think how many triple doubles he can line up.

[Orgfiller]

I thought AB was an elite defender? Haven’t seen him play since he was in BOS. I had heard he was declining but again for vet mins and exceptions you’re only going to get so much.

 

Avery Bradley used to be an elite defender, and then he wasn't. He's been awful for years. Might have had an injury or two that impacted his defensive ability.

[Carlos Danger]

Anyone see the Dewan Hernandez highlights from the summer league? Some great plays on both sides of the ball.. Albeit summer league, but he looks pretty good!

[glory]

No way in bloody hell Masai trades for Westbrick and his contract. The team that does will instantly regret it.

 

Unfortunately due to the timing of Kawhi leaving and the cap situation, this seems like a victory lap kind of season where you just let the core play it out, make the playoffs, lose in the 1st/2nd round, let Lowry get a standing O in the last game, and then pivot from there. I don't think giant expirings (Lowry, Gasol, Ibaka) will mean much to other teams as next year's FA market sucks, so might as well hold on to the vets and see how far the team can go.

 

The team definitely needs to add a wing player that can create his own shot, though. Norm and McCaw at the 2 is really bad.

[jaysblue]

I don't think the Raptors want to throw in the towel until 2021, because then no top free agent will want to sign here. Still need to show they have a solid team that a player like Giannis could win with.

[Terminator]

It seems like Masai will start the season trying to compete. And get at least a half season victory lap. If the team looks underwhelming, he will probably deal the veterans.

 

The other course of action is to deal the veterans now and take back guys who are on bad contracts and have two years remaining. Like basically every contract the Heat have. That way you might be able to get an actual prime asset.

 

But you will be throwing in the towel for 2 years until you get into free agency 2021.

 

I kind of like the victory lap tbh. Compete this year with sellout crowds and see how much Siakim can develop with a competitive team around him. Like you said, if it's not working at the deadline he can make trades then.

[Carlos Danger]

Turns out Kawhi only signed a 3 yr deal with a player option after year 2. The Klaw could be a FA again in 2021!!

[connorp]

Turns out Kawhi only signed a 3 yr deal with a player option after year 2. The Klaw could be a FA again in 2021!!

 

I saw that. Clips will be in for a world of hurt if KL and PG decide to walk after two years

[glory]

Kawhi, LeBron, Giannis, George, and Beal are free agents in two years. Probably other big names as well.

 

The craziness of this summer's free agent market will be repeated in 2021.

 

I don't expect the Raptors to ever build via free agency, unless Giannis' relationship with Masai can create something there, but it wouldn't be smart to be tied down to bad contracts in anticipation for that free agent class. Unless you are trading for a star, I say go with short term deals with Siakam being the only big contract on the books in two years. Try to trade Powell for a contract that ends one year earlier than his, if possible.

[Dick_Pole]

The victory lap is definitely the right way to go. You want to protect the franchise brand as a winner. If someone offers multiple unprotected picks for Lowry, sure trade him (that won't happen though). But don't trade him or Gasol just for trading's sake.

 

I don't see how this is much of a punting anyways. People assume a first or second round exit but this is essentially the same team as two years ago, minus DeRozan. And his ability to draw fouls has been more than replaced by Siakam's increased actual scoring ability. Defense is much tighter with a coach who knows how to coach defensively, not just say he does. This team hasn't lost a playoff series to a non-Lebron team in four seasons. Other than the Bucks, who has the clear edge against the Raptors? Maybe Nets depending if/when/how Durant returns. And this is not me being a homer. I count seven West teams that could probably beat the Raptors in a seven game series. This is a commentary on how s***** the east is. Assuming the Bucks take one EC final spot, the second one is wide open to five teams with the Raptors being one of them. Why punt that scenario?

[Boxcar]

The victory lap is definitely the right way to go. You want to protect the franchise brand as a winner. If someone offers multiple unprotected picks for Lowry, sure trade him (that won't happen though). But don't trade him or Gasol just for trading's sake.

 

I don't see how this is much of a punting anyways. People assume a first or second round exit but this is essentially the same team as two years ago, minus DeRozan. And his ability to draw fouls has been more than replaced by Siakam's increased actual scoring ability. Defense is much tighter with a coach who knows how to coach defensively, not just say he does. This team hasn't lost a playoff series to a non-Lebron team in four seasons. Other than the Bucks, who has the clear edge against the Raptors? Maybe Nets depending if/when/how Durant returns. And this is not me being a homer. I count seven West teams that could probably beat the Raptors in a seven game series. This is a commentary on how s***** the east is. Assuming the Bucks take one EC final spot, the second one is wide open to five teams with the Raptors being one of them. Why punt that scenario?

 

Philly is apparently good, Boston, Brooklyn, idk who else

[Dick_Pole]

Philly has a bunch of loud-ass fans who trusted the process and still do. The only reason that series took seven games and every inch of Kawhi's soul is that the team played like s*** that series. There is something dementedly wrong with a player who cannot shoot a three pointer when even us plebs posting in this forum could take an uncontested shot from 24 feet away and maybe have a 10% chance of getting it in. With the exception of connor and BTS who I don't expect have the upper body strength to physically toss a basketball more than 10 feet.

 

EDIT: And something wrong with a team that puts up with his s***.

Edited July 11, 2019 by Dick_Pole

[Horses Fart]

Looks like Westbrook is Houston bound.

[Krylian]

Looks like Westbrook is Houston bound.

 

For CP3

[Terminator]

Capela/Tucker/Gordon/Westbrook/Harden is a hell of a starting 5 but good lord that bench is worse than the Lakers.

[dineke]

not sure if houston got better

[Orgfiller]

not sure if houston got better

 

They didn't, but they basically traded for Westbrook's durability while CP3 is gonna be making ridiculous amounts of money into his late 30s.

[connorp]

not sure if houston got better

 

Agreed. But Paul and Harden hated each other and didn’t want to play together anymore...and considering Paul’s contract and performance, I think they made out good considering all that

[Bobthe4th]

They didn't, but they basically traded for Westbrook's durability while CP3 is gonna be making ridiculous amounts of money into his late 30s.

 

I think Westbrook fits better than Paul with Harden and it’ll be fun to see the old OKC back court together. Shame they couldn’t have convinced (or had the cap space for) Durant to sign!

[Terminator]

I think it's probably worth a shot if you're Houston. Westbrook is younger and the better talent even if he's a worse fit. Paul is getting up there and is more injury prone. But still, taking on an extra year of contract and giving up those picks...