NBA Thread

[Spanky99]

I understand this, but what moves do you propose that would get the Raptors to the next level in the next 4 years? Trade Derozan and then what? Brainwash Curry with highlights of his dad and how great it was here and hope he signs here? Pump Poeltl full of HGH to make him add 75 pounds and turn him into the next Shaq? Go all Tonya Harding on LeBron during the off-season? Hope you score 4 straight sleeper picks in the 20-range in the draft?

 

Derozan is a guy who is at least good enough to keep the team warm - 40-50 win seasons with an occasional playoff round win - over the next 4 years until there is opportunity to make the next big move. Right now I just don't see how this team can improve from the position it is in now. And I also don't think taking a big step back will result in the team being in an advantaged position four years from now when opportunity does call.

 

lol

[John_Havok]

I think the biggest thing we need is better ball movement. We tend to be very static on offense, and it means we have to rely more on free throws and tough shots. That will open up both more 3s and better looks at them. I also wonder about trading Derozan and picking up another true point guard (unless we think one of the other in-house guys can be that), and play Lowry more as SG.

 

That's the whole game of Derozan though, pull up mid range jumpers and getting to the free throw line. He doesn't make things happen, he just shoots after he's been freed up from screens. Sure there the occasional drive and dunk, but far more often than not it's just a s***** long range 2 after the shot clock is nearly gone.

[John_Havok]

I understand this, but what moves do you propose that would get the Raptors to the next level in the next 4 years? Trade Derozan and then what? Brainwash Curry with highlights of his dad and how great it was here and hope he signs here? Pump Poeltl full of HGH to make him add 75 pounds and turn him into the next Shaq? Go all Tonya Harding on LeBron during the off-season? Hope you score 4 straight sleeper picks in the 20-range in the draft?

 

Derozan is a guy who is at least good enough to keep the team warm - 40-50 win seasons with an occasional playoff round win - over the next 4 years until there is opportunity to make the next big move. Right now I just don't see how this team can improve from the position it is in now. And I also don't think taking a big step back will result in the team being in an advantaged position four years from now when opportunity does call.

 

I get it. I personally think the Raps are stuck with what they are because they hitched themselves to the wrong player and by signing him to the max deal he's effectively untradeable.

 

Any hope of getting to the next level will have to be the result of Derozan suddenly transforming his entire game into something that isn't 1 dimensional, or a Masai Ujiri ninja move that nobody sees coming to land legit 3rd scoring threat that isn't a uselss tit on defense.

 

Neither of those are very likely.

 

I get your point that watching a 50 win regular season team is better than watching a bottom feeder, but we've seen the 50 win TV show already and we can see its not going anywhere.

[dineke]

Derozan is a guy who is at least good enough to keep the team warm - 40-50 win seasons with an occasional playoff round win - over the next 4 years until there is opportunity to make the next big move. Right now I just don't see how this team can improve from the position it is in now. And I also don't think taking a big step back will result in the team being in an advantaged position four years from now when opportunity does call.

 

Lowry is the reason we were a 50 win team. As soon as he leaves or declines, a derozan led team will be in the lottery unless some of our young guys break out.

 

And I want them to re-sign Lowry btw so I'm not advocating for a tank (it's probably too late for masai now).

[Art Vandelay]

Tank. Keep tanking until you can draft some future stars and develop the team. It will take longer than 4 years, but keep in mind this team almost did rebuild after the Rudy Gay trade. I really don't see any other way for this team to compete. Especially when Lebron isn't retiring any time soon, and since no star wants to sign here. Making the playoffs and being eliminated in the first round or two just doesn't cut it.

[Dick_Pole]

Lowry is the reason we were a 50 win team. As soon as he leaves or declines, a derozan led team will be in the lottery unless some of our young guys break out.

 

And I want them to re-sign Lowry btw so I'm not advocating for a tank (it's probably too late for masai now).

 

The Raptors wouldn't be in a very good position for a tank. The Nets and Knicks will wander the desert for at least three years and that's 10% of the Raptors schedule. And I'm not sold on the 76ers either. Good luck tanking under those circumstances. A "tank" would result in a lackluster 30 win season and a 10th overall pick.

[Dick_Pole]

I get it. I personally think the Raps are stuck with what they are because they hitched themselves to the wrong player and by signing him to the max deal he's effectively untradeable.

 

Any hope of getting to the next level will have to be the result of Derozan suddenly transforming his entire game into something that isn't 1 dimensional, or a Masai Ujiri ninja move that nobody sees coming to land legit 3rd scoring threat that isn't a uselss tit on defense.

 

Neither of those are very likely.

 

I get your point that watching a 50 win regular season team is better than watching a bottom feeder, but we've seen the 50 win TV show already and we can see its not going anywhere.

 

I agree that he is untradeable or as I tried to say the best case scenario would be a lateral move.

 

I think the best chance the Raptors have of making any noise is unloading JV and seeing what the kid can do. Either he breaks out and the team can try to build an offense around him or he doesn't and the Raptors remain status quo as a team that can't penetrate.

[Dick_Pole]

Tank. Keep tanking until you can draft some future stars and develop the team. It will take longer than 4 years, but keep in mind this team almost did rebuild after the Rudy Gay trade. I really don't see any other way for this team to compete. Especially when Lebron isn't retiring any time soon, and since no star wants to sign here. Making the playoffs and being eliminated in the first round or two just doesn't cut it.

 

No.

 

What the 76ers did was embarrassing and has yet to be proven effective, I would never want this team to do that and as I stated previously good luck when the Nets and Knicks have those positions locked up and bottom feeders of the Western Conference are fodder for the best teams.

[Art Vandelay]

So what then? We resign Lowry? Be content with just making it to the playoffs?

[jays_fever]

So what then? We resign Lowry? Be content with just making it to the playoffs?

 

I'm fine with them losing in the second round or conference finals to the greatest player of all time but at least build a team that can compete.

 

You can't just blow this team up and I said the same thing back when Gay was traded.

[Caper]

The Raptors wouldn't be in a very good position for a tank. The Nets and Knicks will wander the desert for at least three years and that's 10% of the Raptors schedule. And I'm not sold on the 76ers either. Good luck tanking under those circumstances. A "tank" would result in a lackluster 30 win season and a 10th overall pick.

 

 

This is a reason to just hate the way the NBA draft is set up. Tanking is just such a legitimately good strategy. Say what you want about the 76er's but they are going to be loaded if they can avoid injuries. And the way the NBA is set up, the team that is the worst in the league is farther ahead then the team that is say mid pack to even where the Raptors are (6th to 10th in the league). They really have to rethink the draft.

[GD]

trade Demar for Porzingod

 

let Phil enjoy his new Kobe and take over the league

[Krylian]

Ujiri says "After that performance, we need a culture reset here".

 

I like the sound of that. Now let's see it implemented...not just talked about.

[KingKat]

Ujiri says "After that performance, we need a culture reset here".

 

I like the sound of that. Now let's see it implemented...not just talked about.

 

The first domino may have just fallen. Kyle Lowry opts out of his contract:

 

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/basketball/nba/toronto-raptors-offseason-plan-1.4104892

[John_Havok]

The first domino may have just fallen. Kyle Lowry opts out of his contract:

 

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/basketball/nba/toronto-raptors-offseason-plan-1.4104892

 

Forgone conclusion. Everyone knew he would do this for he last 2 seasons pretty much. Raps still have the advantage in resigning him because of bird rights and can offer him 50 million more dollars than anyone else.

 

This will be his only chance at a max level deal, so it was a no brainer. He would have opted out even if the Raps won the title.

[o2cui2i]

Leonard going out killed the Spurs. Very good come back win for GS but I doubt they get it done if Leonard plays more.

[o2cui2i]

Forgone conclusion. Everyone knew he would do this for he last 2 seasons pretty much. Raps still have the advantage in resigning him because of bird rights and can offer him 50 million more dollars than anyone else.

 

This will be his only chance at a max level deal, so it was a no brainer. He would have opted out even if the Raps won the title.

 

He's going to get paid very well by another team and the Raps are stuck with DeRozen... sigh

[Bobthe4th]

He's going to get paid very well by another team and the Raps are stuck with DeRozen... sigh

 

The Spurs would be a good fit for Lowry.

[jays_fever]

Cavs up by 44 in the third.

 

You know something is wrong when Charles Barkley openly states the NHL playoffs are lot more entertaining

[Art Vandelay]

As one fan on the Raptors RealGM message board said "this game is like porn for Celtics haters".

[John_Havok]

Cavs blew away the Celtics by 33 or whatever points to take the series 4-1

 

So both conference finals ended with 4-0 or 4-1 ....yay for predictability!

[Spanky99]

Guess I can get back to watching some basketball.

[Frag]

Cavs vs. Warriors Round 3

 

*yawn*

[Krylian]

Cavs vs. Warriors Round 3

 

*yawn*

 

I literally just yawned when I read your post.

[Terminator]

Guess I can get back to watching some basketball.

 

Yep, time to pay attention.

 

Round 3 of the Cleveland LeBrons vs. the Golden State Warriors. Should be pretty good TV.

[Dick_Pole]

Yep, time to pay attention.

 

Round 3 of the Cleveland LeBrons vs. the Golden State Warriors. Should be pretty good TV.

 

I hope it ends up being super s***** TV and a 4-0 sweep in four blowouts. I'd love to see Silver sweat through that.

[John_Havok]

Cavs vs. Warriors Round 3

 

*yawn*

 

Yeah... entire regular season and postseason to get to the same finals yet again.... that everyone knew was happening.

 

I wonder if this is what the NBA foresaw when they made the changes to contracts alowing teams to resign their own players for way more money than others, without the salary cap penalties etc.

Edited May 26, 2017 by John_Havok

[jays_fever]

This might be the worst season in a very long time

[P2F]

This is the worst season in professional sports ever.

ftfy

[AdamGreenwood]

The highlight will be Lebron whining that Cleveland management isn't getting the players he needs to win, with the subtext that his teammates all suck.