NBA Thread

[connorp]

“Oubre’s $14.4 million will cost the Warriors $68 million in taxes, meaning they are spending $82.4 million to get Oubre. Their total luxury tax bill will be $134 million. That’s just crazy money.”

 

I guess it’s a bit apples and oranges but you don’t even hear the word Covid during NBA FA. Guys like Gordon Hay getting the Brinks truck backed up like it’s nothing. They start in a month vs baseball which is getting good news with possibly a lot of people vaccinated by April

[Abomination]

FVV's contract is apparently slightly front-loaded to allow space to go after a certain superstar next offseason.

[Brownie19]

Aaron Baynes to the Raps.

[Dick_Pole]

I'm liking the Raptors moves so far. The team is about where it is talent wise from last year while keeping its options open for next year. This is a marathon not a sprint for them while the Bucks and Clippers go all-in against an aging Lebron.

 

I think there are more dumb casuals with the Raptors than Leafs and Jays combined. So much weeping over Ibaka as if he was a top-tier star. He's a completely replaceable player and the Raptors did that with Baynes. I'm optimistic that Boucher breaks out this season too.

[Dr. Dinger]

Boucher was intentionally overpaid to be a mid-salary trade chip. He’s a stretch big who doesn’t shoot well and can’t guard any 4s or 5s.

[Hipfan]

2020/2021 is going to be a bit of a letdown for the Raps. Obviously they are trying to keep space for next summer, which is totally understandable, but going from Gasol/Ibaka to Baynes/Boucher is a huge drop in talent/productivity. Still have a decent core and will probably will bow out in the 2nd round next year, but it's a bit frustrating to waste this year in the hopes that we may land a superstar next year.

 

If only Siakim could have actually made a shot in the bubble, things could have been so much different this year!

[glory]

I actually like that Masai is preserving cap space for next summer rather than trying to foolishly improve this season's team at the expense of future cap space. Let's face it, other than a trade for Harden, which isn't happening, the Raptors don't have the upper end talent to compete for a championship. The only way to win in the NBA is to have a top 5 player on your roster. If Giannis has even a 5-10% chance of happening, then you have to take that chance unless another star falls on your lap before then. The only way to attract a star in free agency is to have a great team already so that the star feels he can be the missing piece. If the Raptors win 50 games again, even if they lose in the 2nd round, it would still be a desirable outcome for Giannis. More desirable than going to Miami instead? Probably not, but hey, gotta at least try.

[Krylian]

...and if the Raps can land Giannis, or any other really significant piece next off-season? Then I guess this year was a complete waste + they have to seriously consider a blowup and rebuild. You can't win in this league without a superstar...and if no superstar wants to come here, then you need to make your own (unless they trade for one again).

[glory]

...and if the Raps can land Giannis, or any other really significant piece next off-season? Then I guess this year was a complete waste + they have to seriously consider a blowup and rebuild. You can't win in this league without a superstar...and if no superstar wants to come here, then you need to make your own (unless they trade for one again).

 

They'll have a max slot available next off season, plus all their draft picks. Even if Giannis signs elsewhere, they'll have options. If they strike out on everyone, then I don't see them tanking either way unless Masai leaves.

[Dr. Dinger]

...and if the Raps can land Giannis, or any other really significant piece next off-season? Then I guess this year was a complete waste + they have to seriously consider a blowup and rebuild. You can't win in this league without a superstar...and if no superstar wants to come here, then you need to make your own (unless they trade for one again).

 

If Giannis signed a supermax with the Bucks tomorrow Masai would probably finalize a trade for Harden the same day. Dude has contingencies for his contingencies.

[Dr. Dinger]

They'll have a max slot available next off season, plus all their draft picks. Even if Giannis signs elsewhere, they'll have options. If they strike out on everyone, then I don't see them tanking either way unless Masai leaves.

 

Kawhi is another possibility for our max slot next season, especially if things go to s*** in Clipperland. You could do a lot worse than a core of FVV-Siakam-OG on talent-appropriate contracts with max salary cap space flexibility. Most franchises would love to have that kind of agility going forward.

[Krylian]

If Giannis signed a supermax with the Bucks tomorrow Masai would probably finalize a trade for Harden the same day. Dude has contingencies for his contingencies.

 

I don't think Harden is a great fit here, but I hear what you're saying...and I hope you're right. But the Raps have never signed an elite FA from someone else (extended their own guys a few times). It would be very different if they become a major player in the FA market.

[Dr. Dinger]

I don't think Harden is a great fit here, but I hear what you're saying...and I hope you're right. But the Raps have never signed an elite FA from someone else (extended their own guys a few times). It would be very different if they become a major player in the FA market.

 

Talking about what has happened in the past, before Toronto was a huge NBA fanbase, before Masai, before a championship, before a strong core... seems pretty irrelevant in the current context. That’s like Pat Tabler telling me what the Blue Jays all time record against the Yankees is.

[Krylian]

Talking about what has happened in the past, before Toronto was a huge NBA fanbase, before Masai, before a championship, before a strong core... seems pretty irrelevant in the current context. That’s like Pat Tabler telling me what the Blue Jays all time record against the Yankees is.

 

The one thing that hasn't changed is that it's Toronto, Canada. I think that will always play a role.

[Brownie19]

Raps sign Alex Len. We have a new stable of bigs. Edited November 24, 2020 by Brownie19

[Orgfiller]

The one thing that hasn't changed is that it's Toronto, Canada. I think that will always play a role.

 

For what it's worth, if we're talking in the context of Giannis then it's an international player who has played in Milwaukee for the entirety of his NBA career. You have to think Toronto, Canada is less the boogeyman for international stars than it might be for American ones, especially if those stars are coming from small market cities.

[dineke]

I doubt they'll ever sign a big time FA. In the NBA, the only places that attract superstar FAs are California, New York, and Miami. if Harden is available you do everything you can to trade for him.

[Krylian]

For what it's worth, if we're talking in the context of Giannis then it's an international player who has played in Milwaukee for the entirety of his NBA career. You have to think Toronto, Canada is less the boogeyman for international stars than it might be for American ones, especially if those stars are coming from small market cities.

 

You're right. Milwaukee may as well be in Canada. Hopefully that helps. On the other hand, he could be dying to get to one of the big LA, Chicago, NY, Miami markets. We'll find out in less than a year. It will be fascinating to monitor.

[RobinThicc]

Masai is going to pull a Theo Epstein if they miss out on Giannis or another star next year.

[Dick_Pole]

Raptors are in the top half and probably top 10 of desirable free agent locations in the NBA. Not everyone can go to Miami or LA. Most of the team's history has been extreme suckage and once the Raptors started getting good they've had cap space issues for most of that. You can't say they have even tried to attract a top-tier free agent. Kawai and Giannis will be the first two opportunities where there is a legitimate expectation of success for at least one of them.

[Dick_Pole]

KAT discloses that he lost 7 family members due to COVID. Holy s***. Definitely has to be something genetic. I mean, even if there were underlying conditions, to think that there were underlying conditions that aren't related to genetics for 7 family members to die when survival rate is over 99% is a stretch.

[Laika]

KAT discloses that he lost 7 family members due to COVID. Holy s***. Definitely has to be something genetic. I mean, even if there were underlying conditions, to think that there were underlying conditions that aren't related to genetics for 7 family members to die when survival rate is over 99% is a stretch.

 

The original reporter's tweet says "six other family/relations" so I guess it's possible that some of these "relations" are not actually family and are maybe friends or people in his community. I'm not sure why the reporter would write family/relations if it was just six other family members.

[Spanky99]

3 weeks. wow!

[burlingtonbandit]

James Harden not reporting to the Rockets. Looks like they might be forced to trade him. If I'm the Raptors I give up a package around Siakam++ or Lowry++ to get him. A true superstar he would make the Raptors have a legitimate shot in the next couple of seasons.

[connorp]

James Harden not reporting to the Rockets. Looks like they might be forced to trade him. If I'm the Raptors I give up a package around Siakam++ or Lowry++ to get him. A true superstar he would make the Raptors have a legitimate shot in the next couple of seasons.

 

Apparently he broke Covid protocol and went to Lil Baby’s (I didn’t know who that was) bday party at a strip club in Vegas.

Apparently for Baby’s gift, James gave him $100k cash, 200k watch, and a Prada bag. I realize he’s rich but that seems a bit excessive lol

[Abomination]

apparently he broke covid protocol and went to lil baby’s (i didn’t know who that was) bday party at a strip club in vegas.

Apparently for baby’s gift, james gave him $100k cash, 200k watch, and a prada bag. I realize he’s rich but that seems a bit excessive lol

 

a bit???

[Brownie19]

Giannas signs the largest extension in NBA history. Five years, $228.2M

[BTS]

Giannas signs the largest extension in NBA history. Five years, $228.2M

 

Sorry gents.

[Dr. Dinger]

Wellllllllllllllllllllll s***.

[burlingtonbandit]

Time to trade for Harden. Siakam isn't a superstar and I doubt he ever will be. They need a guy like Harden who can create his own shot in the halfcourt.