NBA Thread

[glory]

Yeah, Pascal for Harden is a no brainer.

 

It was worth keeping options open in case Giannis was available, but now that he's not, have to strike when a legit top 5 talent becomes available.

[Spanky99]

Welp...

[burlingtonbandit]

Pascal, Norm and Davis plus 2 first round picks is a pretty good haul for Houston which I think might get it done if Philly isn't trading Simmons. Raptors can withstand the loss of Davis and Norm since you have Lowry, FVV, Flynn Thomas and Harden in the guard spots.

 

You would be super weak in the front court but I'd trust the FO to be able to fill those spots.

[connorp]

Yeah I’d have to say probably best bet for Raps would be trade for Harden. Nobody is coming to “team up” with Lowry. They may for Harden. Thats their only chance of ever getting a Max FA that’s desired by others

Not sure his style of play fits but may be worth a shot

[glory]

The bigger issue for the Raptors with Harden is that he's likely going to a East team, so between that and Giannis staying in Milwaukee, it's going to impact them long term if Harden goes to a team like Miami or Philly or Brooklyn. I doubt the Rockets will get a better player than Siakam in a trade from any of those teams (unless the Sixers offer Simmons). The Raps would be very small with a lineup of Kyle, Fred, Harden, OG, and Baynes, but f*** it. Make the deal and then figure out the lineup afterwards. I'm not sure about the numbers, but trading Siakam+ for Harden might still give the Raptors a max slot next season. Opens up more possibilities for them.

 

It's a long shot, but Masai always thinks big, so can't rule it out.

[burlingtonbandit]

The bigger issue for the Raptors with Harden is that he's likely going to a East team, so between that and Giannis staying in Milwaukee, it's going to impact them long term if Harden goes to a team like Miami or Philly or Brooklyn. I doubt the Rockets will get a better player than Siakam in a trade from any of those teams (unless the Sixers offer Simmons). The Raps would be very small with a lineup of Kyle, Fred, Harden, OG, and Baynes, but f*** it. Make the deal and then figure out the lineup afterwards. I'm not sure about the numbers, but trading Siakam+ for Harden might still give the Raptors a max slot next season. Opens up more possibilities for them.

 

It's a long shot, but Masai always thinks big, so can't rule it out.

 

There is still doubt if Siakam is even a max player tbh..(Him making 2nd team All NBA makes his cap% start at 28% I beleive). They would be super small but could always make a trade later on. Not many chances come up to get a top 5-7 player in the NBA so you do it and figure out the rest later.

 

Free Agency this year now actually looks pretty s*****. You have Kawai, Gobert, Lowry, Oladipo and Derozan.

[Krylian]

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

 

One star down

[dineke]

Pulling a Theo Epstein? He needs to pull another Masai ujiri. Building a contender in large markets that can attract free agents in a sport without a salary cap is easy stuff compared to what Masai has done.

[RobinThicc]

Masai isnt sticking around through this transition phase with the Raptors, just like Theo wasnt with the Cubs.

 

Raps will be fine as long as they keep the rest of the front office.

[Krylian]

I too think there's a better than 50% chance that Masai bolts. He has a big ego and if staying in Toronto impacts his ability to build multiple championship teams then he'll look to go to a market that is more attractive to FAs. I guess we'll see if they can lure any major stars next offseason.

[Orgfiller]

I too think there's a better than 50% chance that Masai bolts. He has a big ego and if staying in Toronto impacts his ability to build multiple championship teams then he'll look to go to a market that is more attractive to FAs. I guess we'll see if they can lure any major stars next offseason.

 

Source?

[Krylian]

Source?

 

Any professional that reaches that level has a massive ego. You don't get to that level without one.

[Spanky99]

Translation, he pulled it out of his ass.

[Krylian]

Translation, he pulled it out of his ass.

 

I guess we'll find out when Masai needs to s*** of get off the pot with respect to his next contract. But if he feels like he can't convince elite level FA's to sign here, I think there's a very real chance that he takes his talents elsewhere.

[Spanky99]

Raptors played like poo in the second half, fugly!

[Abomination]

Ibaka just KO'd Kawhi. Nasty elbow.

[BTS]

Ibaka just KO'd Kawhi. Nasty elbow.

 

I don't pay much attention to basketball, but I was watching this game. Is Jamal Murray really the best Denver can do for support for Jokic? Were they rumoured to be interested in Harden?

[Orgfiller]

I don't pay much attention to basketball, but I was watching this game. Is Jamal Murray really the best Denver can do for support for Jokic? Were they rumoured to be interested in Harden?

 

Murray was absolutely lights out in the playoffs a couple of months ago, although he tends to be a very inconsistent player most of the time. Some games he'll drop 40 points and you'll think he's a true superstar, others he'll put up some stinkers that you wonder if you're watching Demar Derozan at his worst out there. He's still young, Denver hopes he can turn into the star he looked like in this previous playoff run on a full time basis. Denver's got a good team on the whole, they have some high upside players aside from Jamal Murray such as Michael Porter Jr.

[Abomination]

I don't pay much attention to basketball, but I was watching this game. Is Jamal Murray really the best Denver can do for support for Jokic? Were they rumoured to be interested in Harden?

 

Murray's had a terrible start to the season, but he's pretty talented. As Org said, kind of inconsistent. I think he'll probably develop into a star. They definitely could use SOMETHING in addition to help Jokic out.

[Spanky99]

Welp...

[Abomination]

Someone should tell the Clippers that they're supposed to be playing basketball. Wow! Dallas is doing unspeakable things to them.

[Spanky99]

Raps have blown double digit leads late in 2 straight games, no bueno man!

[Abomination]

Raps have blown double digit leads late in 2 straight games, no bueno man!

 

I wasn't worried after the first two games. I'm a little more worried now. They just don't look right.

[Krylian]

I wasn't worried after the first two games. I'm a little more worried now. They just don't look right.

 

They were worse last year than their championship season. They're worse this year than last. They are trending in the wrong direction. I don't see a quick turnaround. And as I've said before, and not many want to believe it, they're not going to land any big stars to help the turnaround.

[Laika]

For the most part this is Siakam based. The org expected/hoped he would trend up and he has done the opposite. Tough to be good when the person you intended to be your centrepiece is not even a real #2 dude.

[P2F]

For the most part this is Siakam based. The org expected/hoped he would trend up and he has done the opposite. Tough to be good when the person you intended to be your centrepiece is not even a real #2 dude.

 

On this note, can anyone with more NBA knowledge and who follows more closely than I do tell me what happened to Siakam's game from roughly the midway point of last season onward? I remember he was considered pretty elite at that time and was certainly trending up, as was just said. Then he just suddenly fell right the f*** off.

 

Was it as simple as the league making adjustments to him and he just not having made sufficient adjustments in response?

[Laika]

I don't have NBA knowledge but to me he used to be elite at creating scoring around the rim due to his explosiveness and length - that was the core of his game. That + okay defender and okay shooter when he had to shoot.

 

It feels like he tried to become a complete player but in the process has just become a master of nothing... He takes too many three point attempts, has lost a ton of confidence and finish at the rim and really just looks indecisive a lot of the time.

 

No idea if the stats support any of this.

[connorp]

East elites seem to be getting better too. Boston.. NJ seems legit too now if those two can be healthy for playoffs.

[burlingtonbandit]

Siakam also looks like he's lost some of his athleticism. He used to score a ton of points by just running the floor hard as well and that seems to be gone. Although he's playing heavy minutes so its probably expected he isn't going to be able to sprint down the floor like he did when he was playing 20-25 min a game.

 

Also seems like a player that when he misses a few shots it gets in his head and he completely loses it.

[43211234]

I don't have NBA knowledge but to me he used to be elite at creating scoring around the rim due to his explosiveness and length - that was the core of his game. That + okay defender and okay shooter when he had to shoot.

 

It feels like he tried to become a complete player but in the process has just become a master of nothing... He takes too many three point attempts, has lost a ton of confidence and finish at the rim and really just looks indecisive a lot of the time.

 

No idea if the stats support any of this.

 

I'm not too into NBA stats but I think they give that picture.

 

He had a .628 TS% in 18-19 which is elite. He cratered down to .554 TS% last season which is just around average. He shot .602% on 2-point attempts in the championship season and .499% last year.

 

I don't know how much is lost athleticism but a significant part of it is the opposition's defence. He used to go to the spin-move well time and time again. Jaylen Brown absolutely owned him in that Boston series. He couldn't get anything going in the half court. He resorted to bricking long 2s.

 

I think he's a bit better than okay on defence though.