2018 Off-Season Thread

[BluFu]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

You see, Blue is just living in 2030 where he already knows this is part 1 of the rebuild that leads to a 2029 championship.

eh there's some risk but it's the risk you probably take every time. This was a no brainier. You knew what TOR was now you get a top 5 player around a good team for a season. He leaves tho you probably rebuilding the next year. That's the risk.

Thing is though, the front office was surely going to rebuild that year anyway and I think people are missing that part. Management can't endorse a team costing the luxury tax that can't make noise in the posteseason so next year was going to be the decisive one in terms of direction for the franchise. Lowry/Ibaka/JV would be on expiring deals by then which is the best time to flip players of their caliber for mid level assets to a team looking to compete.

Raps simply get a better shot at a deep run in the final season with their main core. If Kawhi doesn't stay, oh well. At least you got under the luxury tax by not having to pay a high usage non-superstar 80M+ over the next 3 seasons (when you would probably be looking to rebuild by the 2nd season). If he does stay..

[SPTO]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

Tim Bontemps of the Washington Post who FIRST reported that a deal was going to happen was uber excited about this trade and thinks it's a slam dunk swing for the fences move for the Raptors.

Actually, a lot of the US media guys who were on Prime Time Sports this evening (the flagship show of SN590) were all very positive on the deal. The only people who were overly negative were Richard Dietsch (who is a co-host) and Michael Grange who is one of the Raptors beat reporters.

We'll see how things go but this is one helluva saga. There are also some people saying if Kawhi indeed plays here this year there will be more Raptors games on ESPN/TNT.

[Majingir]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

Tim Bontemps of the Washington Post who FIRST reported that a deal was going to happen was uber excited about this trade and thinks it's a slam dunk swing for the fences move for the Raptors.

Actually, a lot of the US media guys who were on Prime Time Sports this evening (the flagship show of SN590) were all very positive on the deal. The only people who were overly negative were Richard Dietsch (who is a co-host) and Michael Grange who is one of the Raptors beat reporters.

We'll see how things go but this is one helluva saga. There are also some people saying if Kawhi indeed plays here this year there will be more Raptors games on ESPN/TNT.

Grange seems to be most upset from the emotional perspective since he's been around the team for most(if not all) their existence. And of course knowing DeRozan more than he has gotten to know any other athlete in his life.



DeRozan really was the guy you believed could be "the one" in this city. The one who actually retires a member of this team. Look at all sports, how many guys retire in this city? Halladay,Alomar,Sundin,Carter,Bosh and so many more all moved on(either by choice, or other reasons). DeRozan staying would've been special for the city as a whole, not just from basketball perspective.


However, it HAD to be done. How many "DeFrozen" jokes have been made over the years about him in the playoffs? It seems like many(just people in general,not specifying anyone on here) who laughed at him and Caseys coaching are the same ones bashing Raptors for moving on from those guys.


One interesting thing I heard though was from Chris Haynes. He was the one saying Kawhi has no desire to play here. I heard an interview with him and he seemed to clarify that. Sounds more like Kawhi will show up, be professional and do his job, but what happens beyond 18/19 season is anyone's guess, but of course leaning towards something like LA.



This whole "___ hates cold weather" narrative is getting annoying, not talking specifically Toronto, but seems like guys would rather southern markets regardless of conference, simply because of weather. It snows, big deal. You guys are in ubers or limos or fancy cars in underground parking, while living in expensive houses with heating bills which mean nothing to you, while you don't even pick up a shovel. Who cares if it's cold? October,April,May,June are all good weather for the most part. And it doesn't snow every day, many times not even every week.

[AdamJones113]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

A few (most non-original) thoughts, as a Torontonian, a basketball fan, and a guy who's working at TSN this summer.

It sucks to lose DeMar. It really does, because he was the face of the franchise and the guy who stayed and the guy who tried and the guy who wanted to win. Sadly, he collapsed in this year's iteration of the LeBron exodus. Benched by the end of game 3 and getting ejected to end game 4. Not fair that that's how he has to go out—it's less poignant, months after the fact, than Zidane walking past the World Cup trophy, but it's a microcosm commensurate to how irrelevant the Raptors were between the Bosh and DeRozan stardoms.

I'm happy with the bare bones of the trade. I'm happy not to have given up OG or Siakam (I thought one would certainly be gone) and a top-20 protected first is pretty solid. We'll likely send that pick out. Our late-1st round picks have been fantastic—so much so that I'm happier to retain the 27th pick over that same year's 9th, Poeltl. We'll need the length and quickness to match up with Boston, which I think is, barring injury or chemistry issues, still the number 1 team in the East, especially since we don't know how Kawhi is playing. Kawhi gives us a higher ceiling if he tries, and getting Danny Green is nice for this year. Books look clearer in the long run, and we keep FVV/OG/Siakam too, if the expected happens and he heads West.

Pretty split in the office. It happened crazy early, so it dominated (until Machado was finalized). Least busy day of the year in terms of actual games, and this happens? Great for news.

[MaximumChaos84]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

My ? Is Demar a All Star in the blood bath they call the Western Conference?

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[Majingir]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

All this talk about loyalty, and having so many players chiming in on what's gone on, acting like this is such a shocking thing to see a team treat things like a business, maybe in the next CBA, if guys have such a big issue with it, why not push for no trade clauses? If a guy wants that as an incentive in his deal, then get it added in.

And I find it funny how some guys are ripping Raptors about loyalty, when we've literally seen big player after player after player going to different teams the past 2 years alone, and guys teaming up and planning out things months if not years in advance to play together. Or guys staying in a city long term because they offered the max/supermax. That's loyalty? But if a team does something to get better, they're the bad guys?

My ? Is Demar a All Star in the blood bath they call the Western Conference?

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Based on last years selections, you have Durant,Davis,George,Westbrook,Aldridge,Green,Thomp son,Curry,Harden,Towns,Lillard as guys representing the West. On that list, MAYBE DeRozan gets in over Lillard, but that's about it.

[superjames1992]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

I like the Kawhi trade. I'm not a big DeRozan fan, but he's better than a Kawhi Leonard who was liable to fake an injury next season, or at least be useless as he pouts on his way to LA. And Poeltl is a promising young center who could be a reliable starter for years to come with a little more polishing. Danny Green is on the decline, so I'm okay with losing him. And the Spurs sent Kawhi about as far away from LA as they could have. Love it!

[Smallville102001]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

lol, after all these rumors, just watch Kawhi appear in Toronto in a few days and Masai announces they've signed him to an extension.

lol that would be something

This dude is warming up to fulfilling his contractual obligations lol. Uncle Dennis is a trip.

I really do hope this ends up like PG. I don't believe it but I need it. Lakers fans have had too much already.

Why do you say that? Just because lakers have won a lot of championships in there history? They have had a lot of bad luck ever sinces they didn't get CP3.

So on the Kawhi sit-out topic, the ramifications of said action is as follows;

1st, the Raptors can fine him for every game and practice he misses “up to his $20.1 million salary.”

2nd, according to the CBA “any player who withholds playing services called for by a Player Contract for more than 30 days after the start of the last season covered by his player contract shall be deemed not have completed his player contract by rendering the playing services called for thereunder.

Accordingly, such a player shall not be a veteran free agent and shall not be entitled to negotiate or sign a player contract with another professional basketball team unless and until the team for which the player last played expressly agrees otherwise.”


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Interesting I new there had to be something because you cant just refuse to work and get paid any way with a job with out there being a good reason.

[CMH]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

Based on last years selections, you have Durant,Davis,George,Westbrook,Aldridge,Green,Thomp son,Curry,Harden,Towns,Lillard as guys representing the West. On that list, MAYBE DeRozan gets in over Lillard, but that's about it.

I'm sending this to Lillard. Watch.

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[georgiafan]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

My ? Is Demar a All Star in the blood bath they call the Western Conference?

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I don't think so

[turty11]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

maybe he can edge out butler or klay but its almost a lock that harden/curry/westbrook are in the ASG unless one is hurt so hes going to be fighting for that last G/F slot against the likes of butler/klay/dame/booker/cp3/jrue/mitchell and more.. its gonna be tough for him to make it, and some really deserving guys are gonna get snubbed. it needs to be 15 guys per conference really.


Oh man, were gonna have lebron with steph and KD for the ASG..how did i overlook such a thing.

[jeremym480]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

maybe he can edge out butler or klay but its almost a lock that harden/curry/westbrook are in the ASG unless one is hurt so hes going to be fighting for that last G/F slot against the likes of butler/klay/dame/booker/cp3/jrue/mitchell and more.. its gonna be tough for him to make it, and some really deserving guys are gonna get snubbed. it needs to be 15 guys per conference really.


Oh man, were gonna have lebron with steph and KD for the ASG..how did i overlook such a thing.

If they're keeping the All-Star draft from last season then we really don't know who will be playing with who.

[turty11]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

If they're keeping the All-Star draft from last season then we really don't know who will be playing with who.

oh.. i knew that totally slipped my mind.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

This whole "___ hates cold weather" narrative is getting annoying, not talking specifically Toronto, but seems like guys would rather southern markets regardless of conference, simply because of weather. It snows, big deal. You guys are in ubers or limos or fancy cars in underground parking, while living in expensive houses with heating bills which mean nothing to you, while you don't even pick up a shovel. Who cares if it's cold? October,April,May,June are all good weather for the most part. And it doesn't snow every day, many times not even every week.

This is hilarious, how did y’all let this slide?

Lol we(Black Folk)don’t like the cold, Maj. That may be a weird concept to you, but that’s how we are. It’s not a narrative if it’s true but don’t get upset because people like to be comfortable without having to deal with extreme cold.

It’s like getting mad at someone for choosing to live in California instead of Alaska.




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[DieHardYankee26]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

This is hilarious, how did y’all let this slide?

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Dude is in ultimate Raptors defense mode, talking about people getting mad at them about loyalty and asking what about when players do it like we didn't go through the entire KD saga and people don't still make "I'm taking my talents to ____" jokes. He's not in his right mind right now.