2018 Off-Season Thread

[CMH]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

Damn MPJ with a second back surgery at his age. He's probably done.

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I expect all NY writers to apologize never.

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[Majingir]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

Masai finished up his press conference here.


-Apologized to DeRozan for what happened. Says that they did speak at summer league and that's where the miscommunication happened. At the time, Raptors were probably 4th on the list of teams who might get Kawhi, so he told DeRozan that "nothing was imminent". He was also talking to DeRozan about what Raptors expect out of him going forward.

-Hasn't spoken with Lowry since the trade (but knows he'll obviously be taking this move hard)

-He's spoken with Kawhi, his agent, and uncle (Masai directly said his uncle) and hasn't gotten any negative vibes from them (so despite all these people out there with their sources, this is first time anyone directly involved has commented on that)

-Kawhi will be doing his physical within the next few days

-Could be more moves on the way (he didn't say anything was gonna happen, but did mention their GM is the one working on that type of stuff)

-Stated things everyone has been saying. If Raptors went into the season with the same roster, wouldn't people be complaining/criticizing them? You can't please everyone. If you don't do something, they'll criticize. If you do something, they'll criticize.

-In his "defensive" comments, he basically said that he did give guys like DeRozan and Casey chances over the past 5 years, and they didn't get the job done, so you can't just expect nothing to happen. He could've come in, gotten a new coach and shipped out players.

[Boltman]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

Isn't Toronto a better fit for an introvert like Kawhi? I mean, despite him (uncle prolly) saying he wants to go to LA.

As much as I want him on the Lakers, I would think Toronto would be an ideal place for a guy like him.

Hell SA was perfect, too bad that whole injury debacle ever took place lol. I don't wanna hear SA fans explaining it all away. I already know what happened, Heh.

[SPTO]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

-Stated things everyone has been saying. If Raptors went into the season with the same roster, wouldn't people be complaining/criticizing them? You can't please everyone. If you don't do something, they'll criticize. If you do something, they'll criticize.

-In his "defensive" comments, he basically said that he did give guys like DeRozan and Casey chances over the past 5 years, and they didn't get the job done, so you can't just expect nothing to happen. He could've come in, gotten a new coach and shipped out players.

I think those two statements were critical. I remember everyone and their mother saying the Raptors needed to make changes but then after this trade a lot of guys (some of whom are here on OS) put the screws on the team and complained about the trade. I think that's mainly to do with how it came about with DeRozan but I read an article by Michael Grange last night and basically this was one of those things where Masai's burning desire to get this team to the Promised Land took precedence over loyalty.

I believe Masai when he says there was miscommunication however it seems DeRozan isn't buying the apology as he posted a facepalm emoji on his instagram. I feel like Masai needs to be more proactive and have a deeper conversation with him when the Raps face San Antonio this season.

One thing i'd like to say about this trade. This is Masai's defining moment and will make or break his tenure in this city. In many ways this is his equivalent of Pat Gillick's McGriff/Fernandez to SD for Alomar/Carter trade or Cliff Fletcher's Sundin trade. Thing is, Masai's gamble is the biggest in Toronto sports history and there's a LOT on the line.

[georgiafan]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

so after it all shook out the 76ers traded Justin Anderson, Holmes and TLC for Muscala and cash. They also cleared up a roster spot for Jonah Bolden..... They might want to hire a GM because that doesn't make sense to me and they still have Bayless on the roster with no extra players to trade him with and are maxed out on the cap.

[ehh]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

so after it all shook out the 76ers traded Justin Anderson, Holmes and TLC for Muscala and cash. They also cleared up a roster spot for Jonah Bolden..... They might want to hire a GM because that doesn't make sense to me and they still have Bayless on the roster with no extra players to trade him with and are maxed out on the cap.

Supposedly there's a trade for Korver in the works.

[georgiafan]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

Supposedly there's a trade for Korver in the works.

I saw that and I guess Bayless for Korver and a 2nd will get that done it just seems like they lost 3 solid young bench guys with no much in return.

[King_B_Mack]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

Yogi Ferrell ends up agreeing to a deal with the Kings.


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[ehh]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

I saw that and I guess Bayless for Korver and a 2nd will get that done it just seems like they lost 3 solid young bench guys with no much in return.

Agreed. My buddy who's a Sixers fan is not pleased with their offseason. They're really jettisoning their depth.

[l3ulvl]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

I saw that and I guess Bayless for Korver and a 2nd will get that done it just seems like they lost 3 solid young bench guys with no much in return.

Made me wonder if Korver and Redick had ever played on the same team before, looked it up and totally forgot Korver started out with the Sixers back in the Iverson days.


Also, apparently Redick and Korver have sons the same age named Knox

[Majingir]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

I think those two statements were critical. I remember everyone and their mother saying the Raptors needed to make changes but then after this trade a lot of guys (some of whom are here on OS) put the screws on the team and complained about the trade. I think that's mainly to do with how it came about with DeRozan but I read an article by Michael Grange last night and basically this was one of those things where Masai's burning desire to get this team to the Promised Land took precedence over loyalty.

I believe Masai when he says there was miscommunication however it seems DeRozan isn't buying the apology as he posted a facepalm emoji on his instagram. I feel like Masai needs to be more proactive and have a deeper conversation with him when the Raps face San Antonio this season.

One thing i'd like to say about this trade. This is Masai's defining moment and will make or break his tenure in this city. In many ways this is his equivalent of Pat Gillick's McGriff/Fernandez to SD for Alomar/Carter trade or Cliff Fletcher's Sundin trade. Thing is, Masai's gamble is the biggest in Toronto sports history and there's a LOT on the line.

Masai said they'd honour DeRozan in the highest way possible...as long as he(Masai) is still here. So I'm sure even he knows that this is an all or nothing move. If it works out, you're a genius and people will be like "Was there ever any doubt? He knew what he was doing the whole time!". And if it fails, people will be like "He's an idiot. He traded away the face of the franchise and look how that ended up.".

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

Masai finished up his press conference here.


-Apologized to DeRozan for what happened. Says that they did speak at summer league and that's where the miscommunication happened. At the time, Raptors were probably 4th on the list of teams who might get Kawhi, so he told DeRozan that "nothing was imminent". He was also talking to DeRozan about what Raptors expect out of him going forward.

I feel like this could’ve been easily avoided from the beginning. Or am I being naive, here?

[Speedy]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

Damn MPJ with a second back surgery at his age. He's probably done.

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I rescind my objection to Charlotte not drafting him now.

Back surgeries seem to always have lingering issues, lots of times requiring follow-up surgeries.

I hate it for the kid...barely got the chance to watch him at his potential.

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[SPTO]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

I feel like this could’ve been easily avoided from the beginning. Or am I being naive, here?

There's been some reporting and speculation in the Toronto media that there was definitely some kind of communication gap but that Masai didn't outright say "you're not being traded." Except DeRozan took it that way. In fact, the day of the trade when they had Tim Bontemps (Washington Post) on the radio he was saying how he was talking to DeRozan's people about what was going on and saying how he was pretty sure DeRozan is being traded but DeMar's people kept saying "Nah, it's not gonna happen" and Bontemps was all "Look guys, it's going to happen.".

I get the sense that DeRozan's people may have been too entrenched in their thinking that it would never happen and when it did well, they got slapped with a large dose of reality.

[Majingir]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

There's been some reporting and speculation in the Toronto media that there was definitely some kind of communication gap but that Masai didn't outright say "you're not being traded." Except DeRozan took it that way. In fact, the day of the trade when they had Tim Bontemps (Washington Post) on the radio he was saying how he was talking to DeRozan's people about what was going on and saying how he was pretty sure DeRozan is being traded but DeMar's people kept saying "Nah, it's not gonna happen" and Bontemps was all "Look guys, it's going to happen.".

I get the sense that DeRozan's people may have been too entrenched in their thinking that it would never happen and when it did well, they got slapped with a large dose of reality.

And this is the story the media wants to run with. His press conference was 20 minutes or so, and the only headline I seem to see is the one about Masai apologizing to DeRozan.

They don't want to focus on anything else, or acknowledge the fact that the team if they kept DeRozan wasn't gonna be dramatically different. From a personal point of view DeRozan probably does have some reason to be mad, but from a basketball point of view, does he honestly believe he did everything he possibly could to justify sticking around based on how the team has done in the playoffs for 5 years?


And lets say DeRozan was here for those remaining 2 guaranteed years. He'd opt out in that 3rd year to get more money. So Raptors would have to pay a 30+ year old guy over 30M a year for 5 years. If they didn't, then there'd be the whole "Raptors could've kept DeRozan but they're not loyal" stuff anyways.