2022-2023 Toronto Raptors/NBA season thread

[bluejays]

Just seeing both deals. Phoenix really went all in in that Durant deal. Brooklyn should have some good pieces to build with. End of an era getting rid of three crybabies.

As for Poetl, it doesn’t look like next years pick dealt is lottery protected and that’s a bit concerning to me. Suddenly tells me the Raps may be deciding to retool instead. Poetl is just solid, but won’t be moving the dial. It’s a position scarcity deal so I can’t complain much. I wonder what Masai and co are thinking, because they were seemingly seeking a centre bigtime recently? Regardless, if they deal OG they should be a haul considering the deal Brooklyn just got. I really think they need to do that (sell high) on him, FVV, and turn the page on GTJ.

[savemedrzaius]

Poetl the Turtle and Spicy P reunited is awesome. Those guys had a major bromance if I recall correctly. I remember there being tons of hilarious videos with the two of them.

[The Big Chill]

Poeltl should help us get some balance back in this only lineup. There must be some subsequent moves coming though because Poeltl, FVV, and GTJ are all FAs this summer and I don’t think we will be able to afford all of them.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Wow. I fall asleep earlier that usual and KD gets traded to Phoenix. Moral of the story: get good rest, wake up to a crazy trade

[Tsawwassen]

Originally Posted by savemedrzaius

Did anyone else find it weird how they completely stopped the game right in the middle and had a huge ceremony?!?

I understand it's a huge accomplishment but I just expected a stoppage of play and a standing ovation. But to conduct an interview on the court with like 20 seconds left in the 3rd was just so strange.

It could be a curse towards the team for doing that. The LA Kings on March 23, 1994 did stop the game when Gretzky scored his 802nd career goal to pass Gordie Howe. The Kings went on to lose the game against the Canucks. The Lakers followed the same fate as the Kings did by losing. The Kings did not make the playoffs that year and the Lakers playoff chances hang in the balance for this season.

[undercoverbrother]

Went to my first NBA game last night.

Raptors v Spurs

We were in a box, so it was hard to get a feel for the crowd, but it was a fun event which seemed pretty well attended.

[aaronck]

Originally Posted by bluejays

Just seeing both deals. Phoenix really went all in in that Durant deal. Brooklyn should have some good pieces to build with. End of an era getting rid of three crybabies.

As for Poetl, it doesn’t look like next years pick dealt is lottery protected and that’s a bit concerning to me. Suddenly tells me the Raps may be deciding to retool instead. Poetl is just solid, but won’t be moving the dial. It’s a position scarcity deal so I can’t complain much. I wonder what Masai and co are thinking, because they were seemingly seeking a centre bigtime recently? Regardless, if they deal OG they should be a haul considering the deal Brooklyn just got. I really think they need to do that (sell high) on him, FVV, and turn the page on GTJ.

Something I read last night is that Houston has the option to trade first round picks with Brooklyn in each(!) of the next 5 years, I assume because of the Harden trade. They can't even rebuild if that's the case, as Houston would reap the rewards of all the losing. I like basketball, but the front office stuff is totally beyond me

[octothorp]

Gotta admit I feel for Nets fans. Back in 2019 were this fun group of fans with low expectations, who had a really promising young team and a great coach. Then the whole Irving/Durant/Harden sequence of events forces all these massive changes that bring in a bunch of player-fans who don't actually care about the team, gives them crazy high expectations, constant drama, multiple players who are highly unlikeable, and then suddenly blows up and leaves them probably worse off than they were before it started, with a lot of organizational embarassment. Can't imagine what that's like to go through as a fan.

As far as the Poeltl trade I'm a big fan of it. I know there are concerns about spacing, but I think in the modern NBA, fans have gotten used to thinking that 3-point-shooting is the only form of spacing, but a smart bigman who sets fantastic screens, has good hands and a soft touch around the hoop, and an excellent floater... that will create its own spacing.

I assume the plan here is that an OG trade still happens and refills the asset cupboard, but there's also a scenario where they make a minor move (Boucher for an expiring PG) and try to keep the rest of the roster together. I'd prefer the OG trade route... I can't imagine the value will ever be higher.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Irving and Durant came praising the young players and Kenny Atkinson. In short order they got Atkinson canned and those promising young players traded for Harden and Irving quits on the team, Harden wants out because of Irving and Steve Nash gets punted from his first coaching job because of these ego maniacs.

Now Irving says he wishes he did his research on the front office.

Hilarious how these two scum leave two of the best front offices in the NBA because of their egos and ruin that franchise and blame it on the GM.

I hope Durant and Irving never win a ring.

[bluejays]

Less than an hour to go. I’m a bit concerned as all has been quiet and yesterdays but of Poetl May be an indicator they’ll consider the direction of the team in the off-season. Hope that’s not the case as OG will never have a higher value, but if the prices aren’t good enough I also don’t blame them for waiting until off-season where there’s more salary flexibility. Wait and see, but it’s not looking like much movement.

[Hockey_Ninja]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1623775643807674369

[mile]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1623777965464260608

https://twitter.com/user/status/1623776451651686401

[mile]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1623775622492471296

[The Big Chill]

I’m surprised we didn’t do anything else, but at least we’ll get to see how this team does with a real C. At the very least it should push everybody back into their best roles and allow us to reduce everybody’s minutes.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Absolutely my favorite part of this trade deadline, just because lol at five second round picks

https://twitter.com/user/status/1623728860301852672

https://twitter.com/user/status/1623758045141426178

https://twitter.com/user/status/1623771299737702401

[octothorp]

Disappointed we didn't see another trade, but at the same time based on what it sounds like was out there, it doesn't sound like there was any trades the Raptors should have taken.

I'm most interested in seeing if the mood around the team changes. Definitely feels like there have been negative vibes around this season since that first losing streak.

[devo22]

you get 5 second round picks, and you get 5 second round picks ... it's like playing 2K and adding junk to the trade proposal to make the computer accept.

[bluejays]

Oh I think the mood definitely gets worse. Some of these guys expected to get dealt. Their names were openly out there enough where the management were exploring possibilities. I’m sure some were hoping to go. I like that Masai sticks to his guns and acts for the interest of the team.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Pascal a reserve replacement when he should’ve been on the team in the first place

https://twitter.com/user/status/1624107381528436739

[savemedrzaius]

I didn't know Poetl sucked so much at free throws. I hate big men that can't hit free throws. Kind of defeats one of the advantages of having a big guy down low. I can't believe they lost that game. FVV looks washed. Hoping he can turn it around but he's killing this team.