2019-20 Raptors and General NBA Thread

[Senator Clay Davis]

The annual night where Knicks fans hopes get crushed went as expected, they'll be picking 8th. Warriors tanking strategy this year pays off handsomely as they move up to #2. I imagine we'll be hearing lots of #2 Pick + Wiggins + More Picks for Giannis rumours.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

The annual night where Knicks fans hopes get crushed went as expected, they'll be picking 8th. Warriors tanking strategy this year pays off handsomely as they move up to #2. I imagine we'll be hearing lots of #2 Pick + Wiggins + More Picks for Giannis rumours.

Seems like a lot for one year of Giannis (though I absolutely despise Wiggins). Would the last team holding him have some extra cap space to sign him? I really hope Masai and crew can get the guy in a year.

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by fleury

Seems like a lot for one year of Giannis (though I absolutely despise Wiggins). Would the last team holding him have some extra cap space to sign him? I really hope Masai and crew can get the guy in a year.

Yeah, it would essentially be like Toronto and Leonard last summer: even though they were over the cap, they could still offer Leonard a max contract. As well, the team that he was on before reaching free agency can offer a player a five-year contract rather than the regular 4.

But we'll have a good idea this summer (or fall, I guess) whether there's even a chance, because Milwaukee's best chance of keeping him is signing him to a supermax extension, which they can only do when he still has one year left on his current contract. If he doesn't take the supermax this offseason, then he's probably prioritizing location (and maybe winning) over paycheque.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by fleury

Seems like a lot for one year of Giannis (though I absolutely despise Wiggins). Would the last team holding him have some extra cap space to sign him? I really hope Masai and crew can get the guy in a year.

Wiggins has negative value right now and this is an extremely weak draft

Lots of teams would beat this offer depending on the “plus” GS would need to include - minimum 2021 first rounder

[Senator Clay Davis]

It's a weak draft after the first three guys, good thing for Golden State they got the #2 pick. And I'm not sure anyone can beat Golden State if he's only willing to sign with the Warriors long term. We'll see if he signs the supermax this offseason or not.

As for the Raps, a very professional series so far, they certainly look ready to defend the title.

[activeStick]

Raps have posted 115 today already with a minute left in the game. Killer instinct to not sit back and let the Nets get a win under their belt. This team is focused and approaching things absolutely the right way. Take note Flames on how it's done.

[keenan87]

Great win! Hopefully they can end it on Sunday.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

I'm just blown away by the style of basketball they play. It's fluid, smooth, energetic, and composed. There's no panic in their game and they just dismantle their opponents with strong defense, intelligent plays, cohesive teamwork, and hustle. One of the elite teams without a true superstar. Kinda reminds me of the 04 Pistons with Chauncey Billups leading them.

[Enoch Root]

Good point Cali.

I would add: really well coached, pretty fun style of play to watch, and a group of guys that are pretty easy to root for (in a league with some world class doosh-sters)

[Jiri Hrdina]

I think the “Can the Raps repeat” without Leonard storyline is the most compelling one in sports today. The team has reignited my love of basketball

[Strange Brew]

The NBA playoffs this year are one of the most compelling and competitive sports tournaments in some time. The 8 teams in the next round are all going to believe they have a legitimate shot at winning the championship. And some of the matchups in the first round, like Lakers/Blazers are incredibly interesting.

Seems like only yesterday so many were complaining about the league not being competitive and the champion was a foregone conclusion. The super teams like the Heat and Warriors were great no doubt, but less dominant than great Laker, Celtic and Bulls teams of the past.

It is a league of great players and great teams right now.

[GirlySports]

Nick Nurse just won coach of the year, Lowry and VanFleet presented it as a surprise on TNT.

[bluejays]

Pretty neat that Toronto appears to have the best management in the NBA, and maybe beyond that into other sports. Masai and Webster scout well and make solid moves almost every time, and the players want to play here and show good enthusiasm. That's on the system and the attitude from the coach, so it's pretty amazing to see how everything has changed from the championship season.

[chummer]

Originally Posted by girlysports

nick nurse just won coach of the year, lowry and vanfleet presented it as a surprise on tnt.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1297277772369473536

[octothorp]

And Philly is the first team eliminated, with barely a whimper. Hard to tell where they go from here... they're capped out, have max contracts to Harris and Horford for 3 and 2 years, respectively. Embiid looks unhappy. He doesn't project to have a long career. Simmons has some incredible talents, but also incredible weaknesses that make him difficult to build around, and his max contract kicks in this year. Maybe the Simmons injury gives Brett Brown a bit of cover but I think he's going to get fired this offseason. Hell, Brand's job might be in danger as well, but I can't see any good GM wanting to take up a project like Philly where they're capped out for the long-term.

I think they were one of the teams most affected by the bubble, even aside from Simmons injury. In the regular season they had one of the biggest home/road differentials of any NBA team, ever: amazing at home, crap on the road. I heard some pundits saying that without travel, they could get comfortable in the bubble and play like they were all home games, but it seemed all along that the opposite was just as likely, if not moreso.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Brown will get fired precisely because they really don't have any other moves to shake up the team. But he also should be fired, there's too much talent there for them to be an also ran, no doubt a better coach gets more out of that team. The Sixers will be hoping for some buyout relief from the NBA with COVID, might be their only shot to improve the team.

[Beninho]

My heart isn’t ready for a series vs Boston but I like the raptors chances

[Senator Clay Davis]

The thing is the pressure is all on Boston. As strange as it is to say for the defending champs the Raps are playing with house money, as fans we're thrilled they're even legit contenders after losing Kawhi. And speaking of Kawhi, wonder if he wishes he stayed and left the GM'ing to Masai. Paul George has been a disaster so far in the playoffs.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

The mavs have done an excellent job getting back into a game that they trailed by 21, with no Porzingis and Luka playing on a hurt ankle. But watching these games the past couple of days, and how close they are, it really makes it very depressingly obvious how much these games are decided by officiating, and usually missed foul calls or incorrect foul calls. It's so bad it's almost random.

[Beninho]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

The thing is the pressure is all on Boston. As strange as it is to say for the defending champs the Raps are playing with house money, as fans we're thrilled they're even legit contenders after losing Kawhi. And speaking of Kawhi, wonder if he wishes he stayed and left the GM'ing to Masai. Paul George has been a disaster so far in the playoffs.

PG only with 7 pts, I didn’t think he would be this poor