NBA (and Raptors) 2023 Offseason - Page 6 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Paulie Walnuts · 09-13-2023, 10:10 AM

By all accounts Porter has been a piece of trash human from high school and prior. His father is a murder as well.

Strange Brew · 09-13-2023, 02:27 PM

The hope was that Porter was on a better path. John Lucas had taken him under his wing and made it his personal goal to work with him and while Porter had a couple of outbursts with the Rockets, there was nothing involving violence.

But this changes everything and I would imagine he won’t play another game for the Rockets. Doubtful he plays anywhere in the league. While the team did sign him to a big contract in the off-season, only one year was guaranteed. So they were well aware of the risks.

bluejays · 09-13-2023, 08:02 PM

I'd take the bet that he will play in the league, based on his numbers. Pro sports in general is willing to turn a blind eye to these guys if they just do training, and put out PR words. He'll be dealt but he'll be back some point next year, mark my words. He's a terrible person from his track record, so I hope the Raps stay clear of him.

Strange Brew · 09-13-2023, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluejays

I'd take the bet that he will play in the league, based on his numbers. Pro sports in general is willing to turn a blind eye to these guys if they just do training, and put out PR words. He'll be dealt but he'll be back some point next year, mark my words. He's a terrible person from his track record, so I hope the Raps stay clear of him.

His numbers are inflated from playing on a bad Rockets team. While i agree, in pro sports we have seen that talent will prevail over character, he might not be talented enough for teams to take a chance.

Before this, I hadn't really thought of Porter as this terrible person or "trash" as one obnoxious poster put it. It seemed to me that that he has trouble controlling his emotions and while he made some bad decisions, he didn't seem to be violent. It also seemed he had a pretty difficult childhood.

But as I said before, this really changes everything. There should be no tolerance for someone who has done something like this. If guilty, he should go to jail and he can rebuild his career doing some honest labor. No reason for the NBA to give him an opportunity.

Reggie Dunlop · 09-19-2023, 10:11 AM

The folks at CapFriendly.com have started a NBA equivalent site: SalarySwish.com.

For you NBA nerds.

octothorp · 09-23-2023, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

The folks at CapFriendly.com have started a NBA equivalent site: SalarySwish.com.

For you NBA nerds.

Looks cool! I mostly use Spotrac, but there are things I don't like about what spotrac includes and excludes in their various projections, so I'll have to compare and see if this does that better.

octothorp · 09-23-2023, 11:14 AM

Seems to be some smoke around Toronto getting involved in the Lillard trade, though it's hard to tell if they're actually making a play for Lillard, or trying to drive up the price for Miami, or get involved as a third team.

It's a little reminiscent of the Kawhi situation, but unlike Kawhi, Lillard has several years remaining on his current contract. I could see the Raptors making an offer that includes OG and GTJ and parts, but I imagine Barnes is still off the table, and Siakam's reluctance to guarantee to sign elsewhere makes him harder to include.

mile · 09-23-2023, 11:23 AM

It's hard to imagine landing Dame without giving up Barnes or Siakam, it'd be incredible if Masai could pull that off.

Maybe something like OG + Dick + filler + picks

The Big Chill · 09-23-2023, 12:02 PM

It would be really exciting to land Dame, but our lack of depth the last few years will make this difficult. We don’t have many pieces we can afford to give up and still have enough support around Dame and Siakam to build a contender.

OG, Dick + makes sense on our side, but not sure if that is a very exciting deal for Portland.

bluejays · 09-23-2023, 02:28 PM

Wasn’t it a few weeks back where there was rumor that Lillard wouldn’t report to a tea like the Raptors? If so, given nothing leaks from the Raps, wonder if this is being floated by Portland to get him to just come back.

bluejays · 09-25-2023, 12:58 PM

Now Michael Grange getting in on the Lillard action. To me, knowing he totally doesn’t want to be here and that he will not be around long term, along with his age, it’s hard to justify the premium it’d cost. Siakam and Dick, sure. But I can’t see it as being that little.

The Big Chill · 09-25-2023, 01:11 PM

If it cost Siakam then I wouldn’t bother. There’s no way we have enough pieces to put around Lillard without Siakam.

bluejays · 09-25-2023, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

If it cost Siakam then I wouldn’t bother. There’s no way we have enough pieces to put around Lillard without Siakam.

That’s fair. The one thing I do wonder about as to why Masai and team appear to be sitting around, is the Giannis possibility after next year. We all know Masai is interested in him and with the possibility now he may opt out after this season I wonder if somehow that’s the ultimate plan.

mile · 09-25-2023, 04:34 PM

https://streamable.com/gb2vg5

Nothing imminent and it’s been quiet, but Raptors are a front-runner for Lillard according to Marc Spears of ESPN, who talked to two high-ranking team executives.

Says Lillard is a pro and would report to Toronto if traded there, but Masai would have to do some work to convince him that Toronto is a good spot. IIRC I think Lillard has talked about wanting to play with OG or Siakam in Portland - he would probably get to play with at least one of them in Toronto.

Kasi · 09-25-2023, 04:47 PM

Lillard would be a bad acquisition for Toronto unless they can get him for peanuts. But if they have to trade two real pieces for a long range shooter on the wrong side of thirty who isn’t a good defender it won’t make their team better in any meaningful way.

Beninho · 09-25-2023, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kasi

Lillard would be a bad acquisition for Toronto unless they can get him for peanuts. But if they have to trade two real pieces for a long range shooter on the wrong side of thirty who isn’t a good defender it won’t make their team better in any meaningful way.

You are right that it depends what the trade is but Lillard just had his best season and is still an incredible player at the peak of his abilities. He is incredibly efficient and would give the raptors a window of two seasons in a league that is incredibly open.

Kasi · 09-25-2023, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beninho

You are right that it depends what the trade is but Lillard just had his best season and is still an incredible player at the peak of his abilities. He is incredibly efficient and would give the raptors a window of two seasons in a league that is incredibly open.

Portland won 33 games. Toronto was hardly good last year either. If they trade much to get him he’s not going to be happy because Toronto will have much the same talent Portland had and they didn’t win squat either. And tbh he’s a guard who isn’t a good defender and in todays NBA that just doesn’t cut it. You basically want to have your unicorns like Tatum or Luka or Jokic or whatever. Big and/or fast guys with special offensive skills who can at least hold their own on D. Then surround them with three point specialists who can defend. Unless you’re Steph (who plays in a very unique system catered to his talents) no guard in the NBA moves the needle much. They’re all just support players. I’d rather have Siakam than him straight up.

Kasi · 09-25-2023, 05:22 PM

Heck even Luka has shown his limitations with how he plays defence despite how otherworldly his offense is. I just doubt any non GS team can win with a guard as lead. And they have Draymond who holds it all together and like no one else can do what he does.

bluejays · 09-25-2023, 07:04 PM

I just don't think Lillard is the gamebreaker the team needs. I say no biggie if Siakam is dealt more or less one for one, because Siakam is a good #3 on any team. Lillard is probably a #2 despite the career highs last year. So a swap may do each guy well. I have a sneaking suspicion the Raps will be the third or fourth team in, and will go for another depth guy like Herro+ but that just a wild guess. Doesn't sound like a two team trade. Again, virtually nothing leaks from the Raps so this has got to be someone else floating the Lillard rumours.

Kasi · 09-26-2023, 10:48 AM

Just look at all the point guards who are number one guys on their team. They all just flamed out in the playoffs or didn’t even get there. Like it’s one thing if you’re Booker who is big enough to guard forwards (and also has Durant on his team) but guys like Fox, Morant, Mitchell, etc didn’t get anywhere. And they won’t because in the playoffs their impact is mitigated.