Toronto Raptors 2012/2013 season

[St. Pats]

The rumored deal is a three way with Minny, Lakers and the Raps.

To Toronto : Dwill and Pek
To Minny : Gasol
To Lakers: Jose and Bargnani

Also Ebanks and Kleiza might be tossed into the deal and Roy for salary purposes. Lot's of little side rumours.

Straight up the deal even makes sense for the Raps. They would have a huge expiring going into 2014 when Wiggins is available. Likely in a year where they would also trade Lowry for added picks and do a real rebuild.

This rumour has been around for awhile and now it's being confirmed that both Minny and the Raps are involved. Gasol isn't a fit for Dantoni and I'm thinking some version of this deal will go down.

[The Big Chill]

Sounds pretty good to me.

[St. Pats]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Any trade involving Gasol and Bargnani/Calderon will almost certainly involve a third team. The Raptors won't take on Gasol because if you think he's unmotivated in LA, what exactly would he be in Toronto? A third team, likely a contender or something close, will be involved. Also apparently Gasol will not be traded until Nash gets some time to play with him, which the Lakers are said to have promised Nash.

That promise took place before the Howard deal. Deal makes sense for the Lakers at least on offense. AB can just sit at the 3pt line and Nash can wheel and deal and have him as an option. Jose can come in and spell the old guy and toss the ball into Howard. With Howard back there on D then AB ain't the liability he is in TO.

[moon]

Originally Posted by St. Pats

The rumored deal is a three way with Minny, Lakers and the Raps.

To Toronto : Dwill and Pek
To Minny : Gasol
To Lakers: Jose and Bargnani

That deal makes a lot more sense for the Raptors but still seems like a bad deal for the Lakers.

[moon]

Originally Posted by St. Pats

That promise took place before the Howard deal. Deal makes sense for the Lakers at least on offense. AB can just sit at the 3pt line and Nash can wheel and deal and have him as an option. Jose can come in and spell the old guy and toss the ball into Howard. With Howard back there on D then AB ain't the liability he is in TO.

So now Howard will cover for bad defense for Nash, Kobe and Bargnani and likely mediocre d from whoever is playing the 3 spot? I know he is a good defender and D'Antoni doesn't care about d but that seems like a recipe for disaster and post-season flame outs.

You would think there are better options out there to sit at the 3 point line than AB if they are giving up Gasol.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by St. Pats

The rumored deal is a three way with Minny, Lakers and the Raps.

To Toronto : Dwill and Pek
To Minny : Gasol
To Lakers: Jose and Bargnani

Also Ebanks and Kleiza might be tossed into the deal and Roy for salary purposes. Lot's of little side rumours.

Straight up the deal even makes sense for the Raps. They would have a huge expiring going into 2014 when Wiggins is available. Likely in a year where they would also trade Lowry for added picks and do a real rebuild.

This rumour has been around for awhile and now it's being confirmed that both Minny and the Raps are involved. Gasol isn't a fit for Dantoni and I'm thinking some version of this deal will go down.

Wow, if the Raps pulled off this trade it might save BC's job. Williams has been a disappointment but I think that has more to do with fit than anything, but Pekovic is supremely underrated, might be the most underrated big man in the league. Him and Valanciunas would be a great front line, would make attacking the basket very difficult.

[octothorp]

I do like the Minnesota rumours a lot more than Gasol, straight up. I find it hard to believe that the Raptors could turn Bargnani and Calderon into a 12pts, 8rbs center, plus a young, high upside SF. If Colangelo can make that happen, I'd be impressed.

Has this rumour actually been reported by any media sources? I've only seen it as an idea floated on forums.

In any trade directly with the Lakers, I'd really like to get Darius Morris back; I think he's got tremendous upside, and the Raptors could certainly use a PG prospect who can defend and create for his teammates.

[bluejays]

I personally don't like the Gasol alone deal. The Minnesota deal is fine to me because if either of those pieces don't work, there'll be a solid market for them. I know what others here are suddenly saying about tanking for 2 seasons for Wiggins, but I truly believe it's too late for that. They've been rebuilding too long. Tanking this season is one thing, but tanking more than that is absolutely too long. Bargnani's been throwing bricks this year simply because he's looking down while shooting. Once he straightens that out he'll score again. He's a solid piece on a team with 2 scorers ahead of him. Dumping him for nothing is counterproductive. If him and Calderon are packaged in some way, they better get back a 1st rounder.

[St. Pats]

Originally Posted by octothorp

I do like the Minnesota rumours a lot more than Gasol, straight up. I find it hard to believe that the Raptors could turn Bargnani and Calderon into a 12pts, 8rbs center, plus a young, high upside SF. If Colangelo can make that happen, I'd be impressed.

Has this rumour actually been reported by any media sources? I've only seen it as an idea floated on forums.

In any trade directly with the Lakers, I'd really like to get Darius Morris back; I think he's got tremendous upside, and the Raptors could certainly use a PG prospect who can defend and create for his teammates.

The only real confirmed thing is that Raptors and Minny have talked with the Lakers. But for Minny the possibility of getting Gasol without a third team involved seems remote. Pek and Dwill who are always the pieces mentioned if they are dealing aren't of interest to the Lakers. Bargnani and Calderon fit their needs to a tee.

Gasol teamed with Love and Rubio works for them.

Pek and Dwill would work for the Raps.

3 way deal makes sense. Straight up Raps with Lakers makes some sense though I personally don't like it. Minny with the Lakers can't see it happening.

But the 3 way makes too much sense. So therefore you have to figure BC will do a JO move and bring Gasol in. IF he does dump those two bozos and gets the two from Minny he will keep his job. Even if Pek is so so and Dwill is a bust.

[octothorp]

Looks like JV is out of the starting lineup in favour of Amir. I think it's the right thing in terms of his development, through predictably there's a lot of outrage from some fans. It feels like he's hit a bit of a wall lately, and some success against backups would be good for him, rather than battling the best centres in the league for the first 10 minutes every night. I would expect Davis and Valanciunas together to really provide a spark for the second unit.

edit: I got ahead of myself. Turns out this was media speculation based on Casey's quotes, and JV will infact be starting tonight against the Jazz.

[killer_carlson]

They got destroyed tonight, again. Didnt see the game, but im not sure i need to when the opponents score 130 points.

Defence? Anyone seeing it?

[Hockey_Ninja]

I watched a bit of the first half. From what i saw the defense didn't look out of place, it must have collapsed once i turned it off.

[moon]

I watched most of the 3rd quarter when the collapse happened and it seemed like a team effort with two guys going really late to one guy leaving Jazz guys wide open and the middle of the court around the basket basically free reign for the Jazz as well.

I know Lowry is supposed to be a hard-nosed, tough guy that doesn't like losing but his "frustration" stupidity is getting a little tiresome. The dumb T and then shaking his head at teammates on defense isn't making things any better for the team. He needs to stop that as a guy that could be a leader and big part of this team.

[TurnedTheCorner]

I am still waiting for Stern to fine the Raptors. Precedent has been set.

Tim Chisholm on TSN dropped this gem in an article the other day:

"All of this has put Toronto into panic mode, with ESPN.com reporting that Bryan Colangelo has already put in a call to the L.A. Lakers to see if he can pry Pau Gasol away before Toronto's season becomes a complete write-off."

Spoiler - the season is already done. This team is so bad it might not win 10 games.

[killer_carlson]

The raptors are easily scouted.

Penetrate off the wings for a good shot.
If - and it is a big IF - the defence rotates, pass once for a good scoring chance.
One out of ten you will need a second pass, but at that point it should be to a wide open and undefended player.


The 2 spot and 4 spot are so weak and uncommitted defensively, the rest of team scrambles and over compensates.

Offensively, you can suck bargniani into poor quality long 2s by just taking away the three, and you can triple team derozan when he gets the ball because he isnt going to pass - ever.

[The Big Chill]

I don't know where this franchise goes from here. This season is basically over and we will likely give up our first round pick in the upcoming draft. I guess it's time to sell off all our assets for draft picks and rebuild. Again.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

I don't know where this franchise goes from here. This season is basically over and we will likely give up our first round pick in the upcoming draft. I guess it's time to sell off all our assets for draft picks and rebuild. Again.

We already did (The Lowry trade). The Thunder hold the rights to the pick currently (due to the Harden trade).

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

We already did (The Lowry trade). The Thunder hold the rights to the pick currently (due to the Harden trade).

It has protections on it though. We keep it for now if its top 3 or if we make playoffs.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Ah ok. Man the NBA runs fairly differently compared to the NHL.

[bluejays]

The problem I'm seeing right now, is Colangelo's role with the team. When they gave him the position of President, his job all of a sudden becomes making money for the organization, as opposed to just the GM role, which is primarily a basketball operation role (improve the club through player personnel decisions). He needs to separate the two by deciding on one role because it's conflicting with his trade decisions. Sure they'll sell more jersey's worldwide by having European players, but this team is going nowhere with so many passive fools. Argh...