2022 Toronto Raptors Thread

[octothorp]

Amazing game! Really one for the ages in terms of regular season games for this franchise.

[Senator Clay Davis]

All five starters over 54 minutes played, really great effort from them and a great win overall. Really wish the bench wasn't so bad because this is a very good starting five.

[Senator Clay Davis]

I guess this is good?

https://twitter.com/user/status/1488344646795206656

[mile]

Like Nurse said, I too have fallen in love with Trent Jr this season

[mile]

GTJ just turned 23 two weeks ago, yeesh.

Back-to-back wins over the 2nd best team in the East, feels good.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Gary Trent, more like GOATry Trent.

[Trojan97]

Started 9-13, 17-10 in their last 27. Team is trending in the right direction but the minutes disparity is going to catch up with them. Hope to see a couple moves before the deadline.

[octothorp]

Raptors are rumoured to be shopping Dragic and a FRP, particularly for Cs. A few weeks ago I was skeptical of the idea of the Raptors being buyers for this year, but I think the starters have earned it, and the east looks pretty wide-open. Especially if it's a win-now but also get rights to someone beyond this year situation, since they're too capped out to add salary in the offseason.

Only problem is that with so many teams in contention, it's unlikely to be a buyer's market.

If the can get a guy on the Poeltl/Turner tier, that instantly makes them contenders (at least to get out of the East), IMO. But I don't think the Raptors have the ability to make such a package without including multiple firsts. There are a few vets who could be gettable for their price range. I keep thinking about a Noel/Burks package, which would fix a lot of bench problems. I also really like Bamba as a longer-term piece paired with either Harris or Ross. (I've heard some rumours regarding Ross's vaccination status, hope they aren't true.) Williams from Boston is one of the other rumoured names, but I can't see Boston moving him for anything other than a huge haul.

[bluejays]

It's a real conundrum isn't it. I'd give it under 1% chance of this team winning it all, so any trade to add shouldn't take away the ability to be flexible in the future, as a general guidance. But the guys playing hard should be rewarded with someone, and ownership likely wants at least 2 games of playoff revenue. Though as others have mentioned if this is a weak draft dealing a 1st may not be that big of a deal. Tough tough decisions.

[octothorp]

One of the few things that does push me a little more towards the playoff-push side of the equation is that there's a real lack of playoff experience, especially if you believe that the bubble playoffs aren't super useful for building experience. If they miss this year, it'll become three full years of no real playoff experience for Siakam, Birch and FVV, four years for OG, and beyond that, just five total games for GTJ, and garbage minutes for Precious and Boucher. At some point they need to get playoff games under their belt even if they're a couple years away from contending.

The general consensus seems to be that is a weak draft especially at the top, but I think there are a handful of players in the middle to late first who fit the Raptors' style and what they're trying to do. Baldwin, Griffin, Houston, Eason, Moore... At the very least I would prefer a trade where the Raptors give up a first but pick up a 2nd.

But I've got a lot of confidence in the front office whichever way they go.

[mile]

Raptors just beat the #1 and #2 (twice) teams in the East in the last week.



We're buyers for sure

[Senator Clay Davis]

Really wish the deadline was the end of the month. I really like how they are playing right now, but still would like to see a bit more before committing to any sort of buying effort. I agree the East isn't very strong and they can make a run with the right additions, but this is also a very young core so burning through draft picks too soon could be costly.

[The Big Chill]

It won’t be an easy choice, but this team for sure deserves some sort of help.

[Trojan97]

They REALLY tried to blow that with a sloppy last couple minutes but outside of that I thought this was a tremendous effort. I was going to feel real bad for the boys to not get that one. Congrats to Scottie on what will no doubt be one of many incredibly clutch shots in his Raps career.

Nick Nurse, Masai and Bobby Webster deserve all the credit in the world. Just a top notch organization and I feel like this team really reflects that. Stay healthy and let's work into that top 6.

[Trojan97]

Is Myles Turner enough of an upgrade to really make the cost worthwhile for going "all in" this year? I go back and forth on it personally. I wouldn't be mad with a couple smaller deals and trying to play an underdog role this year with a focus on developing Scotty and seeing how the teams shapes up next year. Turner is definitely nice tho and if he found early chemistry the team could be filthy in the East. Glad I'm not the one making this decision.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Turner being hurt makes it unlikely he is dealt at the deadline, there will be more of a chance to get him in the summer. Need to get Dragic gone if they want to add anyone given how close they are to the luxury tax.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Undrafted
NBA Champion
And now you can add NBA All-Star to the list

Ladies and gentlemen: Fred VanVleet

[Da_Chief]

What would a guy like Marvin Bagley cost? Young, talented and wants out of Sac Town? He'd be quite the piece to add.

[mile]

Norm reunites with Kawhi and Serge

https://twitter.com/user/status/1489681792881860620

wtf Portland. Value-wise that seems very lopsided in LAC’s favour

[devo22]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1489684789988933643


WTF. And they wonder why Dame wants out.