2022 Toronto Raptors Thread

[Senator Clay Davis]

Lowry isn't an idiot, he knows going to the Lakers means he automatically gets blamed for everything with LeBron and AD off limits since Klutch is running the Lakers. Why go be a human punching bag when you can go to Miami, take home more money and be treated with more respect? No brainer really.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Lowry isn't an idiot, he knows going to the Lakers means he automatically gets blamed for everything with LeBron and AD off limits since Klutch is running the Lakers. Why go be a human punching bag when you can go to Miami, take home more money and be treated with more respect? No brainer really.

I don't think that's the case personally. They found a way to get a bigger scorer in Westbrook, and suddenly there's no room for Lowry. Plus signing Lowry in a S&T wasn't going to work once that happened. I'm sure LA was exploring how they could do it but a sexier option came along.


Anyway, on a side note, I think I had to do a double take when I just read Curry got a $215 million contract over 4 years. Crazy. Here I was thinking $36M is the highest contract in and he gets $53. Unbelievable.

[corporatejay]

I don't see how Westbrook makes the lakers easier, other than allowing Bron and Davis to take possessions or games off in the regular season and still be competitive.

Westbrook doesn't make them better in a seven game series.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

I don't see how Westbrook makes the lakers easier, other than allowing Bron and Davis to take possessions or games off in the regular season and still be competitive.

Westbrook doesn't make them better in a seven game series.

I’ll preface what I’m about to say by saying I’m not even confident in it, but logically basketball is more an individual sport compared to most. What the Raptors did by winning through the bench and starting lineup was an exception not a norm. With that in mind, having a third huge option to score is not a bad thing. I’m some ways oversimplified, all three can make their own shot, so while we can think it’ll lead to selfishness, management is probably thinking this is another lethal option. Much like the Leafs were trying the all offence approach, we’ll see if this works. I tend to think with that much talent whatever problems they’ll overcome it somehow. It’s a really nice problem to have.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Do you like five-way trades?

https://twitter.com/user/status/1423046618757189636

[bluejays]

Already this off-season is a winner in my books. Baynes waived. I don't believe I've ever been so frustrated by a Raptor player.


Along with the other waiver moves, it really looks like the bench will be completely new. Can't complain whatsoever as they were replaceable. Just waiting for the Masai/Webster magic which will happen somehow, I'm confident.

[The Big Chill]

Somehow they need to find a centre. It would be a pretty huge fail to go two seasons in a row without somebody that can contribute at all.

[mile]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1422990741924728834


It's sounding like Birch will be back, which I'm fine with. I like how he played.


I'm a little surprised they waived Bembry and Watson, but not huge losses.

[dammage79]

No mention of the Raps signing Sam Dekker?

Seems like a weird move.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by dammage79

No mention of the Raps signing Sam Dekker?

Seems like a weird move.

I read the Sportsnet article on him a couple days ago because I didn't know the story. Even as a minority here, I don't see the problem with anything he said. I don't see him as a closet racist or anything. Paraphrased, he said something along the lines of not being embarrassed about being white. The Trump thing was from a few years back, meh. If Masai and Crew are fine, I'm sure he passed the smell test. He seems like a worthy gamble.

[bluejays]

And some pleasant news, Raps keep Masai. Hope it’s a long term contract because I can’t see anyone in the world being better at the job than him.

[octothorp]

Masai has been promoted to Vice-Chairman and President of the Raptors on a long-term deal. Great news, as it means (a) organizational stability, which is huge, and (b) Masai having greater control over top-level decision-making, which I think is where he sees the Raptors need to improve to have a greater impact.

[mile]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1423349153086672896

Glad to hear that Masai is staying. Biggest signing of free agency so far.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Can't wait for Masai to eventually ascend to owner after his next round of negotiations.

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by fleury

I’ll preface what I’m about to say by saying I’m not even confident in it, but logically basketball is more an individual sport compared to most. What the Raptors did by winning through the bench and starting lineup was an exception not a norm. With that in mind, having a third huge option to score is not a bad thing. I’m some ways oversimplified, all three can make their own shot, so while we can think it’ll lead to selfishness, management is probably thinking this is another lethal option. Much like the Leafs were trying the all offence approach, we’ll see if this works. I tend to think with that much talent whatever problems they’ll overcome it somehow. It’s a really nice problem to have.

In theory I agree, I just don't think Westbrook has ever been deferential in his career. He is now the third option. How long do you thing LeBron is going to tolerate him taking terrible shots early in the clock?

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

In theory I agree, I just don't think Westbrook has ever been deferential in his career. He is now the third option. How long do you thing LeBron is going to tolerate him taking terrible shots early in the clock?

No clue. I think Lebron generally has a longer fuse for stars. Westbrook can be an outspoken guy himself so I can’t imagine Lebron having control of him at all. It should be an interesting dynamic all in all, but I don’t think it’ll blow up because Lebron is a wuss when it comes to outspoken guys IMO.

[corporatejay]

That's a good point. I don't really care for Westbrook so I'm definitely biased. I don't think his style of basketball is conducive to winning.

[octothorp]

At the moment here's what I have for the Raptors depth chart if the Lowry return stays at just Achiuwa and Dragic:

FVV/Flynn/Banton*
GTJ/Dragic/Johnson*
Anunoby/Barnes/Champagnie*/Dekker*
Siakam/Boucher/Watanabe*/Wainwright*
Birch/Achiuwa/Gillespie*/Mahmoud*

*Guys that are currently not fully guaranateed and could end up on two-way contracts or not get signed. Of these I think Watanabe is the closest thing to a lock, Champagnie has potentially already signed a two-way (haven't confirmed if it's fully guaranteed or not). Banton and Johnson probably have an inside track on other roster spots. Dekker's not on the summer league roster so I think he's a training camp tryout.

Raptors still have the BAE ($3m) and potentially a chunk of the MLE to spend depending on Birch's salary.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by octothorp

At the moment here's what I have for the Raptors depth chart if the Lowry return stays at just Achiuwa and Dragic:

FVV/Flynn/Banton*
GTJ/Dragic/Johnson*
Anunoby/Barnes/Champagnie*/Dekker*
Siakam/Boucher/Watanabe*/Wainwright*
Birch/Achiuwa/Gillespie*/Mahmoud*

*Guys that are currently not fully guaranateed and could end up on two-way contracts or not get signed. Of these I think Watanabe is the closest thing to a lock, Champagnie has potentially already signed a two-way (haven't confirmed if it's fully guaranteed or not). Banton and Johnson probably have an inside track on other roster spots. Dekker's not on the summer league roster so I think he's a training camp tryout.

Raptors still have the BAE ($3m) and potentially a chunk of the MLE to spend depending on Birch's salary.

Pretty thin roster IMO. Just a year ago we had budding superstar Siakam and were pencilling in Giannis... oh well.

[Senator Clay Davis]

I don't know if I'd call that roster thin as much as lacking in superstars. Depth wise that's a nice team, it just lacks a high end player(s).