2020-21 Raptors and General NBA Thread

[Senator Clay Davis]

Lakers offer for Lowry is apparently KCP, Schroeder and Wes Matthews, so if Masai makes the trade you can assume he's leaving the Raps and trying to #### us royally on the way out. What a garbage offer.

[MillerTime GFG]

Yea, I kind of want to see Lowry given the opportunity to compete with Lebron for another championship, but not if that's the return. Not sure the Lakers have the assets where I'd actually be happy with the return.

[Senator Clay Davis]

I'm just hoping it's Masai smokescreens to drive up the price. But really it sounds like Philly is the destination, Miami refuses to include Herro so that makes their offers weak unless they are offering multiple future unprotected firsts. Lakers have dick all to offer.

[The Big Chill]

Watch Masai say F it and keep Lowry and Powell and go get a C.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I'm just hoping it's Masai smokescreens to drive up the price. But really it sounds like Philly is the destination, Miami refuses to include Herro so that makes their offers weak unless they are offering multiple future unprotected firsts. Lakers have dick all to offer.

Yup, all this certainly sounds like the case. Philly seems like the best offer currently though I’m not thrilled with any. Phillys two firsts will be low picks which are virtually bench players. If nobody meets the high price expected, keep him till offseason. LA can suck on a popsicle. Lowball offer completely.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

Watch Masai say F it and keep Lowry and Powell and go get a C.

Powell should absolutely be dealt. His value will never be higher ever. With so many teams looking to go for it, it makes perfect sense to drive the price up.

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by fleury

Powell should absolutely be dealt. His value will never be higher ever. With so many teams looking to go for it, it makes perfect sense to drive the price up.

Oh I agree, but there is still a small piece of me that really wants to watch some competitive games down the stretch. This group has been so enjoyable to watch the last couple years that’s it’s hard to see them go even though it is the obvious right choice.

[Wastedyouth]

Isn't Bobby Webster the GM? Isn't he the one making the moves/trades?

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

Oh I agree, but there is still a small piece of me that really wants to watch some competitive games down the stretch. This group has been so enjoyable to watch the last couple years that’s it’s hard to see them go even though it is the obvious right choice.

Totally. For me I was invested in Norm early in his career but it lulled in the middle. It’s good that he broke out but it was hard to get behind him as he was inconsistent most of the time. I’d take the best offer and run. I’d prefer a projected mid first personally and leverage that with Lowry’s pick to move up.

I think the Lowry deal happens though based on his reaction yesterday. He was probably told it’s heading in that direction. Right now hopefully the team is pitting others against each other to up their offers. With no gate revenue in each sport this is the year for them to start it. Same goes for the Flames.

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

Isn't Bobby Webster the GM? Isn't he the one making the moves/trades?

I think we all just assume Masai has a major influence on everything regardless of the titles.

[alan21]

It looks like Powell is heading to Portland.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Is this a good trade?

https://twitter.com/user/status/1375126939078434817

[Senator Clay Davis]

Trent is kind of a younger version of Norm, Hood is a throw in for salaries and probably a buy-out candidate. Not bad.

[bluejays]

George Hill going to 76ers. Now I’m concerned. Miami seems like the only dancing partner and the Raps loose some bargaining clout. Perhaps they keep him now until the offseason.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Hill doesn't preclude the Sixers from getting Lowry. Hill is backup depth who can play 1 or 2, Lowry obviously starts.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Hill doesn't preclude the Sixers from getting Lowry. Hill is backup depth who can play 1 or 2, Lowry obviously starts.

I guess you’re right. The deal looks underwhelming as a return for OKC.

[The Big Chill]

Trent and Herro are similar, so if Lowry is off to Miami I doubt it’s Herro coming back.

Trent sounds decent from what I’ve read. The NBA cap is confusing but this deal apparently gives us a good chunk of cap space in the off-season despite the fact that Trent is an RFA and is looking for a big raise.

[octothorp]

Here's the big thing about Trent's contract: he's an RFA this offseason, but his cap-hold is only $2m. If they get a return like Maxey, picks and filler, they could clear as much as $20m in cap space this offseason. With it now looking like most teams are going to be capped out during free agency, $20m could get you a very good player.

[soulchoice]

What was the reason as to why they felt Powell could not have been resigned? UFA status and not being able to get the dollars? For the Raptors

[octothorp]

Norm could have been resigned, but if they retained him (and assuming you keep Boucher, who has a team option for next year), it's pretty hard to clear much cap space to sign any other significant free agents, and the Raptors obviously have a huge hole at center they need to fill. Regardless of how much Trent Jr signs for, the Raptors will have the cap space to sign another pretty significant player (depending on the Lowry trade of course).

This is because when you're signing free agents, the amount of cap space you have is affected by something called cap-holds, which, for your own free agents, is a percentage of their previous contract. Because he's coming off a rookie contract, GTJ has a really low cap hold of around $2m. Powell has a cap hold of around $16m. So it basically gives the Raptors an extra $14m of cap space to work with.

(for what it's worth, I did not think the Raptors were thinking about being a player in free agency this summer, but this move strongly suggests they are, and goes with rumours that they're targeting guys like Jarrett Allen and Richaun Holmes).