If the Raptors can win tonight, that would go a long way to convincing me that they've got a shot this year as currently constructed. Boston is always such a tough matchup for them.
There was about the Raptors having an interest in Drummond, but I can't see it and it strikes me more as something leaked by Cleveland to try and raise the price; hard to put together a matching salary package. Would need to be something like Powell/Baynes/McCaw/Thomas, and that's a lot of depth to give up for someone who has such a limited skillset.
They’ll have to pick a direction at some point soon. Either go get a big and try to compete, or just call it and trade Lowry and recoup what you can. This team is still really fun to watch, but they need some help to be able to really compete.
I think they add a big and try to compete. I think the organizational ethos is to field competitive rosters. The culture within the Raptors program is one of hard work, develop players within their system, and win. Winning is important to culture and keep players bought in.
2 worrying signs with this Raptors team. They seldom hold opponents to under 100 points, and most of their wins are against losing teams.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kidder
Just saw that the Raptors will continue to play the rest of the season in Tampa Bay.
Which means a guaranteed championship! Or at least a finals appearance.
You may place your bet with your bookies... nnnnow.
Maybe Tom & Gronk make a visit to a Raptors home game and show off the Lombardi? Maybe that'll be the shot in the arm that gets the Raptors really going!
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I'm skeptical. (Woj is too, he says that Cleveland isn't in serious discussions with anyone.) The package would need to be Drummond for Baynes+McCaw+Powell to match salaries, and that's a huge overpayment for Drummond. We'd need picks back for that to be worthwhile, and no way Cleveland gives up picks to drop Drummond when his contract expires this year.
If the Raptors are willing to give up that sort of package to shore up C, take it to Memphis. JV isn't part of their long-term plans with JJJ coming back from injury soon and Bane also a solid young C prospect. Powell makes a lot of sense for Memphis as an upgrade over Brooks who also brings leadership. You could include Brooks in the package, which clears enough salary for Memphis to go after a max UFA like Oladipo, and if that fails bring back Powell. JV's a much better fit for Toronto than Drummond in every regard, from game fit, familiarity, attitude; and he could also realistically be part of a future core there, unlike Drummond who would likely be gone in the offseason.
Last edited by octothorp; 02-15-2021 at 11:03 AM.
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lol...pretty funny clip for an exec to be caught on camera saying that. I agree Drummond isn't part of the future, so if you're trading a younger guy like Powell, there are better directions to go. Drummond isn't athletic and is simply a guy you place at centre with limited mobility. 100% an upgrade over Baynes (anyone is in my mind), but will slow down the team, I think.
Can't judge the Bucks too harshly without Jrue, but I think it's safe to say they're really shallow and without the coaching to make up for it; they really need to be firing on all cylinders to have a chance. But also the Raptors definitely match up well against them.
Huge back-to-back wins. The T-Wolves loss was frustrating but they responded really well, especially without Kyle. Bud probably craps himself if the Bucks have to play the Raptors in the early playoff rounds, Nurse owns him in every series.
Big trap game tomorrow, but it's time finally get to .500.
Feeling weirdly confident about this team, the East is a crapshoot this year with almost every team battling inconsistency and I like the growth shown by our core and bench guys. I think Norm is a part of the future here.
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