Raptors Discussion: REPORT: Raptors trade DeRozan, Poeltl, Protected 1st to Spurs for Leonard, Green

[dangomon]

well its either 2019 1st or 2 2nd rounders so that would be pretty stupid to do

Oh my bad, I remember reading it this morning as it transfers to next year. Ignore my ignorance.

 

[Diamond Joe Quimby]

I'm talking about popularity/perception less than talent and impact on the game.

DeRozan is basically a 90s star player playing a decade and a half out of time.

This is so well said.

 

[hockeywiz542]

It is a good bit of business, but also proof that the NBA is a cold-blooded place with Masai Ujiri’s veins filled with Freon. A month ago he fired Dwane Casey — the most successful head coach in franchise history — and now he’s traded the closest thing the Raptors have ever had to a franchise icon, all on the heels of a franchise-record 59-win season and the best five-year run Toronto has ever had.

The personal costs are steep. A source close to DeRozan told Sportsnet the second-team All-NBA player was assured he wouldn’t be traded in a face-to-face meeting with Ujiri in Las Vegas:

“He was lied to.”

The Raptors and their fans waited generations for an NBA star to embrace them and their city and lift their sorry team to new heights. Now he’s been traded in a high-stakes gambit that makes some sense on paper but could very well end up in an unmitigated disaster, given Leonard reportedly has no interest in playing in Toronto and has the option of bolting in the summer of 2019 as a free agent.

Ujiri now has to hope Leonard arrives healthy and engaged and can be convinced that spending the rest of his prime in Toronto is the best move for his career.

Given the ‘we’re loyal’ card won’t available to be played, it will be an interesting pitch.

 

[xtra]

I have a buddy from Miami whos opinion i really like(d), and now hes just petty cause of this deal. Says hed still take Boston over Toronto. ahh, the salt and I love Brad Stevens but ya

I take Boston also. Remember that team made the ECF and are adding kyrie and Hayward so yea they are better.

 

[The Nemesis]

This is so well said.

Now I'm glad that I thought better of invoking Larry Hughes' name.

 

[Gary Nylund]

there is absolutely nothing desperate, ever, about trading for one of the top 5 players in the league.

especially when you can do it while not giving up even one asset you will miss.

I'm not saying this was a desperation move. I'm saying that Masai may have been desperate to do something and he did it.

 

[AllDay28]

The raps got better today. Dunno is desperate is the right word

 

[Diamond Joe Quimby]

I take Boston also. Remember that team made the ECF and are adding kyrie and Hayward so yea they are better.

Nah.

Can't wait to see the great zombie hope out there though.

Now I'm glad that I thought better of invoking Larry Hughes' name.

Man, shout out to Larry Hughes out here doing his thing.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Nah.

Can't wait to see the great zombie hope out there though.

Boston's not better adding Kyrie?

 

[The Nemesis]

It's funny. I remember not long ago there were complaints that Masai was "too nice" and that he was soft for sticking with all the pieces on the team and not having the guts to blow it up or make hard choices.

And now here we sit and he fired the reigning coach of the year and traded the franchise's most iconic current player in a gigantic gamble.

 

[hoglund]

Total mistake, Leonard is a free agent next year and said he wants to play for the Lakers, which means he'll only be here 1 season. This trade and firing Casey makes no sense.

 

[Diamond Joe Quimby]

Boston's not better adding Kyrie?

Kyrie done played 60 games (same amount Kyle did in 16/17) and they finished behind the Raptors in the regular season.

Everyone citing how far they got in the playoffs can kick rocks. Cleveland doesn't tank and finishes where they should've (3rd), the Raptors are through and lose in the ECF instead. I know that doesn't suit the narrative....but **** the narrative.

 

[Leafin]

Total mistake, Leonard is a free agent next year and said he wants to play for the Lakers, which means he'll only be here 1 season. This trade and firing Casey makes no sense.

Proof please. I haven't seen him say anything.

 

[hoglund]

Proof please. I haven't seen him say anything.

I saw it 30 minutes ago on CTV news.

 

[Diamond Joe Quimby]

Some lady on the fan 590 sounds like she's about to cry.

Shout out to all my Canadians out there.

 

[AllDay28]

Report: Paul George telling friends he plans to play for Lakers in 2018

Oklahoma City, California, USA

 

[Muston Atthews]

More like Kawhi Legend after we win it all this year

 

[Isaac Nootin]

Can the Raps not turn around and trade Leonard to whoever gives them the best deal? It appears from the outside that SA handicapped themselves in being unwilling to deal with several teams.

 

[Paladin2799]

Can the Raps not turn around and trade Leonard to whoever gives them the best deal? It appears from the outside that SA handicapped themselves in being unwilling to deal with several teams.

They are held from trading him for like 90 days or something.

 

[AllDay28]

Barneys (Kawhi) film had heart, but a football in the groin (Derozan) had a football in the groin

 

[Gary Nylund]

It's funny. I remember not long ago there were complaints that Masai was "too nice" and that he was soft for sticking with all the pieces on the team and not having the guts to blow it up or make hard choices.

And now here we sit and he fired the reigning coach of the year and traded the franchise's most iconic current player in a gigantic gamble.

I'm not even sure how much of a gamble this is TBH. On the surface it may seem like it but this team was basically a proven playoff failure as is so what are we risking really?

 

[Isaac Nootin]

They are held from trading him for like 90 days or something.

Probably a good thing. Leonard had done a good job of tanking his value the past year. If he can be somewhat of a man, suck it up and perform the way he can, the Raps could probably get a haul come the trade deadline.

 

[The Nemesis]

Man, shout out to Larry Hughes out here doing his thing.

Apparently teaching basketball camps

Larry Hughes (@LHbballacademy) | Twitter

The best part of which is that the marketing spiel on the twitter feed includes the phrase "Providing skill development & basketball IQ," being taught by one of the most cold-blooded, merciless chuckers of his, or any, generation.

I also remember this:

http://heylarryhughespleasestoptakingsomanybadshots.com/

though it sadly appears to be no more.

 

[Diamond Joe Quimby]

For real though! Tune into the fan 590.....she's breaking down B

Why are y'all so soft???????

 

[The Nemesis]

I'm not even sure how much of a gamble this is TBH. On the surface it may seem like it but this team was basically a proven playoff failure as is so what are we risking really?

Masai would be gambling whether his job would survive a rebuild, or if a couple of years of bad basketball in the name of restocking the cupboards would require him to fall on his sword to sate the fans' need to "blame" someone for mounting losses.

 

[Mitchy]

I can't believe anyone is upset at this deal. This is an absolute steal for a MVP caliber player. Then again, some people were upset when the Jays traded for Donaldson.

DeMar, is a great guy, but is a very, very flawed player. Great scorer in the regular season, but his weaknesses are completely exposed in the playoffs.

Poeltl, I'll miss a lot too. Good young player with good upside, but we got to keep our two best young assets in OG and Siakam, so that's a massive win.

Also, giving up only a heavily protected first is just amazing from Masai. Not to mention, getting a good vet back in Danny Green. Great 3 and D player.

Even if Kawhi leaves, we'll have flexibility going forward. Besides, we were never going to win a championship with DeRozan being our highest usage player. Now, we have the best two-way player in the league.