Raptors Discussion: v93 | Panic level rising significantly

[Stylizer1]

while the C's on Toronto are not great... Serge is greatly overrated around these parts.

Lol, what?

 

[Stylizer1]

Don’t forget your boy Terrence Davis! Undrafted to all-rookie team is pretty impressive.

As much as it sucks losing, it’ll be great to pick inside the top 20 for a change.

Toronto is on the cusp of being the shit hole the rest of the league doesn't want any part of. Players still don't want to sign there as UFA's. Championship was nice, albeit the perfect circumstance made it possible, no one is thinking of Toronto as a landing spot. Maybe if Toronto over pays, but they are likely going to have to draft themselves to credibility before anyone considers them as an option.

That's the reality.

 

[AllDay28]

Lol, what?

while the cs are not great, Serge is overrated. What’s not to get?

 

[AllDay28]

Serge Ibaka is 33rd in PER for Cs lmfao. Guy sucks ass and people around here love meh players being led by superstars. Same ppl sad losing Gasol who also sucks.

Also FVV is average at best overpaid like Biyombo was (although thankfully bismack was with another team). What a disaster.

 

[Stylizer1]

while the cs are not great, Serge is overrated. What’s not to get?

He might be overpaid but he is not overrated. I don't like him shooting 3's but everything else he is pretty solid at.

 

[DueDiligence]

Yeah, signing a centre that can jump a curb makes the losses seem even greater. I didn’t see much of Baynes in Phoenix but I thought he would be more impactful based on his time in Boston.

Father Time is still undefeated.

except for Tom Brady!

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[Suntouchable13]

Stanley Johnson has been outstanding this game.

 

[stickty111]

One of those seasons.
Not a bad year to tank.

 

[canucksfan]

That’s a tough loss.

 

[Stylizer1]

Siakam with 2 points in the 3rd and 4 points in the 4th.

Lillard 4 points in the 3rd and 8 in the 4th from the field.
Mccollum 4 points in the 3rd and 8 in the 4th from the field.

I didn't watch the 4th quarter but every time I checked the score Portland kept inching back.

 

[Amadeus]

Tough loss. Played well though. Can't hate on these guys!

 

[donghabs98]

One of those seasons.
Not a bad year to tank.

I'd argue its an ideal year to tank. The team isn't in Toronto and fans aren't fully allowed in so you dont have to worry about attendance dropping. Casual fans probably have other world issues to focus on/other sports to watch. Might as well take this season to stock up on assets, focus on development and work on building towards the future.

 

[ktownhockey]

I watched the entire game.... Just seems we can't buy one. They hit a tonnn of very contested shots. Maybe it's tank time without actually trying to tank. Trade Lowry for a 1 st maybe. Pascal was really good tonight, just a tough situation. Carmelo hitting shots late hurt. McCollum was amazing.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I watched the entire game.... Just seems we can't buy one. They hit a tonnn of very contested shots. Maybe it's tank time without actually trying to tank. Trade Lowry for a 1 st maybe. Pascal was really good tonight, just a tough situation. Carmelo hitting shots late hurt. McCollum was amazing.

Fred will be 27 a month from now, Siakam will be 27 3 months from now so if you're gonna trade Lowry, maybe it makes sense to trade those guys as well cause whatever we get for Lowry won't be enough to make us a contender down the line with the current core.

 

[BAM]

Fred will be 27 a month from now, Siakam will be 27 3 months from now so if you're gonna trade Lowry, maybe it makes sense to trade those guys as well cause whatever we get for Lowry won't be enough to make us a contender down the line with the current core.

They could go the Celtics route when the drafted Tatum by surrounding their top pick with established vets so they're developing in a winning culture/don't develop bad habits from playing on a trash team with no leadership. If they can move Lowry for expirings + a late first and manage to draft Suggs/Cunningham with their own pick, their core becomes

Suggs/Cunningham (franchise player caliber talent)
Siakam (can be a 2/3 on a contending team)
FVV (Can be a 3/4 piece on a contending team)
OG (3D wing that can guard almost any position)

With a max slot still available and a late 1st that can be used to draft another rotation piece or in a trade.

 

[BlueForever75]

That is 2 straight games where the Raps should have won. The signs are there where this team is starting to turn the corner. I know we lost both, but to go into Golden State and Portland, lose each game on the last shot. There is hope with this team.

They are figuring out rotations right now. Seeing what they have. Once they insert Boucher fulltime as their center things will start to turn around. Len and Baynes should be relief help not starters. I also think that Stanley should be starting over Anunoby, before I get slammed this is my reasoning. The past 4-5 seasons our depth and rotation is what made us win the games we did. Spreading the wealth is the way to go.

Boucher, Siakam, Stanley, Lowry, FVV should be our starting 5.

Baynes, Anunoby, Powell, Davis and Len should be our reserves with Anunoby, Powell and Davis getting extended minutes.

Last nights game was puzzling. Davis came in for a spirt of 8-9 minutes nails back to back threes and then he was shown the bench. This guy is a scoring threat and opens the floor. He should be seeing more minutes. Anunoby is a slow starter, for some reason he doesnt produce offensively until 2nd half. So maybe we need to ease him in and cause mismatches when the other team takes their starters off for rest.

Either way I am not concerned, the Raptors have to pieces to be 6-4 right now. Bad quarters due to bad substitutions and figuring things out has caused this 2-8 record.

Things will turn around.

 

[sparxx87]

Fred will be 27 a month from now, Siakam will be 27 3 months from now so if you're gonna trade Lowry, maybe it makes sense to trade those guys as well cause whatever we get for Lowry won't be enough to make us a contender down the line with the current core.

I’d be really careful trading two guys that just extended/re-signed contracts. Raptors have a hard enough time obtaining/retaining quality free agents.

Some still think they did Demar dirty so it would have to be a deal too good to pass up. Selling them for futures would be a bad look IMO.

 

[BlueForever75]

FVV and Siakam need to be built around not dealt. Masai knows this.

If somehow the Raps can add a first option scorer\leader, this team instantly becomes a contender again. Both of these players are the Pippen and Grant to a player like Chicago had in Jordan. Both above average complimentary and second options to an elite leader.

Lowry was that but is getting up there in age. Add a player like Harden and this team instantly turns it around and is a contender in the East again.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I’d be really careful trading two guys that just extended/re-signed contracts. Raptors have a hard enough time obtaining/retaining quality free agents.

Some still think they did Demar dirty so it would have to be a deal too good to pass up. Selling them for futures would be a bad look IMO.

I agree, not gonna happen. I was just thinking out loud and rueing the fact that we're not likely to contend any time soon.

FVV and Siakam need to be built around not dealt. Masai knows this.

If somehow the Raps can add a first option scorer\leader, this team instantly becomes a contender again. Both of these players are the Pippen and Grant to a player like Chicago had in Jordan. Both above average complimentary and second options to an elite leader.

Lowry was that but is getting up there in age. Add a player like Harden and this team instantly turns it around and is a contender in the East again.

For Harden we'd have to give up Siakam+, now way we're a contender after that.

 

[sparxx87]

That is 2 straight games where the Raps should have won. The signs are there where this team is starting to turn the corner. I know we lost both, but to go into Golden State and Portland, lose each game on the last shot. There is hope with this team.

They are figuring out rotations right now. Seeing what they have. Once they insert Boucher fulltime as their center things will start to turn around. Len and Baynes should be relief help not starters. I also think that Stanley should be starting over Anunoby, before I get slammed this is my reasoning. The past 4-5 seasons our depth and rotation is what made us win the games we did. Spreading the wealth is the way to go.

Boucher, Siakam, Stanley, Lowry, FVV should be our starting 5.

Baynes, Anunoby, Powell, Davis and Len should be our reserves with Anunoby, Powell and Davis getting extended minutes.

Last nights game was puzzling. Davis came in for a spirt of 8-9 minutes nails back to back threes and then he was shown the bench. This guy is a scoring threat and opens the floor. He should be seeing more minutes. Anunoby is a slow starter, for some reason he doesnt produce offensively until 2nd half. So maybe we need to ease him in and cause mismatches when the other team takes their starters off for rest.

Either way I am not concerned, the Raptors have to pieces to be 6-4 right now. Bad quarters due to bad substitutions and figuring things out has caused this 2-8 record.

Things will turn around.

I’m with you on Davis. He needs more leash to find a rhythm. Hasn’t been very good defensively but it’s tough for a young player who hasn’t played much in 10 months. He needs reps.

I know Nurse doesn’t have the tools he’s had in years past, but some of his rotation/substitution decisions have been pretty puzzling.

 

[sparxx87]

I agree, not gonna happen. I was just thinking out loud and rueing the fact that we're not likely to contend any time soon.



For Harden we'd have to give up Siakam+, now way we're a contender after that.

Hey, all ideas are welcome at this point. This is really hard to watch.

I’m with @BAM in the idea to potentially take a step back this year and see if they can grab a Cunningham/Kuminga etc and allow them to develop with a good core around them.

Hate the idea of tanking, but it’s incredibly rare to draft a franchise talent outside the lottery. If they can somehow lose enough close games while maintaining the competitive culture, that’s probably the best long term plan.

 

[Amadeus]

Encouraged with Pascal's improvement. We know he's not a go-to option but he's a very good player who can be a number 2 on a championship team provided your team has depth.

If this season is lost and we finish with a top 5 pick, it can set us up very nicely post Kyle era topped with a max signing.

 

[Suntouchable13]

I’d be really careful trading two guys that just extended/re-signed contracts. Raptors have a hard enough time obtaining/retaining quality free agents.

Some still think they did Demar dirty so it would have to be a deal too good to pass up. Selling them for futures would be a bad look IMO.

Players have their heads still stuck up their asses. Raptors have been a model franchise for almost a decade now. But no, let's get hung up on weather or being in another country, or no ESPN.

 

[BlueForever75]

By the quarter mark of the season we should fully know what we have with this team. My guess is they will be at .500

But if they are further below the mark and in a position like they are today. I would fully expect them to deal Lowry for younger players and picks. Some team like the Lakers or Clippers would be a great fit. They both would become the odds on favorite to win it all with Lowry on their team.

A trade to the Lakers for Kuzma, Pope and a 1st would be a great deal for the Raps with Lowry and another piece going the other way.