Raptors Discussion: v95|Masai's back! The panic and dread can now end.

[WeThreeKings]

So we aren't getting the rumored 2nd? Lame..

Hope the Dragic flip is worthwhile

 

[djdev]

True. I’m excited to see him in summer league, a few seem pretty high on him. I guess I’ll say he seems to profile more as a 3/4 than a 2/3. I think they’re still thin at 2/3 but particularly the 2 where Okpala can hopefully play.

6'6 is gonna be rough at the 4 spot tbh lol. i think hes strictly a wing. it sucks we lost lowry etc but im excited to see what we can do with these kids. if we can "siakam" like 2 or 3 of these youngsters we gonna bounce back pretty quick.

champagnie, precious, johnson, barnes, flynn all have a real chance of being something..people forget precious was 20th pick last year and is a very masai type player, aslo only player d1 freshman to avg a double double in college last year.
(flynn i think is already turning into something very good after watching him this past offseason)

im excited.

 

[chaosrevolver]

So we aren't getting the rumored 2nd? Lame..

Hope the Dragic flip is worthwhile

I am more disappointed we couldn't get Okpala in the deal somehow than I am the 2nd.

Precious will be a great add tho.

 

[capfit9]

So we aren't getting the rumored 2nd? Lame..

Hope the Dragic flip is worthwhile

i don't think Dragic is gone until the trade deadline

 

[capfit9]

 

[djdev]

i think if dragic plays well he can get a 1st rd pick close to the deadline since he can actually help playoff teams and hes on an expiring contract. not mad at all at this deal.
as for the 20mil being better spent elsewhere...with the FA deals signed this offseason a 20mil player isnt making much of a difference roster wise and being any kind of contender. in masai i trust.

 

[capfit9]

 

[The Nemesis]

I am more disappointed we couldn't get Okpala in the deal somehow than I am the 2nd.

Precious will be a great add tho.

The lack of Okpala likely had to do with money. his inclusion was if Lowry's deal was for $90m. By shaving $5m off the savings are enough that the Heat don't need to send out anything else to match Lowry's immediate cap hit.

 

[sparxx87]

6'6 is gonna be rough at the 4 spot tbh lol. i think hes strictly a wing. it sucks we lost lowry etc but im excited to see what we can do with these kids. if we can "siakam" like 2 or 3 of these youngsters we gonna bounce back pretty quick.

champagnie, precious, johnson, barnes, flynn all have a real chance of being something..people forget precious was 20th pick last year and is a very masai type player, aslo only player d1 freshman to avg a double double in college last year.
(flynn i think is already turning into something very good after watching him this past offseason)

im excited.

Depends on matchups. They played Stanley Johnson at the 4 last year. Jae Crowder, PJ Tucker, Draymond Green etc are all 6’6 and play the 4. Green and Tucker will even play 5 at times.

Not ideal, but it can work. More likely he’ll play 3 but again, I’d like to see another wing that can play 2 guard. Handle and create some shots for himself. He doesn’t seem to fit that profile - he seems more like a hustle athlete and rebounder in the mold of Hollis-Jefferson.

 

[djdev]

Depends on matchups. They played Stanley Johnson at the 4 last year. Jae Crowder, PJ Tucker, Draymond Green etc are all 6’6 and play the 4. Green and Tucker will even play 5 at times.

Not ideal, but it can work. More likely he’ll play 3 but again, I’d like to see another wing that can play 2 guard. Handle and create some shots for himself. He doesn’t seem to fit that profile - he seems more like a hustle athlete and rebounder in the mold of Hollis-Jefferson.

i suppose, but we have precious, birch, boucher and gillespie( i think hes still with us lol) at the 4 already. and barnes and OG can play there as well as both are taller with better wingspans. at this point we are definitely shorter on valid wings than forwards.

 

[sparxx87]

i suppose, but we have precious, birch, boucher and gillespie( i think hes still with us lol) at the 4 already. and barnes and OG can play there as well as both are taller with better wingspans.

Plenty of options at 3-4 when we include Barnes and Watanabe to the names you mention. Add Sam Dekker to the mix as well, although I’m not sure what to expect from him.

With Powell gone and Gary Trent presumably starting, I think there’s a need for a 2 guard that can get buckets off the bench. Not sure David Johnson is ready for that so it’ll be interesting to see what they do with Dragic and/or that roster/depth chart spot.

 

[djdev]

Plenty of options at 3-4 when we include Barnes and Watanabe to the names you mention. Add Sam Dekker to the mix as well, although I’m not sure what to expect from him.

With Powell gone and Gary Trent presumably starting, I think there’s a need for a 2 guard that can get buckets off the bench. Not sure David Johnson is ready for that so it’ll be interesting to see what they do with Dragic and/or that roster/depth chart spot.

i think johnson ends up being a matt thomas type this year with better defense. shot 38% from 3 last year after working on his shot.

 

[sparxx87]

i think johnson ends up being a matt thomas type this year with better defense. shot 38% from 3 last year after working on his shot.

Well I hope he’s a lot better than Matt Thomas. I wasn’t a fan, and he’s likely headed back overseas after being waived by the Jazz.

From the few videos I’ve seen, he appears to have wayyy more game. More comparable to Terence Davis than Matt Thomas as someone who profiles more as a combo guard.

 

[djdev]

Well I hope he’s a lot better than Matt Thomas. I wasn’t a fan, and he’s likely headed back overseas after being waived by the Jazz.

From the few videos I’ve seen, he appears to have wayyy more game. More comparable to Terence Davis than Matt Thomas as someone who profiles more as a combo guard.

ye their games arent similar, just what i see for type of role, more of a danny green 3 and d type(obviously not danny's numbers) matt thomas was supposed to be that but his shot just never worked, and his de wasnt very good lol

 

[sparxx87]

ye their games arent similar, just what i see for type of role, more of a danny green 3 and d type(obviously not danny's numbers) matt thomas was supposed to be that but his shot just never worked, and his de wasnt very good lol

If he can shoot in the high 30’s as a 3&D 2 guard with the passing and playmaking he showed in college, that’ll be a very good player.

 

[djdev]

If he can shoot in the high 30’s as a 3&D 2 guard with the passing and playmaking he showed in college, that’ll be a very good player.

agreed, i really think he fell from being a projected mid to late teens pick solely based off his ppg falling. but literally every other stat he improved in. this is a FVV/norm level pick potentially imo.

 

[Dr.Funk]

 

[exporta]

One thing to understand is Masai placed conditions on MLSE prior to considering any contract. It was never about the money it was about Masai feeling that he was going to continue to lead an organization that was willing to commit to winning.

Last summer was a difficult one where he was forced to let players like Ibaka and Gasol walk. Not because of anything else but MLSE not wanting to commit for a team that had already lost its prized possession in Kwahi. That left a sour taste in Masai's mouth.

Him signing points to him receiving reassurances that MLSE basically is giving him free reign on basketball operations and budget. A budget that will be at the same level and commitment as the other powerhouse team under the MLSE umbrella the Toronto Maple Leafs.

This bodes well for all Raptor fans. There is a meaning to his madness this off season. In Masai we should trust. He did bring the first ever NBA championship north of the border. And if he says he will do it again, he will. This man knows how to build a winner.

I look for this coming season to be a season where we let the team develop under a new leader on court. That leader will be FVV. Players will get better and stronger, we will have more cap space next off season. We may be a lottery team, but its fine. Again in Masai we should trust.

Good times people. Good times ahead. Welcome home Masai.

100% he had those assuraties all along, especially the promotion to the president role. The vice chairman position gives him a seat on mlse board.

In terms of the raptors and Maple Leafs budgets, the Raptors budget far out weighs the Maple Leafs budget and is a far more valuable mlse asset than the Maple Leafs.

Beleive it or not the Raptors are top 10 franchise valuation in the NBA at $2.15B and operating income of $76M

NBA Team Values 2021: Knicks Keep Top Spot At $5 Billion, While Warriors Seize No. 2 From Lakers

Maple Leafs, have a valuation of $1.5B and operating income of $56M.

The Raptors are the #1 asset of msle. Msle would love to give the Leafs the Raptors budget.

Agreed with the rest of your post though

 

[exporta]

Not top 3, but dame lillard is top 10 at worst and Bradley beals a top 15-20 guy and both are available right now.

Is this team better than Milwaukee, Miami, Clippers, Lakers, Nets, retooled GSW with Lillard?

I dont think so, he definitely pushes them closer. But, he won't come cheap and assuming Siakim would have to other way to make salaries work.

Im not against bringing in Lillard, but i dont think he makes toronto a contender

 

[exporta]

Most of these ‘issues’ don’t really hold up to scrutiny when you step back and evaluate. I guess customs is a pain when you’re used to domestic travel, taxes are always a pain, and not being able to invite the homies kind of sucks, but everything else is pretty trivial IMo.

It’s unfortunate because it seemed the stigma was lifting, maybe it actually has and this just wasn’t the year… but again, I think the added travel restrictions + Masai’s uncertainty definitely hindered their chances this year.

Leonard was our best chance at landing a top FA, and we had to trade for him a year out.

I have no doubt that Toronto will be able to make a similar move down the road with better long term results. Players arent itching to play in Torono.

But we'll never land a big ufa unless they are euro, canadian, overpay or have a history with the team.

 

[Nylanderthal]

Is this team better than Milwaukee, Miami, Clippers, Lakers, Nets, retooled GSW with Lillard?

I dont think so, he definitely pushes them closer. But, he won't come cheap and assuming Siakim would have to other way to make salaries work.

Im not against bringing in Lillard, but i dont think he makes toronto a contender

I tend to agree, I don’t Lillard, and especially Beal move the needle enough for Toronto to make a compelling offer. just more so making a point that there’s always another guy who’s going to come available.

 

[hockeywiz542]

What's left for the Lakers - Marc Stein

The Raptors might ultimately trade Goran Dragić after completing their sign-and-trade deal with Miami that will send Kyle Lowry to the Heat, but they have resisted external interest in Dragić thus far, league sources say. Dallas, I’m told, is among the teams that has tried to acquire him via trade and remains interested in acquiring Dragić after missing out on Lowry. Toronto appears to have other plans for now — which certainly don’t include buying him out. In the wake of Dragić’s emotional Miami exit, Dallas is obviously an appealing destination since it would team him with his fellow Slovenian Luka Dončić.

 

[aingefan]

I wonder if Dragic won’t start alongside FVV to start the year, leaving Trent to be the primary option off the bench?
The top 7-8 players seem good enough to compete most nights, with some good upside deeper down the bench. Hoping to see those guys get there share burn to see what they have.

 

[Tripod]

Keeping Dragic to start the season makes sense since it gives an extra body if Siakam is not ready to start the year.

We already know there is interest in him and can move him, so no sense in moving him for pieces we really don't want. Keep him to help the team early, and move him when a team comes to the table with something we want.

 

[sparxx87]

agreed, i really think he fell from being a projected mid to late teens pick solely based off his ppg falling. but literally every other stat he improved in. this is a FVV/norm level pick potentially imo.

That’s interesting. I’ve heard a lot of intrigue with this player, particularly with the Spencer Dinwiddie comparisons.

Went back to look at a few draft boards from earlier and saw him as high as 15. Weird that he’d fall so far with that skill set.