Raptors Discussion: v97 Raptor's 2024-2025 - Training camp begins Oct. 1

[DuklaNation]

It also happens in MLB.

Basically, Americans don't want to play in Canada and have to deal with customs and living in another country. There are exceptions to that, but most NBA players would prefer the US (that being said, Americans usually love it after they have actually played in Toronto).

Not nearly as much in MLB. Jays have gotten a lot of free agents over the years. Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassitt are recent examples.

 

[Scotianhab]

They aren't rebuilding even with Dame to the Bucks.

I know they won’t but they should. Siakim for futures should be their first move.

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[phillipmike]

The rumored deal was Trent, Dick, Boucher, salary filler, maybe 2 1sts. Perhaps Portland preferred the later 1sts with bigger upside.

When McCollum & Powell were trade trade deadline 2022 and Sharpe was drafted few months later, the rebuild was confirmed. Dame signed his extension one month later. The entire narrative is BS.

Dame's agent steered away from Toronto.

Masai deserves a statue if he were able to pull that off. That would have been sweet;

Lillard
OG
Barnes
Siakam
Poeltl

Schroeder, McDaniels, Precious, Koloko, Temple, Nowell, Flynn.

Bench would have been awful but that starting lineup is dangerous.

 

[Dr.Funk]

 

[Dr.Funk]

Wrong thread

 

[DuklaNation]

Listening to Masai Ujiri on media day: too emotional, feels no pressure, seems apprehensive.

His days are numbered unless the direction improves immediately. When ROgers takes over in 3 years, its definitely over regardless.

 

[Suntouchable13]

What kind of team do we have here, and what are the expectations? What are the Raptors trying to accomplish this season? I know “playing the right way” is one of those things they are trying to do.

 

[hockeywiz542]

Masai Ujiri Interview | Raptors Media Day - October 2, 2023

Jump View

October 2, 2023

Toronto Raptors Press Conference (Raptors Media Day) with Masai Ujiri.

Masai Ujiri addresses the media as the Raptors 2023-24 NBA Season approaches.

 

[hockeywiz542]

Darko Rajakovic Interview | Raptors Media Day - October 2, 2023

Jump View

October 2, 2023

Darko Rajakovic on Media Day, Free Agency + More

Toronto Raptors Press Conference (Raptors Media Day) with Darko Rajakovic.

Darko Rajakovic addresses the media as the Raptors 2023-24 NBA Season approaches.

 

[saska sault]

Sounds like this team is getting a chance to click and make it work before trades, extensions, rebuilds are decided upon. New coach, new point guard, some new depth and shooting. On paper, a decent team if things work together.

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[hockeywiz542]

How the NBA's player participation policy affects every team, not just the Clippers

Don't call it the Kawhi Leonard Rule or the LA Clippers Rule. In truth, the NBA's new Player Participation Policy affects every team.

theathletic.com

September 21, 2023

To many, the LA Clippers, specifically Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, have come to personify the load management that the NBA’s new Player Participation Policy (PPP) is trying to curtail.

The new provision, announced last week, is designed to ensure the game’s best players are consistently available to play in as many of their teams’ 82-game regular season games as possible. It includes provisions on when the teams can and cannot sit their star players, defined as those who have been selected to an All-Star or All-NBA team within the last three seasons. That timeframe makes Leonard eligible, as you have to go back three seasons for the last time Leonard was selected to be an All-Star or to an All-NBA team. (George was named an All-Star this past season and received both accolades in 2021).

Yes, the Clippers will have to abide by this policy, which will impact which games Leonard and George miss. It’s also true Leonard and George have missed more time than any star pair of teammates over the last three years.

But to define the new rule’s goal of limiting load management as a Clippers-centric issue is misleading. Every team in the NBA, whether they have current stars, multiple stars, or the chance to have future stars, will be affected. And there are other teams whose actions over the years influenced this new policy to take effect now.

The PPP is in fact a beefed-up version of a player resting policy the league introduced six years ago. Those guidelines amounted to just four bullet points in an NBA Board of Governors summary that was more notable for its changes to the NBA Draft lottery.

 

[Suntouchable13]

He was injured that whole year? What is he talking about?

 

[trellaine201]

Time for a change at the top of the Raptors.

 

[thewave]

Listening to Masai Ujiri on media day: too emotional, feels no pressure, seems apprehensive.

His days are numbered unless the direction improves immediately. When ROgers takes over in 3 years, its definitely over regardless.

Masai became a treadmill GM. They won and either he or the execs wanted to keep the Champ names around to cash in on merch. We all knew he blew the last deadline and other opportunities. Blows it then at the presser is mumbling and bumbling about how there wqs nothing there.

 

[Thornbury]

Masai became a treadmill GM. They won and either he or the execs wanted to keep the Champ names around to cash in on merch. We all knew he blew the last deadline and other opportunities. Blows it then at the presser is mumbling and bumbling about how there wqs nothing there.

But the Champ names weren't kept around. Leoneard left immediately, and then Lowry. Those were the two big names. I think it is simply that Ujiri reads his press clippings, and is convinced he's always the smartest guy in the room. In his trade negotiations he tries to hit home runs, and the opposing GMs tell him to stuff it. We're now stuck with a mediocre team with no clear direction.

Sounds like this team is getting a chance to click and make it work before trades, extensions, rebuilds are decided upon. New coach, new point guard, some new depth and shooting. On paper, a decent team if things work together.

Is that what we are reduced to? Being a decent team, with no first round draft choice next year. The future is bleak.

 

[Clark4Ever]

Sounds like this team is getting a chance to click and make it work before trades, extensions, rebuilds are decided upon. New coach, new point guard, some new depth and shooting. On paper, a decent team if things work together.

If everything goes well, at best, we should be able to compete for one of the final playoff spots.

However, that should not be the end game for this franchise. The fan base is intelligent and mature enough to understand that a rebuild is the most likely path to assembling a roster that can contend for a championship over a sustainable period of time.

I think Masai's current game plan is primarily profit driven, to generate any additional playoff revenue possible.

 

[saska sault]

But the Champ names weren't kept around. Leoneard left immediately, and then Lowry. Those were the two big names. I think it is simply that Ujiri reads his press clippings, and is convinced he's always the smartest guy in the room. In his trade negotiations he tries to hit home runs, and the opposing GMs tell him to stuff it. We're now stuck with a mediocre team with no clear direction.


Is that what we are reduced to? Being a decent team, with no first round draft choice next year. The future is bleak.

I don't think it's ideal, but it's not too late to capitalize on guys via the trade market. He did admit he fumbled the FVV return by letting him walk, still not convinced anyone was offering much for him anyways. The more valuable pieces are still around so if it doesn't work out.. Hopefully we get those guys on the market or resigned.

 

[Suntouchable13]

If everything goes well, at best, we should be able to compete for one of the final playoff spots.

However, that should not be the end game for this franchise. The fan base is intelligent and mature enough to understand that a rebuild is the most likely path to assembling a roster that can contend for a championship over a sustainable period of time.

I think Masai's current game plan is primarily profit driven, to generate any additional playoff revenue possible.

To be honest, I don’t feel like going down and becoming a 20 win team again. This front office has worked hard to make this franchise respectable. A rebuild doesn’t guarantee you anything. You can be stuck there indefinitely. Like Charlotte, Orlando, Sacramento missed the playoffs for like 10 years, Detroit is still awful, and others as well. Philly is the only “success story” I can think of.

 

[DuklaNation]

My impression is that other GMs around the league may not want to deal with Masai anymore. If that's the case, you must change management.

 

[Suntouchable13]

My impression is that other GMs around the league may not want to deal with Masai anymore. If that's the case, you must change management.

That’s fine, if it’s time it’s time but I am also not interested in new management tanking. I don’t want to drop to a 20 win team again.

 

[Ghost of Jody Hull]

Honestly, I wasn't all that surprised with the comments coming out yesterday. I don't really buy that Siakam or OG are untouchable in trade talks. I think the Raps would be very open to trading both of them. I just don't think they had an interest in trading them for Durant or Lillard because they knew that neither guy would have been happy here nor would they have pushed them over the top. They don't have a Booker or Giannis to pair with them.

I also don't think they want pure potential and picks. They want an established, but younger, player to grow with Barnes.

A mid-season Atlanta/Toronto trade with Siakam going for Dejounte Murray makes the most sense, IMO.

Earlier in the summer, it was reported that Siakam didn't want to sign an extension with anyone but Toronto, and his agent was telling that to other teams. Maybe this is Masai's way of nudging him towards wanting out.

 

[thewave]

That’s fine, if it’s time it’s time but I am also not interested in new management tanking. I don’t want to drop to a 20 win team again.

We don't have a lot of options. Oh and Masai is wasted and washed up here.

 

[hockeywiz542]

MLSE backs away from WNBA expansion bidding, leaving hopes of a Toronto franchise in doubt, sources say

The Star has learned that MLSE’s board has decided against bidding to add to its collection of franchises with the first WNBA team outside of the U.S.

www.thestar.com

On the heels of the WNBA announcing its expansion plans to the Bay Area today, the Star has learned that Toronto’s bid for a team is very much in question because Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment is no longer pursuing a franchise.

Multiple basketball sources confirm MLSE’s board has decided against bidding to add to its collection of franchises with the first WNBA team outside of the United States.

Despite the overwhelming success of the league’s first Toronto pre-season game last spring – a sellout crowd of about 20,000 watched Minnesota and Chicago play at the Scotiabank Arena – the MLSE board has pulled out of the process.

There are several issues at play, the sources said.

The expected $50-million (U.S.) price tag – payable in 10 $5-million increments one source said – was a factor as were differences of opinion at the highest level of MLSE ownership.

Larry Tanenbaum is selling off a small portion of his stake in the company, Rogers family scion Edward Rogers is flexing more muscle at the board level and the organization isn’t fully together on the issue.

And without MLSE, which owns the arena, a world-class practice facility and has ties to both Canadian sports networks, it will be difficult for any outside group to put together a bid that would satisfy the WNBA.

The league and the Golden State Warriors were expected to hold a news conference at 1 p.m. ET to share additional details about the WNBA’s 13th franchise, and its home in the San Francisco Bay Area.