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

[saska sault]

I'm surprised more people aren't talking about Harden. I'd gamble on a Harden trade... sure he has baggage, but we need a scorer to take pressure off of Siakam and we're not getting a 1A guy in his prime like Lillard without blowing up our team. Trent, Dick, Achiwa, 1st are pieces I'd move for him.

Barnes, Harden, OG, Siakam, Poeltl is a legit starting 5.

Harden on paper is a great addition, the problem isn't his talent its his character and how he usually leaves teams in a worse state...

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[ULF_55]

Not NBA but Canada wins bronze.

Nice for Canada, not so much for USofA.

 

[LaPlante94]

Shai is a pretty damn good player. Also, Schroeder and Germany won the tournament with Scroeder winning MVP of the tournament. I know some looked at his signing like we were signing a bad player but he can play.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Shai is a pretty damn good player. Also, Schroeder and Germany won the tournament with Scroeder winning MVP of the tournament. I know some looked at his signing like we were signing a bad player but he can play.

We'll see, maybe that gives him more confidence going into the season and he explodes. Who knows.

 

[Dr.Funk]

 

[trellaine201]

I haven’t really followed this but i thought Lilard said it was Miami or nothing?

 

[IceColdBear]

OG + Dick + pick + cap filler for Dame please.

Lillard-Trent-Barnes-Siakam-Poeltl

With Schroeder off the bench as 6 man - that's a team that could make some noise, and it would justify the idiotic Poeltl trade.

Lillard has term on his contract - I think he would realise he would have a chance to win here, and would eventually open up to playing in Toronto. The guy is not going to sit out the last few years of his prime.

Get it done Masai!

 

[Dr.Funk]

OG + Dick + pick + cap filler for Dame please.

Lillard-Trent-Barnes-Siakam-Poeltl

With Schroeder off the bench as 6 man - that's a team that could make some noise, and it would justify the idiotic Poeltl trade.

Lillard has term on his contract - I think he would realise he would have a chance to win here, and would eventually open up to playing in Toronto. The guy is not going to sit out the last few years of his prime.

Get it done Masai!

God god no.

Dame is just not a championship team leading player. Unless we can get him dirt cheap I want no part.

 

[IceColdBear]

God god no.

Dame is just not a championship team leading player. Unless we can get him dirt cheap I want no part.

Dame, Siakam, and Barnes would be a very nice trio, and we would still have solid depth and role players around them.

I don't see any path to relevancy for this team without a move like that, a full scale rebuild (we're without our first round pick this year -.-), or Barnes breaking out in a major way (I don't see the offensive upside there myself).

What would you want the team to do?

 

[LeafChief]

So we're getting Dame and then signing Giannis next off-season right? Right?

 

[GreytWun]

Portland is only using our team to make Miami bite the bullet on whatever they want. I don’t see any way Dame is a raptor next year.

 

[stats1]

Yeah I think Portland is leaking this info to get Miami to up their offer. This isn’t like Kwahi where he only had 1 year left on his deal. Dame is entering Year 1 of a massive 4 year extension. If Dame is so set on Miami I don’t see Masai risking it

 

[saska sault]

I think the only way we do it, is if we somehow keep most of the core intact. Otherwise doesn't make sense. If you trade for Dame is to go for a championship and we would need to keep most of our big pieces and Portland can likely get a better offer from Miami.... I know Masai likes to swing for the fences sometimes but it would a crazier trade then for Kawhi IMO. Then again, everything so far points to the fact they are going to give this team another run at it until the trade deadline so why not?

 

[stats1]

Another reason the Raptors do this is because Masai still has his eyes on Giannis. You aren’t going to convince Giannis without some sort of plan to compete. If they could land Dame and convince him to stay, in a year or so when Giannis asks out or eventually becomes a free agent. You could go to Giannis and say Hey come play with Dame and Siakam

 

[stats1]

There’s a ton of smoke to this story though. Personally I would love for it to happen we’ve been in treadmill territory since the championship

 

[Suntouchable13]

There’s a ton of smoke to this story though. Personally I would love for it to happen we’ve been in treadmill territory since the championship

Definitely like this idea more than stripping it all down and sinking to the bottom, as if that guarantees anything. Go for it, swing for the fences. Make it fun.

 

[GoonieFace]

Didn’t Lillard basically say he didn’t want to play for Toronto? Seems like it’s a pipe dream

 

[Ghost of Jody Hull]

I don't buy the "Lillard wouldn't be happy in Toronto" narrative. It seems like most of those stories are originating from the Miami media.

Would it be his preferred destination? No. But the guy wants to win, and if there's an NBA exec who has as much respect from players as Riley, it's Masai. I think he could sell Lillard on coming to the Raptors. "Look at what we did with Kawhi. We'll do the same thing with you."

From the Raptors perspective, they kind of have to pick a lane here. If Masai is serious about pursuing Giannis, having a co-star like Lillard is a must. Giannis doesn't seem like a guy who cares about playing in a sunny market. He cares about winning. But he's not coming here to play with Siakam. I bet he'd consider Lillard, though.

If the Raps can do it for Anunoby + Dick + Boucher + Porter + 2-3 1st round picks, I think you have to.

Trotting out a starting 5 of Poetl, Siakam, Barnes, Trent and Lillard would make them the team to beat in the East, IMO.

 

[stats1]

And who really scares you in the East? Miami just lost a pair of guys to free agency, Philly is a mess, Celtics just gave the bag to Brown, Porzingis is injured again. If the Raptors pull a Dame trade there’s no reason they can’t compete with those teams. Also you don’t go year to year in sports. There’s always 3 year plans, 5 year plans etc. Masai wouldn’t get Dame without not only making sure he’s onboard coming here but also the moves going forward. Maybe it opens the door for Barnes getting moved for Giannis? Who knows! But this wouldn’t be a 1 off move there is definitely a plan in the works if this does happen

The issue with Miami from what I’ve read is Portland are not too keen about Herro. If you could get the Suns to be a third team, you could flip OG to Phoenix Portland can take Ayton, Dick + picks and Toronto lands Dame

 

[stats1]

Nurkic would also have to go back to Phoenix to make the money work

 

[donghabs98]

Portland is only using our team to make Miami bite the bullet on whatever they want. I don’t see any way Dame is a raptor next year.

As much as the idea of Dame coming here is exciting. I think the Raps are just being used for leverage by Portland. Can't see an actual deal happening.

 

[stats1]

I don't buy the "Lillard wouldn't be happy in Toronto" narrative. It seems like most of those stories are originating from the Miami media.

Would it be his preferred destination? No. But the guy wants to win, and if there's an NBA exec who has as much respect from players as Riley, it's Masai. I think he could sell Lillard on coming to the Raptors. "Look at what we did with Kawhi. We'll do the same thing with you."

From the Raptors perspective, they kind of have to pick a lane here. If Masai is serious about pursuing Giannis, having a co-star like Lillard is a must. Giannis doesn't seem like a guy who cares about playing in a sunny market. He cares about winning. But he's not coming here to play with Siakam. I bet he'd consider Lillard, though.

If the Raps can do it for Anunoby + Dick + Boucher + Porter + 2-3 1st round picks, I think you have to.

Trotting out a starting 5 of Poetl, Siakam, Barnes, Trent and Lillard would make them the team to beat in the East, IMO.

Lillard may not want to come at first but Masai is a great influencer plus Dame has over 200 million reasons to report. All this talk from stars about preferred destinations is just leverage. A signed contract is a binding agreement, if he doesn’t report then he doesn’t get paid. Imagine trying to explain to his wife and kids that the 2-3 million dollar paycheque twice a month isn’t coming because I don’t want to go to Toronto lol seems lame

Also we just went through with this with Kwahi. Didn’t want to come apparently, Masai talked to him and his uncle, he showed up and we all know what happened

 

[DuklaNation]

When you have 3 key pending UFAs, that is poor management. This roster can go sideways really fast by next offseason. I don't see Dame coming here unless its for a prospect/picks weighted package. Otherwise, remaining roster isn't good enough.

Management of this team has gone downhill recently.

 

[stats1]

As much as the idea of Dame coming here is exciting. I think the Raps are just being used for leverage by Portland. Can't see an actual deal happening.

Outside of Dame apparently not wanting to go anywhere but Miami the Raptors actually have the better assets then both Miami and Chicago. The Bulls have nothing to offer, Miami have Herro and picks. Raptors have the picks and better roster players to offer Portland or a 3rd team if needed

When you have 3 key pending UFAs, that is poor management. This roster can go sideways really fast by next offseason. I don't see Dame coming here unless its for a prospect/picks weighted package. Otherwise, remaining roster isn't good enough.

Management of this team has gone downhill recently.

That’s why the more I think about this the more I’m on the “do it” train. Just pick a direction and go forward, if it’s to build around Barnes then trade Siakam and Trent OG for picks and futures, if not go get Dame. Pick one, this treadmill stuff the last 5 years has been a disaster from a asset management point of view