Raptors 2014 Offseason: King James to Toronto

jalenrose#5 · Post #1 » by **jalenrose#5** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 10:20 pm

Toronto Trades:

Kyle Lowry (expiring)
Landry Fields (1 year left)
John Salmons (Team option, can be declined)
2014 First Round Pick (lotto protected)
2014 Second Round Pick
2016 Second Round Pick via NYK

Brooklyn Trades:

Deron Williams

Why for Toronto?

Toronto loads up here for a run at a title. Not this season, but next...you'll have to wait for it. Deron Williams, when healthy is an unreal talent, averaging 18/9 in his career with solid percentages from all areas on the court.

Problem is, I just don't see Kyle Lowry resigning with the Raptors. I also don't see any unrestricted free agents this year that are starter material. Here you trade for your starting point guard under a good contract.

Why for Brooklyn?

Deron Williams hasn't been healthy, the club is getting older, KG is a shell of his former self, Lopez is an injury risk etc. The club has gotten better lately, however there's a ton of money tied up for this team and they're all getting older.

This is the move that gives the club some flexibility with regard to their salaries. Salmons and Lowry expire this year, and Fields becomes trade bait during the season as an expiring 7 mill contract. With Pierce expiring, as well as Lowry and Salmons, the club sheds a ton of money here. With Fields and Garnett as trade bait, the Nets can now build their team around their first round picks, Lopez, Joe Johnson, and maybe a quality free agent signing.

2014 Raptors Offseason Objective: Sign LeBron James

Pretty simple, Drake/Tim Leiweke, time to turn on your charm. MLSE has stated they will go into the luxury cap for the right situation. What better option than to get LeBron James.

James I feel will sign either in New York, Toronto, Cleveland, LA Lakers, Chicago, or re-sign in Miami.

Offseason Add #2: Add Vince Carter to retire as a Raptor..hopefully by getting one kick at the can at a title.

Here's their marketing pitch aka the projected roster...

Deron Williams/Greivis Vasquez/Dwight Buycks
DeMar DeRozan/Terrence Ross
LeBron James (max deal)/Vince Carter (1 yr + option)/Steve Novak
Amir Johnson/Patrick Patterson
Jonas Valanciunas/Tyler Hansbrough

DeRozan, one of the best mid-range scorers in the game, Williams one of the better point guards when healthy. Valanciunas one of the best young centers in the game, and Amir Johnson, one of the most underrated players in the game.

This team can easily win the Atlantic, and possibly take the East. I feel this is fairly realistic given the Raptors new ownership, leadership, vision, and image now in the NBA.

Thoughts.

LarsV8 · Post #2 » by **LarsV8** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 10:22 pm

Frankly, I would love this.

Hope Milwaukee gets Wiggins, Magic get Jabari.

I am ready for New York, Miami and LA to spend a decade in the basement.

jalenrose#5 · Post #3 » by **jalenrose#5** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 10:28 pm

LarsV8 wrote:Frankly, I would love this.

Hope Milwaukee gets Wiggins, Magic get Jabari.

I am ready for New York, Miami and LA to spend a decade in the basement.

I would too.

But the real question is whether LBJ would sign here...I can't help but think if the Raptors had Williams and James starting instead of Lowry/Ross they would get a ton more consistency (Ross is inconsistent). Raptors are a .500 team as is right now (slightly better than .500 possibly by the end of the year, project around 45-50 wins). Add James and Williams and subtract Lowry...you're looking at an extra 10-15 wins wins in my opinion.

Would King James go for it? Akron, Ohio is a 40 minute plane ride from Toronto..he's close to home and used to the cold...I say, why not at least try.

azuresou1 · Post #4 » by **azuresou1** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 10:29 pm

Disregarding the trade for a second, I don't see how that roster really entices LeBron at all. How much better is Deron than Lowry, when fully healthy? At this point, not all that much.

Even if you buy the 'LeBron James would leave Miami' storyline (which I personally think is ridiculous), there are way better teams out there for him to join. "This team could possibly take the East" is not a very strong sales pitch to a man coming off two titles.

Post #5 » by **loserX** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 10:32 pm

I am Canadian and live in Canada, so trust me when I say I mean no offense. But LeBron will never, ever sign in TO. It just won't happen. NBA players simply are not excited about living in this country.

The best free agent that has ever signed in Toronto was probably a well-past-his-prime Olajuwon. No way are the Raps going to land the best player in the world while in his prime.

(Again, no offense. I'm a Jazz fan and he ain't coming to SLC either.)

MNRunLeft · Post #6 » by **MNRunLeft** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 10:37 pm

Coming off multipule titles in South Beach LeBron is going to pack up and move to Toronto for a team that can possibly take the East? Call me skeptical but I just don't see it....

Also not confident the Nets are willing to throw in the towel on DWill for a lotto protected 1st and the bird rights to Lowery, plus the oppertunity to get taxed on Landry Fields' terrible contract for even a season.

jalenrose#5 · Post #7 » by **jalenrose#5** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 10:39 pm

azuresou1 wrote:Disregarding the trade for a second, I don't see how that roster really entices LeBron at all. How much better is Deron than Lowry, when fully healthy? At this point, not all that much.

Even if you buy the 'LeBron James would leave Miami' storyline (which I personally think is ridiculous), there are way better teams out there for him to join. "This team could possibly take the East" is not a very strong sales pitch to a man coming off two titles.

The Raptors are leading the Atlantic right now and are poised to win 45-50 games this season.

Even if Williams and Lowry are a wash, Adding LeBron James to this roster makes them a legit title contender.

Look at the Miami roster and tell me the Raptors are far worse.

Chalmers/Cole
Wade/Allen
LBJ/Beasley
Battier/Haslem
Bosh/Andersen

vs

Williams/Vasquez/Buycks (edge to Toronto by a landslide, with Lowry or Williams)
DeRozan/Ross (Wade and DeRozan are both great mid range shooters, Ross and Allen provide 3 pt threats, you can see a comparison there)
LBJ/Carter/Novak
Amir/Patterson (much younger 27/24, and much more balanced rosters)
Valanciunas/Hansbrough (JV younger not reached his prime, Hansbrough similar to Birdman)

I feel that is the marketing pitch right there you give James...this roster vs your current roster that has won 2 championships.

You replace the aging Wade and Bosh with two players under the age of 25 in DeRozan and Valanciunas. DeRozan is the second highest scoring SG in the game, and JV is a legit double double every night, one of the best young centers in the game. Add in Williams as your primary ball handler and Amir in there as your under the radar guy...you're looking at a Championship calibre team that has 35+ million people cheering for them in Canada, and I'm sure that many people in the States bandwagoning over to the Raptors.

LApwnd · Post #8 » by **LApwnd** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 11:15 pm

LarsV8 wrote:Frankly, I would love this.

Hope Milwaukee gets Wiggins, Magic get Jabari.

I am ready for New York, Miami and LA to spend a decade in the basement.

dont hold your breath to long waiting for that to happen, NY maybe but the other 2 :lol:

as for OP, where do you guys come up with this stuff? :-?

Def Leppard · Post #9 » by **Def Leppard** » Thu Jan 16, 2014 12:35 am

This won't happen but, deron is in rough shape and not worth it. Toronto signing LBJ would be like using codes in a video game... Sure it might be fun for the first few games but, it means so much less to win with him, would rather our team beats him as opposed to joining him or him joining us.

Relentless88 · Post #10 » by **Relentless88** » Thu Jan 16, 2014 1:41 am

Lebron is not coming to Toronto and Deron for Lowry is kind of a lateral move. Deron is obviously better, but how much better is he now? He has chronic ankle issues and Lowry has been playing at a superstar level since the Rudy trade.

NaturalBuns · Post #11 » by **NaturalBuns** » Thu Jan 16, 2014 1:50 am

Its either MIA or CLE for Lebron.
I can't believe other city's actually think they are going to get Lebron.
Friends or not he has a image and hes not going to give people more fuel

jayjaysee · Post #12 » by **jayjaysee** » Thu Jan 16, 2014 4:00 am

Can every teams fans please post a version of this?

Chicago trades Gibson, Dunleavy, and Hinrich to Phx for Okafor, Wiz first, and a 2nd. This helps the tank for Chicago. And greatly solidifies the playoff positioning for Phx.

Sign Lebron. Noah, Lebron, Butler, Rose, Chicago then has their top 10 pick, Wiz pick, possibly Char pick, and a couple seconds. Mirotic with the MLE. Noah, Mirotic, Lebron, Butler, Rose. And 3 picks in the best draft in ten years. That's LBJ's shot at 8 rings..

Or Dallas. Trade Calderon, Dalembert and Monte for Deron, Shengelia. Wright, Ellington, and Larkin package for Asik, Brewer.. Asik, Deron.. Sign Dirk to a backloaded deal (2-3 year 10-11 mil average but only 7-8 million in year 1).. Sign Lebron.. Asik, Dirk, Lebron, MLE, Deron.. Would be a fun couple seasons.. Dirk and Deron expire together and then Lebron can bring in a new friend..

Yup it works with any team signing Lebron while getting assets for the pieces they traded to make room for him..

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