RAPS need to tank.... seriously

[gei]

Um... is that how the Lakers and Celtics did it? Or how the Miami Heat may do it this year?

I don't know what the obsession with 'tanking' is on this board. We'll end up with a top-10 pick who will make little to no difference in the long run.

[Upgrayedd]

This team as it's constructed isn't going to win many games this season anyways. Might as well just let them play, instead of telling them to start losing games on purpose. Also the only players on our team other teams might be interested in would be the same guys that most people want to keep around.

[djsunyc]

i think they should only start 3 players. show the REAL fans they're serious about tanking.

[number15]

Um... is that how the Lakers and Celtics did it? Or how the Miami Heat may do it this year?

I don't know what the obsession with 'tanking' is on this board. We'll end up with a top-10 pick who will make little to no difference in the long run.

- Boston traded all they'r top draft pick players (considered pretty good prospects at the time) for Allen and KG. If they didnt have the pieces KG/Allen wouldnt happen. Seattle and Minny were not gonna do Boston anhy favors.

- LA Lakers got Kobe through a Draft day trade..... dont need to say much more

- Miami is an exception. but how often does a team land a Lebron/Bosh combo to go along a D.Wade?, sure as hell wont be in Toronto.... but hey they got Wade from the draft (their best player)

[Dr Octagon]

Triano is our tank commander.

No worries.

[JackedFinancier]

Um... is that how the Lakers and Celtics did it? Or how the Miami Heat may do it this year?

I don't know what the obsession with 'tanking' is on this board. We'll end up with a top-10 pick who will make little to no difference in the long run.

While I would argue that the OP's comments are a little excessive, I believe he is right. You may be right, no, the Lakers, nor Celtics, nor Miami Heat have done that, however, teams such as the Thunder, the Bulls and the Trailblazers have. They are all playoff contenders and the Thunder have a legitimate chance at the title this year. The Raptors need to make the sacrifice and obviously with luck, they will get some low draft picks and give us a brighter future going forward.

[TorontoRapture]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKUOB8MN4Kc[/youtube]

I'll be happy if I see three things:

The Raptors play close games, most games, but lose the vast majority of them. Showing they are a piece or two away from the playoffs. I have never liked Ping-Pong more.

They focus on developing their young talent...which they don't have a storied history of doing.

They properly re-build with blue chip talent through the draft (does Bargs have a brother?...no?...good,) by tanking/naturally sucking for a couple seasons, so that they can attract high caliber players to join the team in the future.

or...

They could always re-build by attracting all-star caliber players now, with their winning organization and star-studded roster like self-proclaimed "real" fans think they should do. Since there are so many of those players out there on teams that wouldn't bother fighting tooth-and-nail to keep them, and would be more than willing to trade them to the Raptors for Calderon. Toronto is the obvious first choice for coming high-caliber free agents next off-season.

[bloojoo]

Triano is our tank commander.

No worries.

+1

[Orsk]

- LA Lakers got Kobe through a Draft day trade..... dont need to say much more
:[/i]

Kobe was a number 13 pick and wasn't a superstar overnight. didn't know we needed to tank for a pick outside the top 10 now, plus DD went 9th, Ed went 13th and then there is bargs, if we are using Kobe to justify building through the draft then we should be contenders by now. Tanking is stupid and the draft is all based on luck and speculation

[LAUGHING]

We can try our best and still will get a top 3 pick

[Ka5p3r]

our future is set on derozan and derozan only....next year's draft we're drafting a big/PG or trading for a PG/big....reggie, calderon, bargs gonna get shipped....

watch

[WhatsaTDot]

The current players should try their best, thats right. The current management should not try to temporarily/artificially make us better though. Jack/Evans/Calderon/Baks can all be traded but I hope its for prospects or picks rather than Corey Magette types.

[TorontoRapture]

The current players should try their best, thats right. The current management should not try to temporarily/artificially make us better though. Jack/Evans/Calderon/Baks can all be traded but I hope its for prospects or picks rather than Corey Magette types.

I'll drink to that.

[HomieOmey]

I say, blow up the team..... keep just DeRozan/Davis and move anyone else that can be moved, for draft picks... even low picks, which can be packaged with the Miami pick for a higher pick

I think we're already pretty much guaranteed a pretty high draft pick. If we're trading any combination of Bargnani, Jack, Amir, Kleiza, and/or Barbosa, I would need something a bit more concrete than an average pick or two. Even if you're trading them all for one guy like Kevin Love + as much cap relief as you can get. I'm not saying Love is the best or worst target, and we would obviously need to include a third or fourth party, but if we're giving up all of our talent, we need something a bit more concrete than an Ed Davis + DD foundation.

[Hendrix]

The current players should try their best, thats right. The current management should not try to temporarily/artificially make us better though. Jack/Evans/Calderon/Baks can all be traded but I hope its for prospects or picks rather than Corey Magette types.

I agree with this. But I'de also rather Jay play the young guys like Amir/Davis over Reggie, and Derozan instead of Barbosa at this point. Would give us some additional losses maybe (or maybe not), but atleast we'de be getting experience fore people that are here for the long run. And if it gives us a few exgtra lotto balls so be it.

[Hendrix]

If you purposely tank you never get what you want. Nets had the worst record last year didnt get john wall. The Bulls rose from near the bottom of the top 10 and got rose. Let the players play and everything will dictate itself. Let's just enjoy the maturation and trials of our players.

This doesnt really make sense to me.

The word "never" is kinda concrete/ not true. And what if you are just looking at improving your chances at getting a better player? Then that's exactly what you're doing, and you're getting exactly what you want. For example the Nets didnt get Wall, but they got Favors who is posting per 36 minute #s of 17.2 points, 15.5 rebounds, and .646ts% as a 19 year old

In poker if you have pocket aces, and someone goes all in before you then obviously you call because you're 80%+ favorite. Sometimes you're going to loose, but all you can do is give yourself the best chance to win and let the cards fall where they may. You don't start folding in that spot because 1 time someone cracked you aces. Just like you dont start trying to nab the #9 spot just because one time a team with a 2% chance of winning the #1 spot actually won it.

[OneTime86]

If you purposely tank you never get what you want. Nets had the worst record last year didnt get john wall. The Bulls rose from near the bottom of the top 10 and got rose. Let the players play and everything will dictate itself. Let's just enjoy the maturation and trials of our players.

Yup. I also think its funny when people say "we're pretty much guaranteed a top 3 pick." Only 1 of the 3 worst records were in the top 3 picks last draft and that was New Jersey who had the worst record and picked 3rd. Nothing is guaranteed.

[Jay240]

I think if you force young players to lose, then they might carry that over when it's time to win. Teach them to win and if they lose still well at least they're trying. Plus a team that's losing will make a great story if they turn it around. If they're slated to win 25-30 games and end up winning 15 well it's not that good of a story.