babyjax13 wrote:oldncreaky wrote:ReggiesKnicks wrote:
This is a great assessment.
The problem with Toronto is that their starting line-up isn't that good. They are +4.1 in ~170 minutes, and without Poeltl, they are -0.9 in about 270 minutes. That is a team that is likely to be destined for a 1st-round exit.
The player they should look to move off of is R.J. Barrett, and using Agbaji as expiring salary ballast can get them a player making upwards of 33 Million to still duck the tax.
Barrett + Agbaji for Vucevic + Okoro could be interesting. Jalen Smith is another target they could consider adding. Perhaps simplifying a deal and doing Agbaji + 2nd(s) for Smith makes some sense as a floor-spacing bench 5.
If Memphis has a fire sale, Santi Aldami is intriguing, as he is on a declining contract starting around 18 million.
Gafford is another interesting bench big who protects the rim, rebounds and pressures the rim in the pick and roll, but a trade with a team so far in the tax isn't tenable as a 2-team deal with Toronto.
Toronto has been a pleasant surprise thus far, but the starting lineup not being the catalyst for their success raises major concerns about how good the team can become by April.
Thank you for the compliment
I'd hold off on final assessments of TOR's starters for awhile. First, the trend has been very promising and upward, but the competition has been too weak to allow a proper evaluation of the Raptors. Second, they are still quite young as a group, with only Poeltl anywhere close to "old" at 30. Last but most importantly, that small 170 minute sample size for the group you mentioned is literally the only sample we have for them. I'll give it to at least the TDL to evaluate.
RJ is off to a good start -- reduced role has led to increased efficiency (60% TS%) and better D, which mimics what happens every time he has played on the Canadian National BB team. Also, his rebounding is better than most of our wings, and sorely needed. RJ limped off the court with a sprained knee last night, so we might find out what the team looks like without him over the next few weeks anyway.
As for the target for upgrading, without talking about specific players the attributes I'd be looking for for fit are:
1. Rebounding
2. Mobility
3. Good hands
4. Guarding the paint
5. Passing
6. Don't do dumb stuff
7. D (switching) outside the paint
...
and any other offensive skills are just a bonus that I'm not sure I want to pay for in a backup. Given what I prioritise, Aldama is interesting but maybe too expensive this season, Gafford useful but just a stopgap, and neither Vucevic or Smith are really mobile enough for me to be interested at their salary number.
TBH though, I don't spend a lot of time thinking about potential trades for TOR because I don't want to get my hopes up -- I expect the front office will cheap-out at the direction of ownership. (My best guess is that TOR will trade Agbaji for a min-salary scrub who may not even be a C or C/PF). But if I am pushed, someone like Bitadze would be a good fit.
I think it would be hard to get all of that, but Gafford provides most of it. Jaylin Williams also sounds like a good fit?
Hadn't thought of Jaylin Williams, but agree he would be a great on-court fit. Probably the only assets that TOR could offer that OKC would even care about are high-variance picks and/or pick swaps?
But as always, if the FO/owner will not pay luxury tax, it's all daydreaming
