You are the GM of the RAPTORS...what are you doing this offseason?

[Astaluego]

At the beginning of a rebuild, they have picks 19/31 with I.Quickey reaching Restricted Free Agency and a 23 million player option on Bruce Brown as the most important decisions...
What would you do?

[ThatBoyNick]

Their management and rebuild strategy has been so confusing and frustrating.

If I’m the GM im stripping the team down to Barnes and Dick. I don’t get the attempt to place fit and floor pieces in by paying and playing IQ/Barrett/Poeltl to propel the team into a habitual 10th seed chaser.

[jayjaysee]

It’s a tough spot. The best thing IMO would be matching IQ, trading Poeltl and finishing with a bottom 5 record next year on purpose(ish)... Then building a roster around Barnes/IQ and that draft pick.. get active next offseason, trading for talent to fit around their young trio and whoever else they didn’t flip/dump. Not a Toronto fan, but that’s what I would be hoping for, best way to probably build a true contender..

But when you have a prospect as good as Barnes and someone who looked as good as IQ did, it’s probably hard to plan to tank.

I think they mostly just run it back this offseason. They can decide 20-30 games in if they should pivot into a tank or trade a few firsts for talent.

[Skybox]

Poeltl for the MEM pick is an interesting proposal for both. Draft shooters up and down the roster. Brown for picks & expirings or, if possible, a young prospect that a contender can’t wait for.

[Godaddycurse]

It’s a tough spot. The best thing IMO would be matching IQ, trading Poeltl and finishing with a bottom 5 record next year on purpose(ish)... Then building a roster around Barnes/IQ and that draft pick.. get active next offseason, trading for talent to fit around their young trio and whoever else they didn’t flip/dump. Not a Toronto fan, but that’s what I would be hoping for, best way to probably build a true contender..

But when you have a prospect as good as Barnes and someone who looked as good as IQ did, it’s probably hard to plan to tank.

I think they mostly just run it back this offseason. They can decide 20-30 games in if they should pivot into a tank or trade a few firsts for talent.

Ya probably end up doing what Utah did this past year. Try to win first half of season then pivot to a tank. Masai wants to see if Barnes and/or IQ can both take another step forward to become a first option. They are still young so maybe it could happen but more likely it wont and we will have to decide between treadmilling like chicago or tear it down

Although our bench is likely amongst the worst in the league and should carry the tank either way

[balsamic_ducks]

I'm trading everyone not named Barnes, IQ or Dick.

[wegotthabeet]

Poeltl for the MEM pick is an interesting proposal for both. Draft shooters up and down the roster. Brown for picks & expirings or, if possible, a young prospect that a contender can’t wait for.

This if possible.

Then use the 9th + 19th to trade up for Reed Sheppard. Cut Brown, renounce Trent, use cap space to bail out a 2nd apron team and acquire a 2025 or 2026 pick for doing so. Bottom out in 2025. Get a top ten pick.

Barnes
Quickley
Barrett
Sheppard
Dick
2 x 2025 picks
2 x 2026 picks

Go from there.

[esvl]

Poeltl for the MEM pick is an interesting proposal for both. Draft shooters up and down the roster. Brown for picks & expirings or, if possible, a young prospect that a contender can’t wait for.

It is interesting. For Toronto. Not for Memphis.

Toronto seems locked in mediocracy with IQ, Barret, and Poeltl. Until their FO makes a Kawhi 2.0 miracle.

[jbk1234]

I think you decline Brown's option and wait on GTJ. They'll still have early bird rights on Brown and with a base salary of in the $20M range it won't matter. I'm not going higher than $25M per on IQ voluntarily. Getting these guys signed to reasonable numbers is going to be the difference between them being viewed as trade assets, or not.

Wait for the right deal on Poeltl. That contract will age well with the cap going up. If starting a traditional 5 hampers Barnes, stagger their minutes, bring Poetl off the bench depending on the matchup. Be patient at least for this season.

[Texas Chuck]

Decline Brown. Issue QO to IQ and follow up by making him a really competitive, but declining offer. If he won't take it and signs an offer sheet that is both more money and worse structured than your best offer, let him walk.

See if a team fell for that post-trade efficiency of RJ and move him. Definitely move Poeltl. Try and be the salary dump team for assets, if not wait on free agency for some bargains to sign to hopefully flip.

The other thing I would explore is calling up OKC and seeing what they would give me for Barnes. He seems like a really good final piece for them and they have the ability to really pay a premium.

[Jadoogar]

The rebuild has been handled quite poorly so we are in a strange spot and it will be hard to bottom out.
#1 - re-sign IQ to a reasonable deal 20-25M/yr ideally
#2 - Get Bruce Brown off this team. I think he can help a contender but he really not useful on the Raptors. I don't think we will get much in return for him but even some 2nds would be enough, he's not part of the long term plan
#3 - look for backup point guard and some shooting in FA
#4 - gauge the value of Poeltl around the league. I like Poeltl as a player and the raptors do need a center but he's just on a different timeline
#5 - consolidate #19/31 and target a player you really like. Even if you only move up 1-2 spots in the draft, i would rather get the player you want than try to develop 2 rookies

The Raptors are still going to suck next year (but atleast we have our pick). Go into next season as a development year for Scottie, IQ, RJ and Gradey. I don't think we need to tank since the team will already suck but see if you can move Poeltl for future assets just to help the chances at a better pick. The only true tanking teams i see right now are Washington and Detroit (although they probably want to improve).

[Colbinii]

-Re-sign IQ to 4/100 to 4/115
-Shop Barnes (#1+ is interesting)
-Pick up the PO for Bruce Brown
-Continue to shop, for the 2nd year in a row, McDaniels/Boucher
-See what the market is for Poeltl

[BlazersBroncos]

If there is even a 1% chance Barnes is on the table OKC needs to make an absurd offer.

[Godaddycurse]

Decline Brown. Issue QO to IQ and follow up by making him a really competitive, but declining offer. If he won't take it and signs an offer sheet that is both more money and worse structured than your best offer, let him walk.

See if a team fell for that post-trade efficiency of RJ and move him. Definitely move Poeltl. Try and be the salary dump team for assets, if not wait on free agency for some bargains to sign to hopefully flip.

The other thing I would explore is calling up OKC and seeing what they would give me for Barnes. He seems like a really good final piece for them and they have the ability to really pay a premium.

I wouldn't be surprised if OKC is the one that calls Masai up to see what it would take to pry him loose. By all indications Masai have stated/acted as if he is building his team around Barnes so it will take a hefty premium. I do agree he would be an ideal modern/younger draymond like piece for them to complete their team.

I think Raptors are hoping/betting on IQ to replicate the career trajectory of Brunson so even a 25% max woudn't faze them with the upcoming cap raise.

[Godaddycurse]

-Re-sign IQ to 4/100 to 4/115
-Shop Barnes (#1+ is interesting)
-Pick up the PO for Bruce Brown
-Continue to shop, for the 2nd year in a row, McDaniels/Boucher
-See what the market is for Poeltl

if we are shopping barnes it would be for 2025 and/or 2026 picks. The prospects in this class is simply not worth it, rather bet on Barnes making another jump than taking a chance on this class.

[165bows]

If there is even a 1% chance Barnes is on the table OKC needs to make an absurd offer.

It's kind of a cliche that Okc should get in one every star under the sun but how are they going to pay SGA/Chet/Williams/+other guy? Never really see this part addressed that they have a small window before their costs go way up.

[Texas Chuck]

I wouldn't be surprised if OKC is the one that calls Masai up to see what it would take to pry him loose. By all indications Masai have stated/acted as if he is building his team around Barnes so it will take a hefty premium. I do agree he would be an ideal modern/younger draymond like piece for them to complete their team.

I think Raptors are hoping/betting on IQ to replicate the career trajectory of Brunson so even a 25% max woudn't faze them with the upcoming cap raise.

Don't really care who calls who, but Masai should definitely explore it imo. Even if his track record tells us he doesn't have it in him to make that move.

I think expecting IQ to become Brunson is pretty darn unrealistic. Brunson is now a top 10 player in the entire league. Doesn't mean IQ can't be really good and maxing him be a mistake(I just haven't seen enough personally to want to do that today). But man that's a huge ask.

[Texas Chuck]

If there is even a 1% chance Barnes is on the table OKC needs to make an absurd offer.

It's kind of a cliche that Okc should get in one every star under the sun but how are they going to pay SGA/Chet/Williams/+other guy? Never really see this part addressed that they have a small window before their costs go way up.

Well since this was my idea....Jalen Williams is obviously at the center of the offer for Barnes. Now you have SGA/Barnes/Chet as the three guys you pay huge money to. Very doable especially we have seen OKC being willing to pay tax bills when they have a team that supports it. And well, that team has arrived.

Oh and you must not be on this board much, we have spent tons of time talking about OKC's financial window. Which is why many of us believe they will be hyper aggressive this summer, and not worry if they are adding a short team piece.

[Godaddycurse]

I wouldn't be surprised if OKC is the one that calls Masai up to see what it would take to pry him loose. By all indications Masai have stated/acted as if he is building his team around Barnes so it will take a hefty premium. I do agree he would be an ideal modern/younger draymond like piece for them to complete their team.

I think Raptors are hoping/betting on IQ to replicate the career trajectory of Brunson so even a 25% max woudn't faze them with the upcoming cap raise.

Don't really care who calls who, but Masai should definitely explore it imo. Even if his track record tells us he doesn't have it in him to make that move.

I think expecting IQ to become Brunson is pretty darn unrealistic. Brunson is now a top 10 player in the entire league. Doesn't mean IQ can't be really good and maxing him be a mistake(I just haven't seen enough personally to want to do that today). But man that's a huge ask.

yea i meant brunson of last year, who was still really good/well worth his contract. I'm not expecting IQ to become a top 10 player either.

[Colbinii]

-Re-sign IQ to 4/100 to 4/115
-Shop Barnes (#1+ is interesting)
-Pick up the PO for Bruce Brown
-Continue to shop, for the 2nd year in a row, McDaniels/Boucher
-See what the market is for Poeltl

if we are shopping barnes it would be for 2025 and/or 2026 picks. The prospects in this class is simply not worth it, rather bet on Barnes making another jump than taking a chance on this class.

Well you aren't taking a chance on this class, you are taking a chance on the #1 player in this class, which is a better prospect than Barnes.

I don't think the teams picking at the top of the 2025 or 2026 draft would give you unprotected picks for Barnes. Those teams are in a similar situation as Toronto--needing a true #1, and since Barnes isn't that, why would they be giving unprotected 1sts which project highly?

Toronto is going to be giving Barnes a Max Contract, either this off-season of next season. That's a lot of money for a player who doesn't project to be a #1 or even #2 option on a consistent basis.