2024 Free Agent Class - Masai dropped a hint that we might pursue ex-Raptors in free agency, DeMar & Kyle?

[dagger]

The Raptors aren't wasting capital, or cap room, on Kyle or DeMar. This is clearly not the patience plan that Masai outlined at his news conference.

[James_Raptors]

We all watched the presser.

Absolutely false lol

"We" in the context if this conversation pertains to anyone attempting to speak about the OT with merit and facts.

[Spates]

The Raptors aren't wasting capital, or cap room, on Kyle or DeMar. This is clearly not the patience plan that Masai outlined at his news conference.

You may be right but I've wondered about locker room leadership and culture. I think the team is in need of a veteran player that embodies an ethic that the younger guys can step to. I think either Kyle or DeMar could be an extension of a culture that the FO may want to infuse into the locker room. I think the acquisitions of Young, Temple, and even Jak speak to this idea. Demar has productive years left so I'd imagine it'd be Kyle.

[ontnut]

Breaking News: Raptors sign Free Agent Andrea Bargnani to a veteran minimum contract.

[D3158]

Guys the We The North era is over let's move on.

We The North era was special. The whole We The North name, culture, winning culture, championship, all special, no doubt. I really don't like when someone said Scottie Barnes Era. You can't say that about a guy who shows lack of leadership. I know he will learn but seriously, Scottie Barnes Era whole thing is stupid. I have a cap of We The North and I wear it proudly every day.

[SpezNc]

The Raptors aren't wasting capital, or cap room, on Kyle or DeMar. This is clearly not the patience plan that Masai outlined at his news conference.

If anything I think Masai hinted that the organization does not plan to build through the UFA route.

I think that is what he meant by former raptor

I could see the FO going the RFA route though

[mrdressup]

It's Alvin Williams, right?

[agkagk]

The demar - jakob spurs connection mentoring our core three is intriguing!

Not perfect, but definitely worth a long “hmmm”

[Merit]

Say what you want about his relationship management — we know Masai has the personal relationships to ensure that past Raps would seriously consider his offers (he also has the chops to rebuild relationships that had bittered in the past).

I’m sure everyone watched the press conference, there was a segment where Masai was asked whether he valued the added flexibility in free agency or something along those lines, to which it was added that 5 of the top free agents are ex-Raptors.

This could mean nothing, but it could also be a signal that we intend to pursue previous Raptors in FA.

I’ll cut to the chase, according to Chat GPT the traded player exception (not allowing you to resign a player you traded) lasts 60 days — that would mean that technically we could be players in the OG sweepstakes. OG is the free agent that stands out to me the most and the fact that we traded him to NYK amidst the other issues the two teams are involved in definitely seems a little interesting.

Anyone with a deeper understanding of the CBA know whether we can indeed pursue OG? If we offer him close to a max contract and he agrees, he would be the perfect piece to add back to this team.

Kyle will also be expiring, so if we trade Dennis by the deadline and bring him back as a backup PG it would be the ultimate culture resetting move.

Then there’s also DeMar in the mix and DeMar has been asked in the past about a reunion with Kyle in Toronto — to which he answered that he would be open to it and thought about it in the past, but that this was currently Pascal/Fred’s team and that he’d only see himself going back if Pascal and Fred were no longer there.

Immanuel Quickley/Kyle Lowry/Kira
RJ Barrett/Gradey Dick
DeMar DeRozan
Scottie Barnes
Poeltl

With 3, maybe 4 draft picks this year…

That’s a young team with serious mentorship that I would consider very promising moving forward. Would also be the perfect vet roles for DeMar and Kyle as they near the ending of their careers. Not to mention, what’s a better sending off for DeMar than a return and retirement as a Toronto Raptor.

I’d trade our spare parts for Demar this year. That way we can audition him with our current team.

I would definitely bring Lowry back. He’d be the ideal backup point guard to have. Would settle everything down.

PG IQ/Lowry
SG RJ
SF Scottie/Gradey
PF Demar
C Poeltl/Porter

[Merit]

The Raptors aren't wasting capital, or cap room, on Kyle or DeMar. This is clearly not the patience plan that Masai outlined at his news conference.

And yet, I could see it happening. The optics are too good not to consider, especially if our first from San Antonio conveys this year. Edit: even if we keep the pick, I can still see it.

[mihaic]

The Raptors aren't wasting capital, or cap room, on Kyle or DeMar. This is clearly not the patience plan that Masai outlined at his news conference.

And yet, I could see it happening. The optics are too good not to consider, especially if our first from San Antonio conveys this year. Edit: even if we keep the pick, I can still see it.

I can see it happen rather in the new scenario you added. If we get a high pick, and get a 2025 pick return for BB, I can see us signing Demar with cap space and Kyle on vet min, and compete for playoffs next year.

NBA won't give us a #1 pick in a good draft year, imo. I hope we get a top 3 pick this year though

[ConSarnit]

If you’re Demar or Kyle don’t you want to go to actual good teams? These guys are probably more interested in the playoffs and chasing titles than coming back here. If Lowry is looking at the vet min there has to be far more appealing options than coming here to maybe make the play-in.

[Raptors_128]

I don’t know about former Raptors but I don’t mind the Raps going after some good vets to surround these young guys. Not unplayable vets like Young and Temple.

-Tyus Jones
-Kelly Olynyk
-Monte Morris
-Royce O’Neale
-Isaiah Hartenstein
-Delon Wright

[JJWong17]

If we wanted Kyle back, why would we trade for him? His contract is up at the end of the year; just offer him a decent veteran's contract in the offseason. I don't really think there's all that much to gain in having him for the remaining 30ish games and Dennis is having a decent season on a good contract so he could probably net you something better

[links135]

I don’t know about former Raptors but I don’t mind the Raps going after some good vets to surround these young guys. Not unplayable vets like Young and Temple.

-Tyus Jones
-Kelly Olynyk
-Monte Morris
-Royce O’Neale
-Isaiah Hartenstein
-Delon Wright

...you must be new here

[links135]

You guys, he's clearly going after Patrick McCaw

[Merit]

If you’re Demar or Kyle don’t you want to go to actual good teams? These guys are probably more interested in the playoffs and chasing titles than coming back here. If Lowry is looking at the vet min there has to be far more appealing options than coming here to maybe make the play-in.

Oh for sure. I think the title-chasing applies more to Demar than Kyle, but Kyle might want to go "home" to Philly. That said, I would love to see them both in Toronto. If either Demar or Kyle returns they become our Udonis Haslem, IMO. If both return, then so much the better. I think we can use the scoring Demar can bring, and we can use the vet leadership and backup PG option of Kyle.

Consider that the free-agent options are meh this year. THT? Lonnie Walker? Oubre? Hayward? Deanthony Melton? Miles Bridges is solid, but the optics of that? Nic Claxton is the only other FA that is of interest to me. Well, and Kelly Olynyk. It's why I suggested GTJ and McDaniels +/- a 2nd for Kelly/THT. I'd be willing to pay that price for better odds to sign Kelly and THT.

Digressing a bit now. At the end of the day, I'd be into Demar and Kyle's return HOME for the story alone.

[GreatWhiteStiff]

Derozan overlaps barrett and would impede barnes growth

You're saying that like it's a bad thing, but I can see Barrett learning a thing or two from demars scoring hacks/chops. In some ways I think Demar is one of the craftiest guys the league has seen. In terms of pure scoring he's maybe craftier than Jordan, he relies so much less on athleticism. He has some crazy foul drawing moves, and probably the deadliest pumpfake lead to foul draw the league has ever seen. I almost always see him get a foul draw whenever the defender bites a little bit, he has that part down.

[DreamTeam09]

Go after Claxton & then trade Jakob, that should be the offseason plan, either that or roll the space over to 2025