Windhorst: Raptors making noise around the league looking for a “big fish” // Giannis & Toronto "Mutual Interest"/KD too

[TakeYourHeart]

I can't get to Durant's 55mil in any way that is satisfactory tbh

Jak+IQ matches Durant

Jak+RJ+Ochai matches Durant.

Jak+RJ+Ochai seems like the best deal but man...the market for a big man is dire and no way should we start a rookie C.

[PushDaRock]

Acquisition cost should be used towards a player who can contribute to the team for multiple years unless the Raptors find a way to land both Giannis/Durant.

Durant alone shrinks our windows for no reason. We would have to spend more assets to find a Center good enough to play on an "all in" team with Durant too.

I think the deal, in terms of trying to meaningfully contend, does only make sense with a Giannis trade with it.

However, if the deal is just a consolidation of role players (RJ/Jak/Ochai/Dick as an example) and no future risk, then it's pretty damn useful regardless. You can have a nice run, and even if he leaves after, you've cleaned your cap nicely and options open up for you on next steps.

A lineup of IQ - Ingram - KD - Giannis - ?? doesn't make sense. We would have some of the worst perimeter defense in the NBA while also having no starting or backup Centers.

I don't see too many people advocating for acquiring both Giannis and KD. I don't think it makes much sense really given what it would do to our depth and depletion of assets. The case being made is for getting whichever one we can.

Giannis gets us a top 3 player, single handedly gives us a chance to win and you trust Masai will optimize a team around a talent like him.

KD is more of a consolidation move for RJ + Jak and minimal draft compensation for someone that increases the upside of the current team.

[Tripod]

I must say, we certainly can consolidate...but I actually want to see how good we can be as we are, drafting #9 and adding a legit backup C thru trade.

Totally agree. Raptors are in a position where we can wait for the perfect consolidation trade and not get desperate for a Durant trade that leaves other holes while shortening our window to a year or two. We'll start hearing more names available leading up to the draft.

I have said a few times I think Masai does a sneaky trade few see coming. Doing a smaller deal is what I expect.

[Godaddycurse]

I must say, we certainly can consolidate...but I actually want to see how good we can be as we are, drafting #9 and adding a legit backup C thru trade.

Totally agree. Raptors are in a position where we can wait for the perfect consolidation trade and not get desperate for a Durant trade that leaves other holes while shortening our window to a year or two. We'll start hearing more names available leading up to the draft.

I have said a few times I think Masai does a sneaky trade few see coming. Doing a smaller deal is what I expect.

I wouldn't mind a RJ + Agbaji for Holiday trade (likely requiring a 3rd team).

[WuTang_CMB]

I know people want to stay the course and i get the logic behind that and not spending assets right now but i think masai is viewing this as a new nba with total parity and especially the east where its wide open where a team like indiana caught lightning in a bottle since january and are now in the finals. Yes they have great depth, system and 2 stars. But if the Raps trade for a star, we can also make some noise. Matchups are everything in the playoffs.

You make a move for a star and another smaller move and you are all of a sudden one of the upper teams in the east with a shot to go far as long as u got health and some luck.

In my opinion, he’s making the right call by being aggressive this offseason and hopefully we get something thats not too expensive (giannis aside which will be)

There is too much smoke now. Masai is going to pull the trigger on a few moves this off season. He has to flex especially with ownership wanting playoffs next season.

These next couple weeks should be fun

[sidsid]

I think the deal, in terms of trying to meaningfully contend, does only make sense with a Giannis trade with it.

However, if the deal is just a consolidation of role players (RJ/Jak/Ochai/Dick as an example) and no future risk, then it's pretty damn useful regardless. You can have a nice run, and even if he leaves after, you've cleaned your cap nicely and options open up for you on next steps.

A lineup of IQ - Ingram - KD - Giannis - ?? doesn't make sense. We would have some of the worst perimeter defense in the NBA while also having no starting or backup Centers.

I don't see too many people advocating for acquiring both Giannis and KD. I don't think it makes much sense really given what it would do to our depth and depletion of assets. The case being made is for getting whichever one we can.

Giannis gets us a top 3 player, single handedly gives us a chance to win and you trust Masai will optimize a team around a talent like him.

KD is more of a consolidation move for RJ + Jak and minimal draft compensation for someone that increases the upside of the current team.

Making multiple big moves can lead to some pretty massive roster reconstruction.

The tl;dr version in the trade ideas thread I posted turned into this. Trying to avoid the "3 guys with nothing around them" problem. Only so much you can do with the roster and realistic trades that other team's would actually want.

Lopez/Smith/Giannis
Giannis/Mogbo/Durant
Durant/Williams
Jrue/Walter or Battle (maybe both)
White/Shead (Maybe)

+ Ring chasers

[djsunyc]

I know people want to stay the course and i get the logic behind that and not spending assets right now but i think masai is viewing this as a new nba with total parity and especially the east where its wide open where a team like indiana caught lightning in a bottle since january and are now in the finals. Yes they have great depth, system and 2 stars. But if the Raps trade for a star, we can also make some noise. Matchups are everything in the playoffs.

You make a move for a star and another smaller move and you are all of a sudden one of the upper teams in the east with a shot to go far as long as u got health and some luck.

In my opinion, he’s making the right call by being aggressive this offseason and hopefully we get something thats not too expensive (giannis aside which will be)

There is too much smoke now. Masai is going to pull the trigger on a few moves this off season. He has to flex especially with ownership wanting playoffs next season.

These next couple weeks should be fun

he said it in many pressers - he always asks the media "who is going to win the title? none of you know" because he's right. you said it - alot is based on matchups and luck.

that's why i really liked the ingram deal - he made it knowing that it was for the following season for nothing but a late first.

he's going to definitely make some moves - magnitude is tbd but the roster will look a bit different next season.

[sidsid]

The cost of Giannis won't just be in assets. These stars want to play with someone, and that someone probably isn't on the team after Barnes is gone. You don't usually get to chose. When GM LeBron went to the Lakers, once he was done with it, only 1 guy remained from the original roster: Kuzma. That's it.

Whether or not you want the follow up KD trade, it doesn't matter. If he wants it, it'll be done.

[LoveMyRaps]

This is a solid framework for a potential trade (found on Twitter):

[Clutch0z24]

The reason we might not see what this core can do and be patient....Is because alot of stars will be available this offseason....So time to strike is now....If we wait and let it pass us by and let another team pick up Giannis/KD for a decent price + W/E else may become available we most likely will miss a window of opportunity.....Players on a certain tier are not always available and could take 3-5 years for one to pop up.

[TakeYourHeart]

This is a solid framework for a potential trade (found on Twitter):

Gradey is better and younger and has more years left on his rookie deal...if anything we should getting a pick from the Jazz

I like the idea of trying to flip Gradey or Ochai for a center though if Jak is a part of the KD deal.

[Scase]

For everyone saying the KD trade is a bad idea, it's not about what we should be doing, but rather what the FO thinks they have to do. There is clearly pressure to do something with the team after the massive failures the last 2 seasons were, and BI ain't it.

This is a solid framework for a potential trade (found on Twitter):

We're getting absolutely fleeced on that one. Jak is a good contract, RJ is a decent player, and GD has quite a few years of contract control and solid upside, AND we're giving up 2 unprotected firsts for a KD rental and Kessler?

That's not so much a framework as it is the first pour of the concrete in a foundation that won't set for like a week. That's more than we gave up for Kawhi and Danny.

[djsunyc]

The reason we might not see what this core can do and be patient....Is because alot of stars will be available this offseason....So time to strike is now....If we wait and let it pass us by and let another team pick up Giannis/KD for a decent price + W/E else may become available we most likely will miss a window of opportunity.....Players on a certain tier are not always available and could take 3-5 years for one to pop up.

sometimes it comes down to the player, like it did with lillard.

[S.W.A.N]

I know people want to stay the course and i get the logic behind that and not spending assets right now but i think masai is viewing this as a new nba with total parity and especially the east where its wide open where a team like indiana caught lightning in a bottle since january and are now in the finals. Yes they have great depth, system and 2 stars. But if the Raps trade for a star, we can also make some noise. Matchups are everything in the playoffs.

You make a move for a star and another smaller move and you are all of a sudden one of the upper teams in the east with a shot to go far as long as u got health and some luck.

In my opinion, he’s making the right call by being aggressive this offseason and hopefully we get something thats not too expensive (giannis aside which will be)

There is too much smoke now. Masai is going to pull the trigger on a few moves this off season. He has to flex especially with ownership wanting playoffs next season.

These next couple weeks should be fun

This!


There is blood in the water. The 2nd apron is causing havoc, and parity is at an all time high. Does anyone in the East look at the playoff and not think the East is wide wide open.

Giannis on the move
Durant on the move
Tatum is out
Lilliard is out
Lebron on his last legs.

The new couple weeks are going to be so much Smoke and Mirrors as teams lie their asses off while making all the phone calls.

[basketballto]

I may be alone but staying the course is a better idea.

Very slim chance we get Giannis with our Scotty/Dick/picks package if someone offers better players like Garland, Towns, Paul George. Very slim chance he asked directly to be traded. this offseason This is a warning from his side.

Kevin Durant for BI+filler is a wild and crazy move and would be like the story of the red paperclip turning into a house in Sask. Including Jak would be foolish when centers value is so high. If we have to include RJ instead but no draft capital I'm in.

The best scenario is to hold firm and make smaller moves. With the 9th pick we can get a backup center or more depth to trade for a center. We have the mid-level to add depth. We can trade for better players midseason when we've seen what this team can't do.


Masai is in a contract year and the bigger the star the bigger his contract will be. If the season goes south so will he. He is going to try to land someone and the bigger the name the better

[CPT]

Is there any possibility of Ingram being the big salary going out in any of these deals? I assume there’s some restriction, which is why it’s never suggested?

Like Ingram + stuff for KD is kind of appealing to me.

[Mattatron]

KD costs less, and fits better imo

[ImaBeatDatAzz]

So Giannis just listed us in his short wish list, does that help?

The list was: raptors, knicks, heat, and spurs

[NinjaBro]

So Giannis just listed us in his short wish list, does that help?

The list was: raptors, knicks, heat, and spurs

Link?

[ImaBeatDatAzz]

So Giannis just listed us in his short wish list, does that help?

The list was: raptors, knicks, heat, and spurs

Link?

Read on Twitter

It’s really only between us and Spurs at this point. Assuming Giannis becomes fully available. If spurs throw in #2 (Harper), it’s over.