Raps are Good But CAUTIOUSLY optimistic thread

[sidsid]

Not the first time RJ's absence has been mentioned as a reason for our recent woes, but he's the same guy that the FO was trying to trade away all summer and it was only recently people said we'd be better off with him coming off the bench. But now he's a key starter we're dearly missing?

I mean, I think basic observation has made clear his importance. And we already knew that we were a flawed team. This conversation has played out in a couple of other threads, so there's no real reason to have it again here while we're trying to focus on just optimism, though.

A CAUTIOUSLY optimistic prediction is more in line with 45-50 wins.

I will be thrilled with anything north of .500, personally.

EDIT: 45 seems attainable, I just mean that I will be happy regardless.

RJ is an upgrade over what Jakobe offers, but then you taking away the on-ball defense, and still missing ball-handling and point guard duties.

Raps are ideally looking for someone who can offer what both RJ (Rim attack, cutting) and Jakobe (on-ball defense) with more high-volume of 3-pt shooting and capable of handling PG duties.

RJ's trade-offs provide a marginal boost in a vacuum, but his actual value here is mostly as a minutes sponge over some of our younger players in development who fluctuate a lot in impact. There was an original hope that he'd take up the DeRozan role through growth, but he's mostly just ancillary scoring now. BI is the DeRozan release valve, which is why they were trying to move RJ in the BI trade and save some cap/tax space to maneuver (KO would be here).

Any veteran scorer of any type would be acceptable as that minutes sponge for him if you can't find the two way guy, as long as they could also get cap savings. That's just likely not on the table as every team is trying to shave in the apron era.

An example. The Clips would like to get younger:

RJ/Ochai for Bogs/DJj/Lopez

Bogs has a team option allowing that cap flexibility next year. Old scorer who can take some reps. DJj is the more all-around wing guy, and Lopez the washed 3rd C. Fulfills all the needs.

The Clips get younger but likely no incentive to take the extra cap next year or pay Ochai over the others, and risk the plans for cap space in 2 years.

[anotherhomer]

I mean, I think basic observation has made clear his importance. And we already knew that we were a flawed team. This conversation has played out in a couple of other threads, so there's no real reason to have it again here while we're trying to focus on just optimism, though.



I will be thrilled with anything north of .500, personally.

EDIT: 45 seems attainable, I just mean that I will be happy regardless.

RJ is an upgrade over what Jakobe offers, but then you taking away the on-ball defense, and still missing ball-handling and point guard duties.

Raps are ideally looking for someone who can offer what both RJ (Rim attack, cutting) and Jakobe (on-ball defense) with more high-volume of 3-pt shooting and capable of handling PG duties.

RJ's trade-offs provide a marginal boost in a vacuum, but his actual value here is mostly as a minutes sponge over some of our younger players in development who fluctuate a lot in impact. There was an original hope that he'd take up the DeRozan role through growth, but he's mostly just ancillary scoring now. BI is the DeRozan release valve, which is why they were trying to move RJ in the BI trade and save some cap/tax space to maneuver (KO would be here).

Any veteran scorer of any type would be acceptable as that minutes sponge for him if you can't find the two way guy, as long as they could also get cap savings. That's just likely not on the table as every team is trying to shave in the apron era.

An example. The Clips would like to get younger:

RJ/Ochai for Bogs/DJj/Lopez

Bogs has a team option allowing that cap flexibility next year. Old scorer who can take some reps. DJj is the more all-around wing guy, and Lopez the washed 3rd C. Fulfills all the needs.

The Clips get younger but likely no incentive to take the extra cap next year or pay Ochai over the others, and risk the plans for cap space in 2 years.

analyzing the merit of the deal....i do wonder if Toronto would do it, or would clippers do it....

it's kinda a deal that address the center depth but robs clippers of a center unless they think yanic konan is ready but he's really a project

[Thaddy]

We need to go back to the bread and butter for our bench. Shead and Mamu pick and rolls, or Shead and CMB. Then use our wings as shooters or guys who can take advantage of a little bit of leverage.

[Mark_83]

Watch on YouTube

Jakobe hearing Martin's footsteps coming up behind him: