Freddie Gillespie Highlights

[Yeezus_]

Huh? He was basically the best big man available at that point when we signed him. There’s a team option on the 2nd year, he won’t be back.

Not sure what you’re even trying to get across here.

It seemed pretty clear to me:

The reason Baynes sees the floor is because the Raptors signed him for 7+ mil. [In my post it explicitly states that there is a team option for the second year, so I'm not sure why this is being repeated.].

In terms of RPM (you can choose any other metric you wish), Baynes is currently ranked 74 of 84 Cs in the NBA. Even if he was paid 1 mil per season, that would be terrible value.

So: Baynes for 7+ mil. is objectively horrible. And, literally, the only reason he plays a single minute is because of this contract. (He won't be in the NBA next season.)

He’s playing because we have no other Cs on the team. He was actually a good player last season but carry on with the hate, it’s what you do as a poster anyways

[Dennis 37]

It’s incredibly sad how excited I am by a big man that actually does things on the court

Further highlights how terrible Baynes is. With Gillespie and Birch, I see no reason why Baynes should ever see the floor.

What is that thing when a center lifts the ball high, lets it leave his hand and it falls in the net? I thought the goal was to get it to bounce off rim.

[oldncreaky]

It’s incredibly sad how excited I am by a big man that actually does things on the court

Further highlights how terrible Baynes is. With Gillespie and Birch, I see no reason why Baynes should ever see the floor.

What is that thing when a center lifts the ball high, lets it leave his hand and it falls in the net? I thought the goal was to get it to bounce off rim.

lol

There is also a thing when the opponents shoot, the ball bounces off the rim, and . . . you grab it! It's called a defensive rebound. Who knew? (Obviously not the 2021 Raptors)

[ratul]

Lol, like a scrimmage game. The nba sucks

[Indeed]

Like what he offers. Not overly aggressive, but he is rather quick in helping.
Still need to improve his positioning, and a bit raw against stretch big (allowed Love to shoot semi-open 3s twice, when his quickness can easily stays in front of him).

It is hard to evaluate his help defense and rotation against the Cavs when they have both stretch 4 and 5, but he is a good PnR roller, setting hard screens. Further develop his positioning and offensive spacing would help.

[Mr.Raptorsingh]

Dude can set screens

[Dalek]

To me he is what I pictured. He is a smart player who knows where to be on defense and knows how to position himself well for boards. In a lot of ways he reminds me of Jared Sullinger or Dajuan Blair, just a big body that punishes other teams in the post.

In his short two games I have noticed that he is not likely to rotate well out to shooters. He has heavy feet in that regard, but maybe he will improve once he better understands the pace of the game.

That said, once they got Birch I kind of think it doesn't make sense to keep him long-term. They play the same role and Birch is better at it. If Toronto plans to re-sign Birch then there is no point. Toronto has two 40s picks where they can get a comparable big like Gillespie -- may be one with more of an offensive game.

I'd sign Gillespie to another 10 day to be sure, but if they don't plan to give him minutes they might as well cut him loose.

[OAKLEY_2]

He already did more in that game then Baynes did all season combined.

This debate or complaint or whatever reminds of those posters who thought Bebe was better than Poetl. But hey all sins forgiven.

If this is you standing up for Baynes or trying to compare Baynes to Poetl I truly don't know what Raptors games you've been watching. Baynes is one of the worst players in the league right now. Poetl was and is still a very good player. I wish we had him right now. Anyone who was saying Bebe was better than Poetl doesn't know ball lol. Us saying this new Freddie is better than Baynes really isn't crazy lol. It's truly not hard to be better than Baynes at this point.

Poetl was awesome and I predicted us picking him. What I am saying is Rapz fans get distortion level hate on players especially when a crap season goes south. I am sick of fans habitually dissing our players in a transition year that requires a step back tank.

[johanliebert]

I can see why he was in the g league. Undersized and slow.

[Indeed]

To me he is what I pictured. He is a smart player who knows where to be on defense and knows how to position himself well for boards. In a lot of ways he reminds me of Jared Sullinger or Dajuan Blair, just a big body that punishes other teams in the post.

In his short two games I have noticed that he is not likely to rotate well out to shooters. He has heavy feet in that regard, but maybe he will improve once he better understands the pace of the game.

That said, once they got Birch I kind of think it doesn't make sense to keep him long-term. They play the same role and Birch is better at it. If Toronto plans to re-sign Birch then there is no point. Toronto has two 40s picks where they can get a comparable big like Gillespie -- may be one with more of an offensive game.

I'd sign Gillespie to another 10 day to be sure, but if they don't plan to give him minutes they might as well cut him loose.

Birch is too small, and didn't resolve our rebounding issue after watching the Knicks game. We played him at PF with Gillespie as well.
Meanwhile, it worries me even we acquire Holmes or any undersize C in Birch size (6'9 - 7'2 wingspan), as I am not seeing our rebounding became better. But at least Siakam can start leaking, which helps our defensive rebounding (teams may not go for offensive rebounding to avoid transition).

Gillespie is raw to be a starter, so I am not sure what we will do with the starting position. Still like to keep him next year as the backup C.

[Dalek]

To me he is what I pictured. He is a smart player who knows where to be on defense and knows how to position himself well for boards. In a lot of ways he reminds me of Jared Sullinger or Dajuan Blair, just a big body that punishes other teams in the post.

In his short two games I have noticed that he is not likely to rotate well out to shooters. He has heavy feet in that regard, but maybe he will improve once he better understands the pace of the game.

That said, once they got Birch I kind of think it doesn't make sense to keep him long-term. They play the same role and Birch is better at it. If Toronto plans to re-sign Birch then there is no point. Toronto has two 40s picks where they can get a comparable big like Gillespie -- may be one with more of an offensive game.

I'd sign Gillespie to another 10 day to be sure, but if they don't plan to give him minutes they might as well cut him loose.

Birch is too small, and didn't resolve our rebounding issue after watching the Knicks game. We played him at PF with Gillespie as well.
Meanwhile, it worries me even we acquire Holmes or any undersize C in Birch size (6'9 - 7'2 wingspan), as I am not seeing our rebounding became better. But at least Siakam can start leaking, which helps our defensive rebounding (teams may not go for offensive rebounding to avoid transition).

Gillespie is raw to be a starter, so I am not sure what we will do with the starting position. Still like to keep him next year as the backup C.

Just sign cheap, preferably young talent. Toronto now has a proper offseason to train and integrate young players. Getting these veteran retreads make little sense unless MLSE demands that Toronto be a low playoff seed next year.

Birch is a good local story and won't kill the budget. Gillespie's block numbers in the G-League were elite. I think they need a deeper look at him over the summer and camp. He had a crazy progression curve each step of his career from Div. 3 to Div. 1 to G-League. He just seems to look like a quality pro in the making.

[Badonkadonk]

Huh? He was basically the best big man available at that point when we signed him. There’s a team option on the 2nd year, he won’t be back.

Not sure what you’re even trying to get across here.

It seemed pretty clear to me:

The reason Baynes sees the floor is because the Raptors signed him for 7+ mil. [In my post it explicitly states that there is a team option for the second year, so I'm not sure why this is being repeated.].

In terms of RPM (you can choose any other metric you wish), Baynes is currently ranked 74 of 84 Cs in the NBA. Even if he was paid 1 mil per season, that would be terrible value.

So: Baynes for 7+ mil. is objectively horrible. And, literally, the only reason he plays a single minute is because of this contract. (He won't be in the NBA next season.)

There is zero chance that Bobby Webster is tapping Nick Nurse on the soldier and reminding him to play Baynes because they sunk a lot of money into him.

Baynes is literally the only big body on the team. This may be by design at this point in the season (i.e. tanking; they're starting to sit ppl randomly so it looks like they're leaning into itt), but I can guarantee you that if Nurse had a better option for the 18mpg Baynes is playing in his estimation, he'd be using it.

[WaltFrazier]

Gillespie is strong and active, but a bit undersized as some have noted. Birch is pretty much the same but more polished and experienced. It's been a bad combo when Nurse has played the 2 together - 2 guys out of 5 being offensively challenged is a problem. They need to play only one at a time, paired with Boucher, and/or with Pascal and OG as a trio. And play in the dunker spot, for passes like Pascal gave one of them off a drive vs Hawks.

[Alfred]

Gillespie is not undersized if you take into account his 7’6” wingspan and the fact that he’s built like a truck.

[Indeed]

Gillespie is strong and active, but a bit undersized as some have noted. Birch is pretty much the same but more polished and experienced. It's been a bad combo when Nurse has played the 2 together - 2 guys out of 5 being offensively challenged is a problem. They need to play only one at a time, paired with Boucher, and/or with Pascal and OG as a trio. And play in the dunker spot, for passes like Pascal gave one of them off a drive vs Hawks.

Wouldn't mind as in are trying to experience different lineup and developing players, so we can put the "win" aside ( don't want to use the word tank or intentionally losing).

[LBJKB24MJ23]

Huh? He was basically the best big man available at that point when we signed him. There’s a team option on the 2nd year, he won’t be back.

Not sure what you’re even trying to get across here.

It seemed pretty clear to me:

The reason Baynes sees the floor is because the Raptors signed him for 7+ mil. [In my post it explicitly states that there is a team option for the second year, so I'm not sure why this is being repeated.].

In terms of RPM (you can choose any other metric you wish), Baynes is currently ranked 74 of 84 Cs in the NBA. Even if he was paid 1 mil per season, that would be terrible value.

So: Baynes for 7+ mil. is objectively horrible. And, literally, the only reason he plays a single minute is because of this contract. (He won't be in the NBA next season.)

There is zero chance that Bobby Webster is tapping Nick Nurse on the soldier and reminding him to play Baynes because they sunk a lot of money into him.

Baynes is literally the only big body on the team. This may be by design at this point in the season (i.e. tanking; they're starting to sit ppl randomly so it looks like they're leaning into itt), but I can guarantee you that if Nurse had a better option for the 18mpg Baynes is playing in his estimation, he'd be using it.

ya no way they take precaution for their players if they wanted to make the playoffs with certainty. it is what it is now. resting so they don't get injured recommended by their training staff (or by upper mgmt)

[nabbs]

What is the argument against signing him if you’re management? Maybe he’s your second unit big next year on a 2 year non guaranteed deal.

He just had 9/8/3blks in 18 minutes. He’s 23. Has so much to learn given he started playing in high school.

[Smoothshot555]

He's not any worse than richaun holmes was at his age (4 years ago). I say keep and develop him

[YelloC]

Gillespie and Birch seem to be really good culture fits.
Too bad we couldn’t have had Birch and Boucher be housemates earlier in their careers, whatever Birch did to bulk up could’ve helped Boucher.
Wasn’t Birch a skinny SF coming into the league??

[visionquest]

Refreshing personality....

Watch on YouTube