[Shams] Khem Birch expected to sign with the Toronto Raptors after being waived by Orlando

[TD2FutureStar]

Masai and Nick love the all D no O players. If they had it their way we'd win all our games and only average 80 ppg as a team.

How has that worked out so far...bottom of the league

Are you arguing with yourself?

I was replying to Fairview4Life..................

[alienchild]

Masai and Nick love the all D no O players. If they had it their way we'd win all our games and only average 80 ppg as a team.

How has that worked out so far...bottom of the league

Are you arguing with yourself?

I was replying to Fairview4Life..................

Just a point of clarification about the first quote- why would you be dissatisfied with an undefeated team?

[J-Roc]

We have all learned with Baynes, if it looks like a bench guy and quacks like a bench guy, it must be a bench guy.

[raptoradical]

Lol stupid

[Dalek]

I would have loved the idea of bringing in Birch several games ago, but I am not exactly sure what Toronto is doing here. With the loss to Chicago the Raps are 3 games back, effectively 3.5 games back because Chicago has the tie breaker.

Likely this weekend we lose both games unless we get back Lowry. For sure FVV is missing one or both games. Likely, Birch and/or Gillespie come in on Sunday unless they can some how expedite things. Even if that is the case that one or both are ready for Saturday, they will be playing with zero practice time.

To me, by the end of the weekend, this team will be 5.5 games back of a play-in opportunity. That is an insurmountable challenge.

Why even both bringing in Birch?

Good point. Why waste an opportunity to inflict further physical/psychological damage to OG/Pascal.

Well, my point is it is too late to actually make the playoffs. You bring in a veteran back-up like Birch and the team plays above .500 ball and just misses the playoffs. All it accomplishes is ticking all the players off that the FO responded too late. This team should be focusing on testing out young guys that they could sign on the cheap to develop.

I guess from a physicality perspective it does save the team from getting beat-up by adding some additional players, but they have honestly went this far without doing anything, I wonder why the FO chose to respond now.

[Wannabe MEP]

Bummed about McCaw. I was imagining the Baynes-Birch twin towers lineup with McCaw and Johnson setting some kind of record for offensive ineptitude.

[Slade3]

Masai and Nick love the all D no O players. If they had it their way we'd win all our games and only average 80 ppg as a team.

How has that worked out so far...bottom of the league

Are you arguing with yourself?

I was replying to Fairview4Life..................

I know you were but you still did a 180 on your view. First you said we'd win all our games then later ask how has that worked out after Fairview4life agreed with your initial statement.

[douggood]

magic found their birch replacement.

Read on Twitter

[Psubs]

magic found their birch replacement.

Read on Twitter

It's like a trade! If Magic waive Birch, Raptors don't give Hall another 10-day or contract.

[Dalek]

magic found their birch replacement.

Read on Twitter

If Hall ends up showing anything this board will erupt. He was pretty decent last year on a bad Brooklyn team. I actually doubt he plays that much because they already have Wendell Carter Jr. and Mo Bamba. Not sure where he will get his minutes.

In comparing Hall and Gillespie they are similar sized prospect. The difference is that Hall is an NBA caliber athlete while Gillespie is more of bruiser. Both have pretty good shotblocking abilities.

[Duffman100]

When is this happening? When do I get a chance to watch Baynes-free basketball?

[Zeno]

When is this happening? When do I get a chance to watch Baynes-free basketball?

Gillespie will be available maybe by Saturday and Birch by perhaps the game after that if he clears waivers at all. But I don’t believe that means Baynes will never get on the court again. Nurse moves in mysterious ways.

[Rom Raptor]

Baynes - though having a bad season, at the time wasnt a bad signing at that time, 1 year deal. many many people on this board wanted him signed and liked the signing

Didn't Baynes get a 2 year contract?

[DelAbbot]

When is this happening? When do I get a chance to watch Baynes-free basketball?

Next season, game #1.

[Psubs]

Baynes - though having a bad season, at the time wasnt a bad signing at that time, 1 year deal. many many people on this board wanted him signed and liked the signing

Didn't Baynes get a 2 year contract?

Team option 2nd.

[Fairview4Life]

Are you arguing with yourself?

I was replying to Fairview4Life..................

I know you were but you still did a 180 on your view. First you said we'd win all our games then later ask how has that worked out after Fairview4life agreed with your initial statement.

I wasn't agreeing, I just thought winning all our games would be pretty awesome.

[Merit]

I would have loved the idea of bringing in Birch several games ago, but I am not exactly sure what Toronto is doing here. With the loss to Chicago the Raps are 3 games back, effectively 3.5 games back because Chicago has the tie breaker.

Likely this weekend we lose both games unless we get back Lowry. For sure FVV is missing one or both games. Likely, Birch and/or Gillespie come in on Sunday unless they can some how expedite things. Even if that is the case that one or both are ready for Saturday, they will be playing with zero practice time.

To me, by the end of the weekend, this team will be 5.5 games back of a play-in opportunity. That is an insurmountable challenge.

Why even both bringing in Birch?

I like this as a preview for next year. To me, this signing is like 3 months too late if we were trying to compete, but right on time if we're looking to compete next season. I'm sure OG and Pascal will go down at some point with soft tissue injuries and that would allow a lot of "player development" and more Bloc Quebecois lineups. Basically, good enough to remain competitive - crappy enough to still end up losing.

[S.W.A.N]

I would have loved the idea of bringing in Birch several games ago, but I am not exactly sure what Toronto is doing here. With the loss to Chicago the Raps are 3 games back, effectively 3.5 games back because Chicago has the tie breaker.

Likely this weekend we lose both games unless we get back Lowry. For sure FVV is missing one or both games. Likely, Birch and/or Gillespie come in on Sunday unless they can some how expedite things. Even if that is the case that one or both are ready for Saturday, they will be playing with zero practice time.

To me, by the end of the weekend, this team will be 5.5 games back of a play-in opportunity. That is an insurmountable challenge.

Why even both bringing in Birch?

I like this as a preview for next year. To me, this signing is like 3 months too late if we were trying to compete, but right on time if we're looking to compete next season. I'm sure OG and Pascal will go down at some point with soft tissue injuries and that would allow a lot of "player development" and more Bloc Quebecois lineups. Basically, good enough to remain competitive - crappy enough to still end up losing.

Exactly this. Birch is a guy we were probably going to consider signing next year. Now we get a cheap test run to see how he fits. And lets be honest here, playing Birch 20+ mins a game isn't going to impact the standings that much. As long as Freddy and Lowry are shelfed we going to lose games, and we have a tough schedule. The stealth tank will take care of itself.

[Spates]

The defense has been funky this season and I think we all believe it's because of the team's C rotation. Lack of lateral quickness, poor tendencies, and late rotations have been detrimental.
If Birch is capable of being a mobile paint presence it'll be a great opportunity to evaluate defensive schemes.
He's not going to raise the team's ceiling but with how bad the defense has been compared to last year it's understandable that the organization would want to reevaluate the effectiveness of the scrambling defense with someone theoretically capable of playing the schemes.

[Harcore Fenton Mun]

This is a nice get if he clears waivers.