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

[OAKLEY_2]

I honestly don't get why the Knicks would pass him up. Noel and Robinson are injured, so they're desperate for both playoffs and at that position. They also have the cap room to outright absorb him off of waivers.

I hope he makes it to the Raps, just don't get it.

The only reason is maybe the agent angle. Birch is a CAA client. If he asks strongly that he go to the Raps, I doubt Leon Rose formerly of CAA would block it. But it is unknown how much Birch has his heart set on only the Raptors.

He wants to play for Nurse as much as anything else. Coaches the Raps and Canada.

[Caped Crusader]

Following a long line of scrubs who wanna play for raptors.... wake up when ONE TOP TIER Canadian in his prime want to play for raptors....and does so....

Yes it hasn't happened yet but then again who are these top tier Canadians in their prime are you referencing? There haven't exactly been many until now and those guys haven't even hit their prime yet.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using RealGM mobile app

[dgr81]

Read on Twitter

[Zeno]

Read on Twitter

Regardless of his quality as a player, this is really great sign for the Raptors and probably for the Canadian national team. Not because of Birch obviously (though he’s a fine backup who is better than people think) but being ‘super excited to play under Nurse and in his home country is progress.

[aminiaturebuddha]

I hope his expectations aren't too high after his experience with the national team. I don't think Nurse is going to give him the same level of freedom on the offensive end that he had in that stint. But hopefully they can keep building a rapport for his participation this summer with the SMNT, and then maybe he'll sign a cheap minimum deal to be a backup next year.

[DelAbbot]

I hope his expectations aren't too high after his experience with the national team. I don't think Nurse is going to give him the same level of freedom on the offensive end that he had in that stint. But hopefully they can keep building a rapport for his participation this summer with the SMNT, and then maybe he'll sign a cheap minimum deal to be a backup next year.

Khem Birch wants to be a Raptor mainly because we have a black hole at the position he plays, not purely because it's his home team. He gets more playing time here than in Orlando, which has 2 big Centre young guys in Mo Bamba and WCJ, which enables him to showcase for a big payday this coming summer. He is in prime at 28 so he wants as big a contract as he can get - and won't take a home discount to be a Raptor.

Having said that, he might sign cheap because he is not that good.

[Psubs]

I'm going with Olynyk 1st, then sign Birch to back him up if he wants.

SF OG - 1st pick
PF Siakam - Boucher/OG
C Olynyk - Birch/Boucher

[Spida888]

I'm going with Olynyk 1st, then sign Birch to back him up if he wants.

SF OG - 1st pick
PF Siakam - Boucher/OG
C Olynyk - Birch/Boucher

I like Theis as another option as well.

[Psubs]

I'm going with Olynyk 1st, then sign Birch to back him up if he wants.

SF OG - 1st pick
PF Siakam - Boucher/OG
C Olynyk - Birch/Boucher

I like Theis as another option as well.

True. I just see them liking Olynyk's ability to shoot the 3 and passing from the top to be like 2019 Marc Gasol.

Siakam needs someone in the front court to take away his 3pt attemps; keep him slashing to the basket instead and spin-cycle people.

[Tor_Raps]

I'm going with Olynyk 1st, then sign Birch to back him up if he wants.

SF OG - 1st pick
PF Siakam - Boucher/OG
C Olynyk - Birch/Boucher

I like Theis as another option as well.

Olynyk is not a starting C in the NBA. He leaves you incredibly soft inside unless you have a beast starting beside him. Siakam is not that and is more of a perimeter force defensively. I cannot take another year of teams scoring/rebounding at will against us down low.

[GLF]

I like Richaun Holmes the best, then Theis and only after those two would I look at Olynyk

[Psubs]

I like Richaun Holmes the best, then Theis and only after those two would I look at Olynyk

Holmes is staying in Sacramento unless you overpay him like $18 million per year.

I think Nurse would like to coach Olynyk in this offense.

[Mikistan]

Following a long line of scrubs who wanna play for raptors.... wake up when ONE TOP TIER Canadian in his prime want to play for raptors....and does so....

Yes it hasn't happened yet but then again who are these top tier Canadians in their prime are you referencing? There haven't exactly been many until now and those guys haven't even hit their prime yet.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using RealGM mobile app

Top draft pick Anthony bennet

Former all star Jamal magloirre


The only one we missed on was SteveNAsh but who cares we dodged a bullet his back was broken when we had the chance and I personally preferred having Landry fields anyway....

[Omzz]

Could use more muscle in the paint, front court weak af

[dgr81]

Read on Twitter

[nestea]

Could use more muscle in the paint, front court weak af

Lol

[FrozenLeafz]

Read on Twitter

tWo is now in full throttle

[edgehead411]

Start him and never look back until the season is over.

[Mehar]

Could use more muscle in the paint, front court weak af

That should have been addressed earlier in the year. Birch is only 6 foot 7.5 inches tall without shoes, is undersized, does not really contribute anything on offense, but would have been an upgrade over Baynes in the early part of the year. Using him now to get meaningless wins only hurts this team's draft position. I would have rode Baynes out until the end of the year. Season is pretty much over now. Should have maybe signed him in the off-season.

[ThemCrookedRefs]

Looking forward to seeing Khem on the team. I think he can do well for us. I'm just hoping he forces Nurse to bench Baynes for the rest of the year.