Pascal is on the brink of SUPERSTARDOM...

[planetmars]

You get one of those rare consistently performing all nba level players carrying your team and you want them to resign at a discount because they MIGHT drop off in the future? That is a great way to not only lose pascal in free agency but anyone else who tastes success on the raptors.

The key point is consistency. There was a point where Russ, Wall and Beal were consistent as well. As soon as that consistency drops that contract becomes a noose. The super max is the worst contract in the NBA and should only be given to true super stars. Maybe that's Pascal but that's a risk in my opinion. He'll likely get it either way since that's how things work in the NBA. Players have most of the power in this league.

If he maintains that consistency even under a super max contract.. it's great for us, but still sucky that we have to spend 35% of the cap on one guy. Makes it tough to work around, especially when the owner of the team hates paying the tax.

This team will be operating as an above the cap team for probably the next decade and the largest free agent we will be able to afford is the MLE or tax MLE depending on whether we are a tax team or not. Whether pascal gets 40M or 45M will have no bearing on what we can afford in free agency. It will have a bearing on whether we can afford our own free agents if we are not a contending team worthy of paying the tax for. But we won’t be a contending team worthy of paying the tax if we lose our best players nickel and diming them.

Who said anything about free agency? At 35% of the cap, you only can use up 65% to fill out the rest of the team.. that includes raises to Fred, Gary and OG who are all coming up for extensions. Then Precious and eventually Scottie who is likely gearing up to be a max player himself.

Will MLSE go above the tax to keep this team around? That's going to be the big question in a couple of years. If they don't then we'll have to say good bye to at least one core player, and possibly two and not really replace them with someone better.. just someone cheaper.

It's tough to build a team around a guy making a super max.. it's easier if that player is a Giannis/Lebron/Luka level player because cheaper options can still help you win a championship. Maybe Pascal gets there too.. it's a wait and see but if he dips and becomes a Paul George or Anthony Davis type of star player, things will get tougher, as those guys needed real super stars around them.

[vado]

Pascal is insane. Imagine if Kawhi stayed, we would be on the brink of a 4-peat.

I've been saying this for years

[Gold Dragon]

The key point is consistency. There was a point where Russ, Wall and Beal were consistent as well. As soon as that consistency drops that contract becomes a noose. The super max is the worst contract in the NBA and should only be given to true super stars. Maybe that's Pascal but that's a risk in my opinion. He'll likely get it either way since that's how things work in the NBA. Players have most of the power in this league.

If he maintains that consistency even under a super max contract.. it's great for us, but still sucky that we have to spend 35% of the cap on one guy. Makes it tough to work around, especially when the owner of the team hates paying the tax.

This team will be operating as an above the cap team for probably the next decade and the largest free agent we will be able to afford is the MLE or tax MLE depending on whether we are a tax team or not. Whether pascal gets 40M or 45M will have no bearing on what we can afford in free agency. It will have a bearing on whether we can afford our own free agents if we are not a contending team worthy of paying the tax for. But we won’t be a contending team worthy of paying the tax if we lose our best players nickel and diming them.

Who said anything about free agency? At 35% of the cap, you only can use up 65% to fill out the rest of the team.. that includes raises to Fred, Gary and OG who are all coming up for extensions. Then Precious and eventually Scottie who is likely gearing up to be a max player himself.

Will MLSE go above the tax to keep this team around? That's going to be the big question in a couple of years. If they don't then we'll have to say good bye to at least one core player, and possibly two and not really replace them with someone better.. just someone cheaper.

You have way more than 65% of the cap to fill out the team.

In 2023-24, the cap is projected to be 134M and the tax line is 162M.

So after a 35% max player you have 85% of the cap to fill out the roster and be below the tax. If we are a contender which we could be this season and even more so two years from now when pascal’s extension kicks in, we will have a much higher ceiling, likely around 15M over the tax line when the tax starts becoming really overbearing.

I haven’t even factored in the new nba tv deal which will kick in the year after pascal starts his extension likely making his deal significantly less than 35% of the cap one year after he signs it.

[2019nbachamps]

I’m rooting for him but let’s be measured for now. Pascal has gone through these hot streaks before and then flamed out. Hopefully he can remain consistent.

[will]

Can think of at least 15 players to take before Pascal.

Let's slow down now.

It's great that he says he is working to be top 5.

Possible and probable are two completely different things.

[WaltFrazier]

Was Tatum the best player in any series last year? KD, Giannis, Butler and Curry.

All better than pascal in a series

That doesn't answer my question.

He arguably outplayed KD and Butler. But I don't recall the numbers

[HiJiNX]

What doesn't make sense to me is particular segments of the fanbase continually asking Pascal to "prove it". How often does he need to exceed expectations to get some benefit of the doubt?

It’s funny because he actually just keeps proving it.

That said, I need Siakam to develop a reliable three ball off the dribble. That’s when he will be in the truly elite category of superstars. Right now, he’s on the cusp of the second tier stars inhabited by guys like Tatum and Embiid. And he still has to pass those guys up.

I love Pascal and I’m one of his biggest supporters, but he’s not top 10 yet. If he plays like this all season though, he will be.

[Los_29]

All better than pascal in a series

That doesn't answer my question.

He arguably outplayed KD and Butler. But I don't recall the numbers

Definitely outplayed KD but he's not better than him. Their team was better though.

[HiJiNX]

All better than pascal in a series

That doesn't answer my question.

He arguably outplayed KD and Butler. But I don't recall the numbers

The reality is Siakam has been the best player on the floor in almost every game he’s played going back to March of last season. I think the sample size is big enough. He just needs a marquee playoff performance, over the entirety of a series—and to win that series—to put him in that elite conversation. And I think this year is the year that he does it.

EDIT: I either quoted the wrong post or misinterpreted the one I quoted. Oops haha. My bad.

[planetmars]

This team will be operating as an above the cap team for probably the next decade and the largest free agent we will be able to afford is the MLE or tax MLE depending on whether we are a tax team or not. Whether pascal gets 40M or 45M will have no bearing on what we can afford in free agency. It will have a bearing on whether we can afford our own free agents if we are not a contending team worthy of paying the tax for. But we won’t be a contending team worthy of paying the tax if we lose our best players nickel and diming them.

Who said anything about free agency? At 35% of the cap, you only can use up 65% to fill out the rest of the team.. that includes raises to Fred, Gary and OG who are all coming up for extensions. Then Precious and eventually Scottie who is likely gearing up to be a max player himself.

Will MLSE go above the tax to keep this team around? That's going to be the big question in a couple of years. If they don't then we'll have to say good bye to at least one core player, and possibly two and not really replace them with someone better.. just someone cheaper.

You have way more than 65% of the cap to fill out the team.

In 2023-24, the cap is projected to be 134M and the tax line is 162M.

So after a 35% max player you have 85% of the cap to fill out the roster and be below the tax. If we are a contender which we could be this season and even more so two years from now when pascal’s extension kicks in, we will have a much higher ceiling, likely around 15M over the tax line when the tax starts becoming really overbearing.

I haven’t even factored in the new nba tv deal which will kick in the year after pascal starts his extension likely making his deal significantly less than 35% of the cap one year after he signs it.

Sorry, yeah 85% as the 65% will just take them to the cap line not the tax line. I figure Fred to make about 25% of the cap. Gary is likely aiming for what Poole and Herro got which will be over 20% of the cap. So that's 45% right there. Then you have OG's figure which should be above 20% too.. and we're now up to 65% and that's an optimistic amount. So have 20% left over for the rest of the team which would have to be divided among 10 players. Precious gets an extension next year. Scottie the year after.

I suspect them to flatten the cap instead of doing the cap spike again.

My guess is that Gary is the odd person out. Or if we can consolidate and trade Gary and OG for one player but doesn't make quite as much as both.. then that could work as well. But once one guy makes 35% it's a little tougher to work with in general.

[WaltFrazier]

That doesn't answer my question.

He arguably outplayed KD and Butler. But I don't recall the numbers

Definitely outplayed KD but he's not better than him. Their team was better though.

Well you did say, best player in the series. Not who has had the better career.

[WaltFrazier]

That doesn't answer my question.

He arguably outplayed KD and Butler. But I don't recall the numbers

The reality is Siakam has been the best player on the floor in almost every game he’s played going back to March of last season. I think the sample size is big enough. He just needs a marquee playoff performance, over the entirety of a series—and to win that series—to put him in that elite conversation. And I think this year is the year that he does it.

EDIT: I either quoted the wrong post or misinterpreted the one I quoted. Oops haha. My bad.

I can misinterpret my own posts thanks.

[hype_2004]

To me he's a Pippen type of player, not good enough to win as the man but Ideal Robin to a Batman. He has proven himself to be a great sidekick to Kawhi as he thrived on feasting against secondary defenders. We will need to acquire a Batman or hopefully we develop one in Barnes sooner rather than later.

[Ackshun]

I honestly think there's a contingent of our fanbase that was so emotionally damaged by Pascal's bubble performance that they just can't move on from that. People were stuck in their homes, it was peak covid lockdown time, bad time for mental health in general and Pascal made them feel negative emotions. Everything he's done since is marred by that time. Sad.

Anyways he's one of my favorite players ever to watch. Pure, ethical hooper.

Pascal is nice. Superstardom ? It’s a bit much for me.

We are 1-2 so let’s see how the season goes.

Not trying to take away his contributions to our ship but let’s be real here .

[Los_29]

He arguably outplayed KD and Butler. But I don't recall the numbers

Definitely outplayed KD but he's not better than him. Their team was better though.

Well you did say, best player in the series. Not who has had the better career.

Well I never said he didn't. I disagreed with the notion that he outplayed Giannis and Butler not KD.

[YogurtProducer]

It sort of is an issue in my opinion. Him having a great season this season is great for this season. But can hurt us for future seasons if his play drops. It can put a hamper on what the team can spend on if they want to keep ducking the tax. If he becomes inconsistent or gets hurt, we could have a Beal/Wall/Westbrook type of situation on our hands. They all had super max contracts too.

Maybe Pascal takes a pay cut, and doesn't go for the max. He did however get a rookie max extension, and it was more than 25% since he made the all-nba team then too. I'm sure his agent would be wanting that super max if he was qualified for it.

You get one of those rare consistently performing all nba level players carrying your team and you want them to resign at a discount because they MIGHT drop off in the future? That is a great way to not only lose pascal in free agency but anyone else who tastes success on the raptors.

The key point is consistency. There was a point where Russ, Wall and Beal were consistent as well. As soon as that consistency drops that contract becomes a noose. The super max is the worst contract in the NBA and should only be given to true super stars. Maybe that's Pascal but that's a risk in my opinion. He'll likely get it either way since that's how things work in the NBA. Players have most of the power in this league.

If he maintains that consistency even under a super max contract.. it's great for us, but still sucky that we have to spend 35% of the cap on one guy. Makes it tough to work around, especially when the owner of the team hates paying the tax.

I'd argue Siakam is better than any of those 3 ever were or are

[YogurtProducer]

I honestly think there's a contingent of our fanbase that was so emotionally damaged by Pascal's bubble performance that they just can't move on from that. People were stuck in their homes, it was peak covid lockdown time, bad time for mental health in general and Pascal made them feel negative emotions. Everything he's done since is marred by that time. Sad.

Anyways he's one of my favorite players ever to watch. Pure, ethical hooper.

Pascal is nice. Superstardom ? It’s a bit much for me.

We are 1-2 so let’s see how the season goes.

Not trying to take away his contributions to our ship but let’s be real here .

Who do you consider to be superstars?

[Gold Dragon]

Sorry, yeah 85% as the 65% will just take them to the cap line not the tax line. I figure Fred to make about 25% of the cap. Gary is likely aiming for what Poole and Herro got which will be over 20% of the cap. So that's 45% right there. Then you have OG's figure which should be above 20% too.. and we're now up to 65% and that's an optimistic amount. So have 20% left over for the rest of the team which would have to be divided among 10 players. Precious gets an extension next year. Scottie the year after.

I suspect them to flatten the cap instead of doing the cap spike again.

My guess is that Gary is the odd person out. Or if we can consolidate and trade Gary and OG for one player but doesn't make quite as much as both.. then that could work as well. But once one guy makes 35% it's a little tougher to work with in general.

At some point there will be a crunch, there always is. That point is actually a lot further away than most of this fanbase is panicking about because the tax line is rising, the new tv deal is coming and there is a good chance our team will be good enough to justify being a tax team very soon.

But if there is a crunch, you don’t manage it by nickel and diming your top core players. You find cheap replacements for your #6-15 players. And if pascal or this core is not good enough you don’t let them walk to save money because it doesn’t help you open up cap space. You resign your guys and try to trade for the right mix using their salaries. As long as their salary is market value and tradeable.

[Spates]

I honestly think there's a contingent of our fanbase that was so emotionally damaged by Pascal's bubble performance that they just can't move on from that. People were stuck in their homes, it was peak covid lockdown time, bad time for mental health in general and Pascal made them feel negative emotions. Everything he's done since is marred by that time. Sad.

Anyways he's one of my favorite players ever to watch. Pure, ethical hooper.

Really!? I'm apart of the the emotionally damaged contingent, I guess. Trauma can last a lifetime.

Pascal is good and all. But after having Kawhi and seeing someone who's the best player on the floor every night, I feel the superstar Pascal tribe is anointing him too fast.

[canada_dry]

"pAsCaL hAs pEAkEd"


What was siakams averages the last 20 games of the season? With the WORST spacing in the league. Then after a disappointing game 3, his performances in games 4 and 5 were the best of his career. With that i think he realized if he can do it under those circumstances, with that soacing, being defended by a dpoy candidate, he's got another level. Hence why he went into the summer telling nurse hes gonna take another leap, and into training camp talking about ambitions to be top 5 one day. Top 10 is certainly in the cards by the looks of it. This year.

Hes even better this year with still bad spacing.

How would he look with spacing? This isnt even his final form, you heathens.

Are you dumb fam?!

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