Trade Deadline Discussion & Rumours - Raptors and NBA

[Son Goku 25]

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tbh booshay has become an important piece on our team. He's a menace lol

[Son Goku 25]

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Adding 29 year Chris Boucher is NOT a rebuilding move. lol

Shhh

Hes still growing into a man

[WuTang_CMB]

https://theathletic.com/3102256/2022/02/07/nba-power-rankings-raptors-climb-up-playoff-hopefuls-tier-plus-nba-trade-deadline-buyers-and-sellers/

12. Toronto Raptors (Previously 15th), 28-23, +1.3 net rating
Weekly slate: Win at Hawks, Win over Heat, Win over Bulls, Win over Hawks

Should they be buyers or sellers? Sellers. Stick with me on this. I simply mean this from the standpoint of trying to find a home for Goran Dragic, and hopefully not just having to resort to waiving him and getting nothing in return as he moves to the buyout market. The Raptors are in a pretty good position. They’ve played pretty good basketball as of late. Their core is pretty much young enough that you should want to just see how they react and adapt to the rest of this campaign. Then you tinker in the offseason. I don’t think there is a move that puts them over the top, and I wouldn’t want to give up anyone from the core. So the answer is really neither, unless you’re shopping Dragic and able to move him for anything.

Who should be on the move? Other than Dragic? I wouldn’t move anybody. Everybody else is either deeply involved as a core member, or they don’t move the needle enough to feel like you’re truly upgrading the team by putting them out there on the market. That doesn’t mean guys can’t be included in deals for Dragic, but I just like the idea of Masai Ujiri standing pat with the core.

[sbsat]

https://theathletic.com/3102256/2022/02/07/nba-power-rankings-raptors-climb-up-playoff-hopefuls-tier-plus-nba-trade-deadline-buyers-and-sellers/

12. Toronto Raptors (Previously 15th), 28-23, +1.3 net rating
Weekly slate: Win at Hawks, Win over Heat, Win over Bulls, Win over Hawks

Should they be buyers or sellers? Sellers. Stick with me on this. I simply mean this from the standpoint of trying to find a home for Goran Dragic, and hopefully not just having to resort to waiving him and getting nothing in return as he moves to the buyout market. The Raptors are in a pretty good position. They’ve played pretty good basketball as of late. Their core is pretty much young enough that you should want to just see how they react and adapt to the rest of this campaign. Then you tinker in the offseason. I don’t think there is a move that puts them over the top, and I wouldn’t want to give up anyone from the core. So the answer is really neither, unless you’re shopping Dragic and able to move him for anything.

Who should be on the move? Other than Dragic? I wouldn’t move anybody. Everybody else is either deeply involved as a core member, or they don’t move the needle enough to feel like you’re truly upgrading the team by putting them out there on the market. That doesn’t mean guys can’t be included in deals for Dragic, but I just like the idea of Masai Ujiri standing pat with the core.

it does look more and more likely the raptors stand pat. A team like the kings may have interest in taking dragic just to rid themselves of buddy hield's term contract - if we are willing to eat that deal and think we can turn buddy around maybe we do that

[mtcan]

https://theathletic.com/3102256/2022/02/07/nba-power-rankings-raptors-climb-up-playoff-hopefuls-tier-plus-nba-trade-deadline-buyers-and-sellers/

12. Toronto Raptors (Previously 15th), 28-23, +1.3 net rating
Weekly slate: Win at Hawks, Win over Heat, Win over Bulls, Win over Hawks

Should they be buyers or sellers? Sellers. Stick with me on this. I simply mean this from the standpoint of trying to find a home for Goran Dragic, and hopefully not just having to resort to waiving him and getting nothing in return as he moves to the buyout market. The Raptors are in a pretty good position. They’ve played pretty good basketball as of late. Their core is pretty much young enough that you should want to just see how they react and adapt to the rest of this campaign. Then you tinker in the offseason. I don’t think there is a move that puts them over the top, and I wouldn’t want to give up anyone from the core. So the answer is really neither, unless you’re shopping Dragic and able to move him for anything.

Who should be on the move? Other than Dragic? I wouldn’t move anybody. Everybody else is either deeply involved as a core member, or they don’t move the needle enough to feel like you’re truly upgrading the team by putting them out there on the market. That doesn’t mean guys can’t be included in deals for Dragic, but I just like the idea of Masai Ujiri standing pat with the core.

I agree with this take.

The only guys I am considering trading are:
Dragic for obvious reasons

Boucher because he is an expiring contract and only if you can get a contender to cough up a younger prospect or a first round pick.

Flynn because he isn't in the rotation and doesn't seem to figure into the team's plans...but as a former first round pick and is only in his second season...teams might want to test him out in their system.

[WuTang_CMB]

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[Sandman88]

WuTang, trading a FRP does not mean you are losing a tradeable asset. If the incoming player is relatively young, on a good contract and still has upside, trading a FRP can still be a part of a “restock the cupboard” strategy. We can still maintain the tradeable assets we need for a potential ‘superstar trade’ down the road.

In fact, Masai has already proven a willingness to do this, check Ross +FRP for Ibaka deal.. we weren’t necessarily a true title contender when that pick was dealt.. nor did it kill our asset base in order to do a Kawhi deal. We can have the best of both worlds.. turn FRP into a player who can help now, while still maintaining our assets for a future superstar deal if the opportunity arises.

Having said that, my gut says that Masai / Bobby have a safety net basket of C+/B- calibre players that we could go out and get one of right now with a combo of Dragic + Flynn, but NO FRP… however, we also have a basket of B+ / A- calibre players that we would like to get, and would be willing to give a FRP in order to get, but the opposite team is holding out for more than our FRP.

So one of 3 things will happen:

1. Raps hoping opposite team caves and accepts our offer as is, trading us the B+ / A- calibre player for Dragic / Flynn / FRP, or

2. Raps cave and we sweeten the pot further (Add one or two SRPs, maybe a second FRP if the players a true star, it really all depending on how high a calibre of player it is and how badly our front office wants them, or

3. We revert back to our safety net and trade for B- / C+ calibre player without giving up any picks.

Shall be interesting to see what unfolds.

The easiest and most intelligent way to restock right now is through the draft. Buys us 4 years on a cheap deal and can add to the core. The ibaka deal was a major need. Highly unlilely we move our Frp This year as iv already stated. We dont have a hole like that back then thus why we wont waste it on guys like Turner.

This team isn't 1 move away from Finals run. This win streak has been fun but we are basically fighting to get out of the play-in tournament. We all hope the winning continues but a few losses and we are either in the play in or a late lottery team. The margins are razor thin.

If this team started the season better and are top 4 in the East instead of bottom 4...I'd be wanting an "all-in" type of move...but this isn't the case.

This roster is very much in flux and I don't expect any one deadline trade to fix that.

Building through the draft still makes sense at this moment.

This team can absolutely make the finals if the right bench pieces are added.

You reference the start of the year but fail to grasp that we were not healthy. Now that the starting 5 has played together, you’re seeing the true team. The east is wide open this year and we’ve been competitive with the east’s best, so if FO can add the right pieces to this already good core, anything can happen.

[redeye514]

WuTang, trading a FRP does not mean you are losing a tradeable asset. If the incoming player is relatively young, on a good contract and still has upside, trading a FRP can still be a part of a “restock the cupboard” strategy. We can still maintain the tradeable assets we need for a potential ‘superstar trade’ down the road.

In fact, Masai has already proven a willingness to do this, check Ross +FRP for Ibaka deal.. we weren’t necessarily a true title contender when that pick was dealt.. nor did it kill our asset base in order to do a Kawhi deal. We can have the best of both worlds.. turn FRP into a player who can help now, while still maintaining our assets for a future superstar deal if the opportunity arises.

Having said that, my gut says that Masai / Bobby have a safety net basket of C+/B- calibre players that we could go out and get one of right now with a combo of Dragic + Flynn, but NO FRP… however, we also have a basket of B+ / A- calibre players that we would like to get, and would be willing to give a FRP in order to get, but the opposite team is holding out for more than our FRP.

So one of 3 things will happen:

1. Raps hoping opposite team caves and accepts our offer as is, trading us the B+ / A- calibre player for Dragic / Flynn / FRP, or

2. Raps cave and we sweeten the pot further (Add one or two SRPs, maybe a second FRP if the players a true star, it really all depending on how high a calibre of player it is and how badly our front office wants them, or

3. We revert back to our safety net and trade for B- / C+ calibre player without giving up any picks.

Shall be interesting to see what unfolds.

The easiest and most intelligent way to restock right now is through the draft. Buys us 4 years on a cheap deal and can add to the core. The ibaka deal was a major need. Highly unlilely we move our Frp This year as iv already stated. We dont have a hole like that back then thus why we wont waste it on guys like Turner.

This team isn't 1 move away from Finals run. This win streak has been fun but we are basically fighting to get out of the play-in tournament. We all hope the winning continues but a few losses and we are either in the play in or a late lottery team. The margins are razor thin.

If this team started the season better and are top 4 in the East instead of bottom 4...I'd be wanting an "all-in" type of move...but this isn't the case.

This roster is very much in flux and I don't expect any one deadline trade to fix that.

Building through the draft still makes sense at this moment.

Mtcan, no one is advocating an ‘all in’ move. Not at all. Rather, the merits of trading one pick that will likely land in the late teens. That is not ‘all in’…

Also, highlighting that trading said pick can still bring in a long term young asset that fits with the core, not just necessarily a move for a grizzled vet like the Gasol deal. Finally, that Masai has demonstrated a willingness to trade a pick if it brings in asset that they can work with for 3+ years (ie, Serge ibaka trade).

At the end of it, I’m not saying we ‘should’ trade a FRP.. rather, simply that Masai is absolutely willing to if the j coming player is worth it, and if he does that move, it doesn’t mean that we’re mortgaging our entire future.

[PhilBlackson]

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Jesus Morey just get this over already, it's like he feels like he must get a completely lopsided trade to show off or something. I really wish this would blow up in his face.

[douggood]

https://theathletic.com/3102256/2022/02/07/nba-power-rankings-raptors-climb-up-playoff-hopefuls-tier-plus-nba-trade-deadline-buyers-and-sellers/

12. Toronto Raptors (Previously 15th), 28-23, +1.3 net rating
Weekly slate: Win at Hawks, Win over Heat, Win over Bulls, Win over Hawks

Should they be buyers or sellers? Sellers. Stick with me on this. I simply mean this from the standpoint of trying to find a home for Goran Dragic, and hopefully not just having to resort to waiving him and getting nothing in return as he moves to the buyout market. The Raptors are in a pretty good position. They’ve played pretty good basketball as of late. Their core is pretty much young enough that you should want to just see how they react and adapt to the rest of this campaign. Then you tinker in the offseason. I don’t think there is a move that puts them over the top, and I wouldn’t want to give up anyone from the core. So the answer is really neither, unless you’re shopping Dragic and able to move him for anything.

Who should be on the move? Other than Dragic? I wouldn’t move anybody. Everybody else is either deeply involved as a core member, or they don’t move the needle enough to feel like you’re truly upgrading the team by putting them out there on the market. That doesn’t mean guys can’t be included in deals for Dragic, but I just like the idea of Masai Ujiri standing pat with the core.

we have a solid starting 5 and more importantly a solid closing 5. any trade involving the pick must be to improve one of those 5 spots; and barring a major trade; nothing will move the needle. i dont want to trade a 1st to improve the 7th spot in rotation.

[StopitLeo]

For Poeltl I wouldn't mind giving up a lottery-protected first round pick. I think we could resign him to a team friendly deal next summer and he is young enough to grow with the core.

I'm not on board unloading multiple picks at the deadline for a win-now move.

I agree. Trading multiple picks makes no sense unless the talent upgrade is significant enough to make a legitimate run at the Finals.

However, trading a mid-to-late 1st round pick to improve the roster today can make sense if you think that those improvements are better than what you'd be able to achieve through free agency and with that draft pick. It's exactly what we did when acquiring Serge. Moreover, the trajectory of this team will be dictated by how good Scottie is next year and not who we might draft 16-20.

Based on our needs I would love to acquire Poeltl and McDermott for Dragic, Boucher, Flynn, and a protected 1st (Top 20 would be ideal); the Spurs would have to add another small contract to make the money work. Such a deal would also bring us below the tax.

[DatHomieYouHaTe]

comparing the Serge acquisition to Poetl is a joke. Serge could actually space the floor and Poetl can't shoot a lick... Our spacing is already hanging on by a thread we need more shooters not another brick layer cause we're maxed out.

[T-d0t]

I'll believe the Simmons-Harden trade when I see it.

[Zeno]

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Jesus Morey just get this over already, it's like he feels like he must get a completely lopsided trade to show off or something. I really wish this would blow up in his face.

It most likely will. Do people really think Philly guy when they look at Harden? Really the working man's superstar that guy... getting booed like crazy at the first sign of failure no doubt.

[douggood]

comparing the Serge acquisition to Poetl is a joke. Serge could actually space the floor and Poetl can't shoot a lick... Our spacing is already hanging on by a thread we need more shooters not another brick layer cause we're maxed out.

and the team timeline was different, serge was one of the finishing touches; had reached the conference finals the year before.

[NotMyKawhi]

Don't let harden and morey play games.

Call their bluff. No team is gonna have 45 million in cap space to sign harden this off-season. Call their bluff. Make him take less to leave. he won't do it

[ATLTimekeeper]

https://theathletic.com/3102256/2022/02/07/nba-power-rankings-raptors-climb-up-playoff-hopefuls-tier-plus-nba-trade-deadline-buyers-and-sellers/

12. Toronto Raptors (Previously 15th), 28-23, +1.3 net rating
Weekly slate: Win at Hawks, Win over Heat, Win over Bulls, Win over Hawks

Should they be buyers or sellers? Sellers. Stick with me on this. I simply mean this from the standpoint of trying to find a home for Goran Dragic, and hopefully not just having to resort to waiving him and getting nothing in return as he moves to the buyout market. The Raptors are in a pretty good position. They’ve played pretty good basketball as of late. Their core is pretty much young enough that you should want to just see how they react and adapt to the rest of this campaign. Then you tinker in the offseason. I don’t think there is a move that puts them over the top, and I wouldn’t want to give up anyone from the core. So the answer is really neither, unless you’re shopping Dragic and able to move him for anything.

Who should be on the move? Other than Dragic? I wouldn’t move anybody. Everybody else is either deeply involved as a core member, or they don’t move the needle enough to feel like you’re truly upgrading the team by putting them out there on the market. That doesn’t mean guys can’t be included in deals for Dragic, but I just like the idea of Masai Ujiri standing pat with the core.

we have a solid starting 5 and more importantly a solid closing 5. any trade involving the pick must be to improve one of those 5 spots; and barring a major trade; nothing will move the needle. i dont want to trade a 1st to improve the 7th spot in rotation.

It would likely be the 6th spot in the rotation. They can easily get someone better than Boucher with a 1st + Dragic. The LeVert trade shows us that the trade market isn't that competitive for buyers. Ideally you're getting that 6th player that is effectively a starter but willing to come off the bench (LaVert quality), and that improves the starting 5 because they play fewer minutes. If it's Josh Hart, well worth it. If it's Poeltl, well, he's not that versatile, so maybe not a great idea. If it's Eric Gordan, well he's too old.

[OakleyDokely]

There are a number of reasons why I believe the Raps won't give up significant assets for a starting caliber C:

1. They'd have to break the starting lineup which means either GTJ or Barnes goes to the bench.

2. Adding a C to the bench makes little sense when you already have Precious, Birch and Boucher.

3. The Raps are going to face a cap crunch soon. VV and GTJ can both opt-out after next season and both will see sizeable raises on their current deals. With Siakam and OG already making big money, adding another big money player doesn't make much sense. And giving up assets for a short term rental doesn't make much sense either given where the Raps are.

Most likely scenario is the Raps give up expirings, maybe a 2nd or two for some guard/wing bench depth and then they look at the buyout market.

[Zeno]

comparing the Serge acquisition to Poetl is a joke. Serge could actually space the floor and Poetl can't shoot a lick... Our spacing is already hanging on by a thread we need more shooters not another brick layer cause we're maxed out.

and the team timeline was different, serge was one of the finishing touches; had reached the conference finals the year before.

Yeah Turner would be comparable to the Serge move. He's younger than Serge was so that compensates for the difference on the timeline.... I don't want Poeltl unless Birch is going out for sure and even then not for a 1st unless we're getting another useful player too.

[dagger]

Here's the thing: This draft isn't shaping up as stellar, and as the Raptors move out of the lottery into the late teens, they could acquire a talent with that pick which would have value next season. That pretty much means moving Dragic because of proximity to the tax line, though the return could be a trade exception they could use before the deadline.