My theory: Front Office/Upper Management is forcing McCaw to play....Not Nurse

[Badonkadonk]

These conspiracy theories are fun, but there's no chance Webster/Masai/Nurse aren't on the same page.

If you haven't picked up on how the operate by now, you haven't watched enough Open Gym or listened to them speak to the media or interact with one another.

[Johnny Bball]

Quick reminder that McCaw had requested a trade out of GS because/due to lack of playing time. He was an RFA who held out signing a contract until he got legit rotation minutes.

He then gets claimed by Cleveland, signed and then released (which was a weird scenario). He then signed with the Raptors immediately after, but only a 1yr contract....which left GS fans/media baffled since he sat out of GS to get a bigger deal.

I can't help but think Masai and Co. convinced Mccaw to sign with us because he was promised legit playing time?

Maybe they're trying to keep their promise and doesnt want to taint the franchise if word gets out from Mccaw that the front office made false promises? I mean we're not an FA destination anyways

I don't doubt at all that the Raptors promised him a fair shot at it and that's what he's getting (not dedicated minutes). I said as much as well. But I don't think that's the front office ordering it, it's Nurse's decision either way and that he was part of the decision.

[Dennis 37]

It could be that Nurse has decided that first seed is out of reach, and that he believes that he can make something of Patrick. I don't see much hope of that, but its the only reasoning I can come up with. If Nurse turns him into a tradeable asset we will think him a genius.

It still doesn't satisfy those of us who recognize the inequality of opportunity.

[Gang of Four]

McCaw was signed as a third-string player and Nurse is using him as a third-string player. No one is forcing anyone to do anything and no one has to. He has not played in more than half of the Raptors' games this season, and in the games he played Raptors have gone 12-7. This is all an overreaction to nothing.

[themailman]

he was lucky to get a 2 year $8m deal from the Raptors...there shouldn't have to be any additional promises on top of that

well said. let this scrub walk end of season

[duppyy]

It would be pathetic if our highly regarded front office gave a promise like that to a scrub.

[KingSebastian]

My theory is Raps want to trade FVV but that would leave them without a backup ball handler....gotta make sure we can still compete without Freddy.
Unfortunately McCaw is not the answer....he's been pretty awful.

So the only team we are showcasing for is ourselves.... which probably means FVV will get paid cuz mCcaw is trash.



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[duppyy]

McCaw was signed as a third-string player and Nurse is using him as a third-string player. No one is forcing anyone to do anything and no one has to. He has not played in more than half of the Raptors' games this season, and in the games he played Raptors have gone 12-7. This is all an overreaction to nothing.

He missed the other games because he was injured. He missed preseason, and the first 3 games, played two games (got 40 minutes split between both games with a healthy line up at the time) then had to get surgery. Nurse had the intention to play this scrub big minutes all along. That’s not 3rd string type minutes.

[JShuttlesworth]

This whole premise that we promised McCaw minutes is a reach

[Kabookalu]

Coaches value basketball much differently than the fans do. Patrick McCaw is like the SG version of Kyle Anderson. When he's running the offense versus Terrence Davis, he's actually running the offense and coordinating with his teammates on where they need to be. Davis' handling of the offense is chaotic, however since he's so talented both as a scorer and passer he makes up for it. But it's something that gives coaches anxiety when the system they want their point guards running isn't running the way they expect it to. This archetype of player is popular amongst coaches (Luke Walton for the Lakers in the Kobe era is another example). The problem is more often than not they're not much good for anything else.

[Nexus949]

This whole premise that we promised McCaw minutes is a reach

Agreed. If the front office is asking Nurse to play McCaw more often, my theory would be that we want to show him off as potential trade bait (although he happens to probably be hurting his case haha). His contract at 4 million makes him one of our movable contracts just in terms of matching salaries on his own or as filler.

[LBJKB24MJ23]

McCaw must be amazing in practice.

thats what I'm thinking. he must be playing like his summer league games with the Warriors. dude looked like a baller.

i mean if he's making all his shots and playing like he belongs (in practice), then i'm sure there is untapped potential to be unlocked. some players do better in different scenarios/teams because of pressure/influence etc.

its the only reason why he's getting he's getting all these minutes as well as setting him up as trade bait throw in

[C Court]

I think there is something to the OP’s suggestion here. Remember that to start the year, the organization had pencilled in McCaw as a rotation player - which surprised a lot of us.

My guess is that Masai feels McCaw is close to breaking through as a legit NBA player and he wants Nurse to give him minutes so he can develop. Unlike Fred, Pascal, Boucher and TD - McCaw is never turning into an NBA player.

[KrazyP]

It could be that Nurse has decided that first seed is out of reach, and that he believes that he can make something of Patrick. I don't see much hope of that, but its the only reasoning I can come up with. If Nurse turns him into a tradeable asset we will think him a genius.

It still doesn't satisfy those of us who recognize the inequality of opportunity.

This theory is somewhat more plausible. VanVleet is a good player but he's due for a contract and his brand now seems to be stronger than his actual net worth.....to me he's a $15mill-$17.5mill player who may get a contract in the $25mill range from some desperate team (Knicks, Pistons,etc.).

Good players who get overpaid often end up as negative assets because of the way the NBA cap is structured. It might make sense to convert VanVleet into a cheaper and/or shorter term asset + 1st round pick.

[flipside21]

I do genuinely believe there must be subtext to his playing time.

I do not purport to know what that subtext might be.

[J-Roc]

Great theory.. I had just thought Masai had a meeting with Miss Cleo.

[LBJKB24MJ23]

I think there is something to the OP’s suggestion here. Remember that to start the year, the organization had pencilled in McCaw as a rotation player - which surprised a lot of us.

My guess is that Masai feels McCaw is close to breaking through as a legit NBA player and he wants Nurse to give him minutes so he can develop. Unlike Fred, Pascal, Boucher and TD - McCaw is never turning into an NBA player.

I feel McCaw is slowly getting into the flow of things. some things I've been impressed, strictly speaking of McCaw and history has said of him, he's a decent passer and he's got a jumpshot all the way out to the 3 point line. if he was more confident, he'd be taking and making a lot more - same with his handles.

I feel that his confidence level is not there but dude has the physical attributes to be an effective player. he's 6'-6"/6'-7" and as a PG, that is amazing. he's like a player being developed as we speak, from shooting to playmaking, so there's going to be growing pains. i don't know if he's that the "it" factor to turn it around but I think Raptors want to squeeze anything that is left, out of McCaw, before making a decision.

and like i said, he could be killing it in practice and hence all the minutes.

[DreamTeam09]

Bad offense leads to bad defense negetaing whatever defensive benefits said defensive specialist may have.

Mcaaw is straining our offense which leads to bad offense and us giving up these leads

[Smalltown]

setting him up as trade bait throw in

This is my thought. Convince some team that he's a 20+ minute guy on a playoff team.

[DelAbbot]

It could be that Nurse has decided that first seed is out of reach, and that he believes that he can make something of Patrick. I don't see much hope of that, but its the only reasoning I can come up with. If Nurse turns him into a tradeable asset we will think him a genius.

It still doesn't satisfy those of us who recognize the inequality of opportunity.

I think that is what is going on by playing McCaw over TD2 more than the former deserves can
1) Give a chance to develop McCaw into a tradeable asset this season.
2) Suppress TD2's mins as a way of "tough love" to correct his mistakes and suppress how much he can score on his next contract. TD2 cannot complain about it since he is a rookie and an undrafted one at that.