Kevin O'Connor: "There's people in that front office that want full rebuild"

[Duffman100]

I'm having a hard time believe that our usually completely locked down front office is leaking all of a sudden.

[OakleyDokely]

A 27 year old Poeltl can definitely be part of a re-tooling or re-build. He's a guy who will be a quality player for at least the next 5-6 years, if not longer as I see his game aging very well.

The Raps were just betting on Poeltl being a better player than the guy you will get from picks 7-30 in the 2024 nba draft. Doesn't prevent them from trading anyone on the roster if the right deal comes along.

[Rapsfan07]

We traded for Thad last year, Poetltl this year, and our first next year is only top 6 protected. We’re not going full rebound. Masai believes in this core and wants to see how we can maximize their abilities. We just need to shed one core player to remain under the tax. My bet is GTJ is most expendable.

If the goal is to compete (which I imagine it is if we're opting to retool over rebuild) then we have to be worried about more than avoid the tax, especially if doing so comes at the expense of a core player.

[HoopAndTheHarm]

I expect a lot has to do with how much the FO egos can handle being bruised. To most people, this is without a doubt a flawed roster that flat out can't shoot well. But to burn it to the ground would be admitting as much, along with admitting you just threw the coach that brought you a championship under the bus as a scapegoat.
Leafs are about to find out the same thing when Dubas goes somewhere Shanahan isn't meddling and tying his hands.

[PhilBlackson]

I'm having a hard time believe that our usually completely locked down front office is leaking all of a sudden.

I can’t believe this myth still exists lol

- we leaked our interest to trade for Poeltl for over a year
- we leaked our desire to draft Scottie
- they leaked interest in Gasol before trading for him
- they leaked interest in Ibaka before trading for him
- they leaked interest in Kawhi before trading him
- they leaked interest in trading Lowry before he was gone
- they leaked info that Nurse would be let go
- they leaked interest in PJ Tucker before trading for him

This is one of the longest running false narratives going.

[TorontoBarneys]

Meh. I'll believe it when I see it.

Disastrous 2023 season. That's what I believe.

[JKiddy]

Can I get your honest opinion on Freddie VV? What do you think he has left in the tank? What type of running mate(s) would suit him best at this time of his career?

I think Fred is cooked and could have a permanent injury in the hip/back area unless he gets surgery. He’s also a lot fatter than compared to his younger years.. so he’s lost a step.

The ideal teammate you’d want beside FVV is someone that can run the PnR roll with him (Jacob Poetl) but that will clearly be snuffed out eventually .

So it seems like the smartest play for TOR is to blow it up and build around Barnes.

If you were any other team which player has the most value at this time for the next 5 years? OG? Pascal? FVV? (I know you won't say FVV but I kept this option here for others to respond)

[Duffman100]

I'm having a hard time believe that our usually completely locked down front office is leaking all of a sudden.

I can’t believe this myth still exists lol

- we leaked our interest to trade for Poeltl for over a year
- we leaked our desire to draft Scottie
- they leaked interest in Gasol before trading for him
- they leaked interest in Ibaka before trading for him
- they leaked interest in Kawhi before trading him
- they leaked interest in trading Lowry before he was gone
- they leaked info that Nurse would be let go
- they leaked interest in PJ Tucker before trading for him

This is one of the longest running false narratives going.

Did we leak it or did the other parties? So often things come completely out of the blue with this team and we are all like 'whoa, where did that come from'.

[pharring]

Is it possible that the "conversations" that KOC had were just with Windhorst? And that this is just podcast echoing podcast?

[Syd-TK3]

A 27 year old Poeltl can definitely be part of a re-tooling or re-build. He's a guy who will be a quality player for at least the next 5-6 years, if not longer as I see his game aging very well.

The Raps were just betting on Poeltl being a better player than the guy you will get from picks 7-30 in the 2024 nba draft. Doesn't prevent them from trading anyone on the roster if the right deal comes along.

And like majority of people in the nba Poeltl I'm sure cares about making money which the Raptors can offer him

[OakleyDokely]

A 27 year old Poeltl can definitely be part of a re-tooling or re-build. He's a guy who will be a quality player for at least the next 5-6 years, if not longer as I see his game aging very well.

The Raps were just betting on Poeltl being a better player than the guy you will get from picks 7-30 in the 2024 nba draft. Doesn't prevent them from trading anyone on the roster if the right deal comes along.

And like majority of people in the nba Poeltl I'm sure cares about making money which the Raptors can offer him

The Raps can literally trade Siakam and VV for draft picks / prospects and still come back with the lineup of:

Poeltl (27)
Barnes (21)
OG (25)
GTJ (24)
Scoot (19)

That team would compete for a play-in spot.

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

A 27 year old Poeltl can definitely be part of a re-tooling or re-build. He's a guy who will be a quality player for at least the next 5-6 years, if not longer as I see his game aging very well.

The Raps were just betting on Poeltl being a better player than the guy you will get from picks 7-30 in the 2024 nba draft. Doesn't prevent them from trading anyone on the roster if the right deal comes along.

And like majority of people in the nba Poeltl I'm sure cares about making money which the Raptors can offer him

The Raps can literally trade Siakam and VV for draft picks / prospect and still come back with the lineup of:

Poeltl
Barnes
OG
GTJ
Scoot

That team would compete for a play-in spot.

I disagree, I think that's a 30 win team.

[PhilBlackson]

I'm having a hard time believe that our usually completely locked down front office is leaking all of a sudden.

I can’t believe this myth still exists lol

- we leaked our interest to trade for Poeltl for over a year
- we leaked our desire to draft Scottie
- they leaked interest in Gasol before trading for him
- they leaked interest in Ibaka before trading for him
- they leaked interest in Kawhi before trading him
- they leaked interest in trading Lowry before he was gone
- they leaked info that Nurse would be let go
- they leaked interest in PJ Tucker before trading for him

This is one of the longest running false narratives going.

Did we leak it or did the other parties? So often things come completely out of the blue with this team and we are all like 'whoa, where did that come from'.

Oh yes of course it always had to be “the other team” that leaked it *eyeroll lol. So of this laundry list of leaks that came out, it’s far more logical to conclude that its always the “other team” of what would border on league wide conspiring to leak the Raptors’ interests even if there is no “other team” in Nurse’s or drafting Scottie’s case lol the cognitive dissonance is incredible.

[OakleyDokely]

And like majority of people in the nba Poeltl I'm sure cares about making money which the Raptors can offer him

The Raps can literally trade Siakam and VV for draft picks / prospect and still come back with the lineup of:

Poeltl
Barnes
OG
GTJ
Scoot

That team would compete for a play-in spot.

I disagree, I think that's a 30 win team.

I'd say mid 30s, around the pacers/magic/wiz level. Only needed 40 wins to make the play-in this year.

[The Warrior]

Well we know Bobby "how do you tell a champion to tank" isn't one of them. This guy should just be delivering coffee and dry cleaning for Masai and waiting on his orders. This smug piece of overrated crap is nothing more than a bad intern parading as a GM.

[Fairview4Life]

I can’t believe this myth still exists lol

- we leaked our interest to trade for Poeltl for over a year
- we leaked our desire to draft Scottie
- they leaked interest in Gasol before trading for him
- they leaked interest in Ibaka before trading for him
- they leaked interest in Kawhi before trading him
- they leaked interest in trading Lowry before he was gone
- they leaked info that Nurse would be let go
- they leaked interest in PJ Tucker before trading for him

This is one of the longest running false narratives going.

Did we leak it or did the other parties? So often things come completely out of the blue with this team and we are all like 'whoa, where did that come from'.

Oh yes of course it always had to be “the other team” that leaked it *eyeroll lol. So of this laundry list of leaks that came out, it’s far more logical to conclude that its always the “other team” of what would border on league wide conspiring to leak the Raptors’ interests even if there is no “other team” in Nurse’s case lol the cognitive dissonance is incredible.

Just a quick point of order, there are a million people posting **** online about every team. Some will get things right from time to time. It doesn't necessarily mean there was a leak from any side.

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

The Raps can literally trade Siakam and VV for draft picks / prospect and still come back with the lineup of:

Poeltl
Barnes
OG
GTJ
Scoot

That team would compete for a play-in spot.

I disagree, I think that's a 30 win team.

I'd say mid 30s, around the pacers/magic/wiz level. Only needed 40 wins to make the play-in this year.

I was leaning more towards 28-30 wins. Lots of deficiencies in that lineup, rookie PG who is a heavy on-ball guy and can't shoot well yet, Scottie still can't shoot well, GTJ is GTJ, not sure they would click. You only have 2 of the 5 with a reliable 3 point shot. Not gonna do it in today's NBA.

[OakleyDokely]

I disagree, I think that's a 30 win team.

I'd say mid 30s, around the pacers/magic/wiz level. Only needed 40 wins to make the play-in this year.

I was leaning more towards 28-30 wins. Lots of deficiencies in that lineup, rookie PG who is a heavy on-ball guy and can't shoot well yet, Scottie still can't shoot well, GTJ is GTJ, not sure they would click. You only have 2 of the 5 with a reliable 3 point shot. Not gonna do it in today's NBA.

If they fall into that range, they likely keep the pick and end up adding another prospect to the core.

[islandboy53]

I'm having a hard time believe that our usually completely locked down front office is leaking all of a sudden.

I can’t believe this myth still exists lol

- we leaked our interest to trade for Poeltl for over a year
- we leaked our desire to draft Scottie
- they leaked interest in Gasol before trading for him
- they leaked interest in Ibaka before trading for him
- they leaked interest in Kawhi before trading him
- they leaked interest in trading Lowry before he was gone
- they leaked info that Nurse would be let go
- they leaked interest in PJ Tucker before trading for him

This is one of the longest running false narratives going.

What makes you believe that the Raptors leaked anything in regards to any of those scenarios? At the same time, are you sure that all of these situations are real? For example, speculation around Nurse’s firing required zero inside info - I mean, I was able to make that prediction after the play-in loss. That said, I look forward to you showing me how all or even any of these situations really were Raptors leaks.

[PhilBlackson]

Did we leak it or did the other parties? So often things come completely out of the blue with this team and we are all like 'whoa, where did that come from'.

Oh yes of course it always had to be “the other team” that leaked it *eyeroll lol. So of this laundry list of leaks that came out, it’s far more logical to conclude that its always the “other team” of what would border on league wide conspiring to leak the Raptors’ interests even if there is no “other team” in Nurse’s case lol the cognitive dissonance is incredible.

Just a quick point of order, there are a million people posting **** online about every team. Some will get things right from time to time. It doesn't necessarily mean there was a leak from any side.

Ahhh yes of course another incredibly convenient coincidence to explain more than a half dozen leaks.

It’s far more likely the leaks from local media about letting go of Nurse or Ford hearing we liked Barnes is that they stumbled across it on a random Reddit post or something lol & all the rest is just opposing teams conspiring to leak everything against the Raps. Smh imagine using this level of cognitive dissonance with any other thing in your life where there’s a common denominator during each occurrence and simply refuse to believe that thing plays any role in it happening lol you guys are really something else.