Windhorst: Raptors making noise around the league looking for a “big fish” // Giannis & Toronto "Mutual Interest"/KD too

[Clutch0z24]

I’ve provided evidence before of my appropriate valuation, but feel free to believe what you’d like.

Appropriate valuation for a top 3 player in the league and a former MVP/FMVP All time great is the same package you got for OG with adding a 9th pick....If you are talking about a top 1/2 pick here sure you would make a little bit of sense....Also no future picks as well?...Sounds more delusional than appropriate...

As I’ve said before - I’m only factoring in salary - not future picks in my trade proposals. And yes, I do think that’s appropriate value, but let’s see how it all shakes down. If the Raps are going for both KD and Giannis, then everyone is on the table.

I’m speaking from historical perspective. Raps have never traded multiple future firsts with Masai in charge. Even the Jak trade was for one only.

You gotta give up something to get something and you also have to put yourself in the Bucks shoes who don't really have to trade Giannis to us...As there will be plenty of offers on the table they can choose from....Giannis is not on the final year so they are in no rush...

For Giannis who is a top 3 player with no injuries and not on a contract year that has more value than what Kawhi had when he demanded only LA....

It will take Barnes/9th/3 Future firsts + Whatever else to make salary work for Bucks to consider accepting a deal with us....

[tsherkin]

Just clickbait, the Raptors are known to have the biggest online fan interaction. If we do land a “big fish” it would be in secrecy until the day before it happens like the Kawhi situation.

Likely true, but 100% irrelevant to the point I was making

They wouldn't unfortunately. I think they would have moved him had he made All-NBA and been eligible for that 345M contract though. I think he missed by 1 vote too lol.

Ah, new-age contract management... lol.

[MiamiSPX]

I’m still not sure why we’re not dangling Scottie when looking for this big fish. Everyone’s proposals keeps including everyone except him.

If you mean us fans, it's because we overrate our players and think everyone wants IQ and Dick lol. If you mean our FO, I would be shocked if Barnes is still off limits in the "don't even ask about him" way.

I agree that Scottie is no longer untouchable, but he’s not far from that either. We’re not trading him for KD, for example.

I agree that he is not required for Durant. I'm all in for trading for KD. Call me crazy, but I think he would agree to Toronto. There is no wife and kids to contend with, and he has always spoken fondly of the city, the Raptors, and even Scottie.

[Raps in 4]

If you mean us fans, it's because we overrate our players and think everyone wants IQ and Dick lol. If you mean our FO, I would be shocked if Barnes is still off limits in the "don't even ask about him" way.

I agree that Scottie is no longer untouchable, but he’s not far from that either. We’re not trading him for KD, for example.

I agree that he is not required for Durant. I'm all in for trading for KD. Call me crazy, but I think he would agree to Toronto. There is no wife and kids to contend with, and he has always spoken fondly of the city, the Raptors, and even Scottie.

Salary filler + #9 would probably get it done. At this point, why the **** not?

[earthtone]

Might be alone in this, but I’d honestly be very surprised if out starting five was anything other than IQ/RJ/Ingram/Barnes/Poeltl on opening night.

We’re looking like a much better team on paper already and it makes sense to try to win some games with this group before making any type of consolidation trades at the deadline/next offseason

[MavCarter]

I dont understand wanting to trade for giannis. How do you even build a contender around a 31 year old immediately after trading all your valuable assets for him

[tsherkin]

I dont understand wanting to trade for giannis. How do you even build a contender around a 31 year old immediately after trading all your valuable assets for him

Depends rather specifically on the package, doesn't it?

[Merit]

All right - just for fun:

4 way trade - Toronto, Milwaukee, Phoenix, Brooklyn

Toronto gets KD and Giannis
Milwaukee gets Beal, Clowney, Whitehead and picks via Brooklyn and Phoenix and Toronto
Phoenix gets Brandon Ingram and D’angelo Russell
Brooklyn gets Scottie Barnes and Pat Connaughton

Why for Toronto? They go all in this year with the complementary players they developed last year.

IQ/Ochai/KD/Giannis/Poeltl looks championship worthy to me, barring injury.

Milwaukee recuperates Beal’s value and gets copious picks and young players to do so. If Dame recovers, they have a couple of aging greats to give’er for one more playoff run before rebooting it fully.

Phoenix moves off Beal’s salary and a disgruntled KD and gets similar players who are younger and could fit better alongside Booker.

Brooklyn gets Scottie and builds around him.

Works in the checker.

[tsherkin]

All right - just for fun:

4 way trade - Toronto, Milwaukee, Phoenix, Brooklyn

Toronto gets KD and Giannis
Milwaukee gets Beal, Clowney, Whitehead and picks via Brooklyn and Phoenix and Toronto
Phoenix gets Brandon Ingram and D’angelo Russell
Brooklyn gets Scottie Barnes and Pat Connaughton

Why for Toronto? They go all in this year with the complementary players they developed last year.

IQ/Ochai/KD/Giannis/Poeltl looks championship worthy to me, barring injury.

Milwaukee recuperates Beal’s value and gets copious picks and young players to do so. If Dame recovers, they have a couple of aging greats to give’er for one more playoff run before rebooting it fully.

Phoenix moves off Beal’s salary and a disgruntled KD and gets similar players who are younger and could fit better alongside Booker.

Brooklyn gets Scottie and builds around him.

Works in the checker.

If Masai were to sell that con job, he should be Executive of the Decade, lmao.

[ATLTimekeeper]

Ed Rogers told Masai you have 12 months to save your job

This rumour has "sign Landry Fields to block the Knicks from signing Steve Nash" all over it. Masai is weak af right now, going around the league telling everyone who will listen they'll pay up.

Sounds like you’re not following league chatter at all. There is an impending sale of Larry’s stake to Roger’s approaching next year. Windhorst himself said last month that the everyone around the league is watching the Raptors situation closely. There is a lot at play here and unfortunately we have to read the tea leaves because our media is part of the ownership group.

What's at play? I see a GM looking for an extension amidst an ownership change, which is why I made my 'chasing Steve Nash' comment.

[Merit]

If you mean us fans, it's because we overrate our players and think everyone wants IQ and Dick lol. If you mean our FO, I would be shocked if Barnes is still off limits in the "don't even ask about him" way.

I agree that Scottie is no longer untouchable, but he’s not far from that either. We’re not trading him for KD, for example.

I agree that he is not required for Durant. I'm all in for trading for KD. Call me crazy, but I think he would agree to Toronto. There is no wife and kids to contend with, and he has always spoken fondly of the city, the Raptors, and even Scottie.

I agree with you. KD is more realistic than Giannis for us, but he’d have to play PF not SF. Haven’t tried a trade just for KD yet, but did a larger one for both he and Giannis.

[WuTang_OG]

I dont understand wanting to trade for giannis. How do you even build a contender around a 31 year old immediately after trading all your valuable assets for him

It’s not the kawhi situation. Giannis would have to want to re up and believe in vision long term. This is a masai thing more than ever. Giannis is coming for him to build another contender so giannis can win. East is wide open. If masai wants toronto masai has to be aggressive on that pursuit and he’d be a fool if he doesnt

[Merit]

All right - just for fun:

4 way trade - Toronto, Milwaukee, Phoenix, Brooklyn

Toronto gets KD and Giannis
Milwaukee gets Beal, Clowney, Whitehead and picks via Brooklyn and Phoenix and Toronto
Phoenix gets Brandon Ingram and D’angelo Russell
Brooklyn gets Scottie Barnes and Pat Connaughton

Why for Toronto? They go all in this year with the complementary players they developed last year.

IQ/Ochai/KD/Giannis/Poeltl looks championship worthy to me, barring injury.

Milwaukee recuperates Beal’s value and gets copious picks and young players to do so. If Dame recovers, they have a couple of aging greats to give’er for one more playoff run before rebooting it fully.

Phoenix moves off Beal’s salary and a disgruntled KD and gets similar players who are younger and could fit better alongside Booker.

Brooklyn gets Scottie and builds around him.

Works in the checker.

If Masai were to sell that con job, he should be Executive of the Decade, lmao.

There’s logic in that for everyone. Come up with something better. When you say things like there’s been no franchise changing player other than Dwight Howard, Wemby and AD I question your assessment of player value.

[ItsDanger]

Masai feeling the pressure. Not only is his own contract expiring soon, the guy he just traded has led his new team to the Finals.

No patience for a long rebuild.

[DatHomieYouHaTe]

Trading for Giannis is pointless since you give up WAY too much and still have the same spacing issues and back to having depth issues. KD would make WAY more sense but he is getting up there in age. Lamelo Ball would be amazing but i doubt the Hornets would do it.

[Merit]

Masai feeling the pressure. Not only is his own contract expiring soon, the guy he just traded has led his new team to the Finals.

No patience for a long rebuild.

Or…

Two teams just got decimated by Achilles injuries to their star players and the Raptors are ideally positioned to capitalize because they didn’t make moves based on “pressure” earlier.

[Son Goku 25]

I wouldn't mind trading for KD for the right price, I think he'll be good for another 4 years.

[tsherkin]

There’s logic in that for everyone. Come up with something better. When you say things like there’s been no franchise changing player other than Dwight Howard, Wemby and AD I question your assessment of player value.

I don't think there is a trade where Milwaukee gives us Giannis and we give them good value. And I don't think Scottie to Brooklyn helps them to any real degree.

There's any kind of potential in Banchero, but he is far from it at the moment. And otherwise, you're talking about Bogut, Bargs, Oden, Rose, Blake Griffin, John Wall, Kyrie, Anthony Bennett, Wiggins, KAT, Ben Simmons, Markelle Fultz, Deandre Ayton, Zion, Ant and Cade.

Ant is starting to push the boundary, but has a lot of work to do in order to get there still. Zion is never healthy and has more "might be as good as Amare" kind of vibes to him. There are a PILE of good players in there, but no one who should be confused for being a franchise-level talent.

None of those guys are franchise players. That's a fairly exclusive level of ability.

[DreamTeam09]

Might be alone in this, but I’d honestly be very surprised if out starting five was anything other than IQ/RJ/Ingram/Barnes/Poeltl on opening night.

We’re looking like a much better team on paper already and it makes sense to try to win some games with this group before making any type of consolidation trades at the deadline/next offseason

I agree as well

[ATLTimekeeper]

I agree that Scottie is no longer untouchable, but he’s not far from that either. We’re not trading him for KD, for example.

I agree that he is not required for Durant. I'm all in for trading for KD. Call me crazy, but I think he would agree to Toronto. There is no wife and kids to contend with, and he has always spoken fondly of the city, the Raptors, and even Scottie.

I agree with you. KD is more realistic than Giannis for us, but he’d have to play PF not SF. Haven’t tried a trade just for KD yet, but did a larger one for both he and Giannis.

Like Giannis, I think KD has a big say in where he gets to play. These guys are going to want a stacked deck.