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

[traps#10]

It would be weird to have KD and Ingram on the same team lol

[SFour]

Thought we landed our “big fish” already with Ingram lol

didn't give up much for Ingram....a big fish trade will require giving up alot of assets.

[AbC?]

It cannot be emphasized enough how washed Masai is.

[ForeverTFC]

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.

What you're missing in this scenario is that you have 2 owners that have competing priorities: one needs top dollar and the other the best deal. I'm sure there is motivation from the FO to have the team in the best place possible next year for their own sake, but thinking this is the only motivation driving things seems shortsighted to me when one party is about to consolidate control of all Toronto sports and the other party is contractually obligated to allow it.

[John Murdoch]

KD is more likely

[TorontoBarneys]

As they should be. They abandoned the deep lottery route with the Ingram trade and the halfhearted tank this year so they might as well be aggressively trying to pursue anyone of worth.

Rebuild route rejected. Guess we'll see what the retool route holds in store for the Raps. Not even remotely satisfied with the direction of this team.

[ATLTimekeeper]

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.

What you're missing in this scenario is that you have 2 owners that have competing priorities: one needs top dollar and the other the best deal. I'm sure there is motivation from the FO to have the team in the best place possible next year for their own sake, but thinking this is the only motivation driving things seems shortsighted to me when one party is about to consolidate control of all Toronto sports and the other party is contractually obligated to allow it.

Are you implying Masai will give up the future just to boost Larry's sale price? There'd be no way he'd return here and he would probably kill his reputation as a basketball exec to boot.

[Raptorfan2012]

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

Probably not in those words but I have a feeling Masai is given next season to show Rogers the Raptors can be a competitive team. His next salary offer will depend on it.

[dkb964]

If it's RJ + GD + picks that makes sense. Who that player is intriguing.

JA, maybe that makes sense. IQ + GD + filler
Giannis - I don't think that's enough, nor would I trade Barnes if that was the option.
JJJ would be perfect & makes sense.
Jabari isn't a big fish but he makes sense
Anyone else who would be perfect I don't see moving or being available to us

RJ and GD have very little trade value. They both should be bench players, yes RJ should be a 6th man scorer off the bench.

[Raptorfan2012]

I have a feeling the competition for KD is greater than Giannis, simply because KD is more available and will cost less than Giannis.

[Mark_83]

I sense Masai's definition of "Big fish" might be more modest than some of the names being thrown around. Like Brandon Ingram level talent who's youngish (24-28), underrated and under valued. Maybe that's a guy like Markkanen, or Garland, or Bane. What about Jamal Murray? Denver could look to shake things up after their playoff exit.

Maybe Colin Sexton? I like Sexton a lot. He's not a traditional point guard, but given our roster construction and playing style, our point guards are going to play off ball a lot anyway. Sexton is a certified shot creator who can get into the paint at will, and has really improved his shooting from deep. He's also a blur in the open court.

[ForeverTFC]

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.

What you're missing in this scenario is that you have 2 owners that have competing priorities: one needs top dollar and the other the best deal. I'm sure there is motivation from the FO to have the team in the best place possible next year for their own sake, but thinking this is the only motivation driving things seems shortsighted to me when one party is about to consolidate control of all Toronto sports and the other party is contractually obligated to allow it.

Are you implying Masai will give up the future just to boost Larry's sale price? There'd be no way he'd return here and he would probably kill his reputation as a basketball exec to boot.

No, I don't believe Masai will ever make a choice that he thinks is not in the best interest of this team. What I'm saying is that we have a massive sale coming up and it's surely will influence what happens with this team.

[Raptors Realtor]

KD is more likely

I disagree that KD is a target... You shouldn't give up a bunch of prospects and picks for a 37 year old injury prone player, regardless of how good he is.

[ATLTimekeeper]

I sense Masai's definition of "Big fish" might be more modest than some of the names being thrown around. Like Brandon Ingram level talent who's youngish (24-28), underrated and under valued. Maybe that's a guy like Markkanen, or Garland, or Bane. What about Jamal Murray? Denver could look to shake things up after their playoff exit.

I agree, which is why I put Booker's name out there, but Jamal makes sense, too. It's obvious a lot of names are gonna fly, and it's obvious Masai has tripled down on Scottie as the franchise. A 'big fish' in our understanding is Giannis/KD, etc. But those types control where they go and will want an easier launching pad to the Finals, and would most likely require Scottie as the prime asset. Tacking together RJ and picks, IQ and RJ and picks, etc, might get you Murray or Booker as those franchises try and regroup and recoup assets.

[MoneyBall]

I sense Masai's definition of "Big fish" might be more modest than some of the names being thrown around. Like Brandon Ingram level talent who's youngish (24-28), underrated and under valued. Maybe that's a guy like Markkanen, or Garland, or Bane. What about Jamal Murray? Denver could look to shake things up after their playoff exit. I like Colin Sexton a lot. He's not a traditional point guard, but given our roster construction and playing style, our point guards are going to play off ball a lot. Sexton is a certified shot creator who can get into the paint at will, and has really improved his shooting from deep.

In terms of fit, Markkanen is a good match next to Scottie. Still kind of a big fish, but not Giannis level.

[dkb964]

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.

You do realize that LaMelo Ball is always injuried right? He was played 47/22/36/76/55 games each year. That averages out to 47 games a year. Trading for a loser that is always injuried on a huge contract would be one of if not the worst trades in franchise history considering what the Raptors would have to give up. The Hornets keep him around because they are a loser franchise and he puts butts in seats.

[TheRaptor!]

The irony of trading Pascal Siakam because he's "only a number two option" to then trade for a "big fish" who needs a number two option is too much for me to stomach.

Also weird how superstar and future face of the league needs a "big fish" on top of leading scoring option and ball handler Brandon Ingram and second scoring option RJ Barrett. What's his role on the team at that point and when does management get rid of everyone again to make sure Scottie's ego isn't bruised?

Siakam wasnt ish as a 1st option

With that train of thought RJ could be possibly the best 3rd option in the league if we can acquire Giannis and have Ingram as the 2nd guy

[tanuki1031]

It would be weird to have KD and Ingram on the same team lol

Slim Reaper Slim Reefer pick yo' poison ****!!!!

[ATLTimekeeper]

I sense Masai's definition of "Big fish" might be more modest than some of the names being thrown around. Like Brandon Ingram level talent who's youngish (24-28), underrated and under valued. Maybe that's a guy like Markkanen, or Garland, or Bane. What about Jamal Murray? Denver could look to shake things up after their playoff exit. I like Colin Sexton a lot. He's not a traditional point guard, but given our roster construction and playing style, our point guards are going to play off ball a lot. Sexton is a certified shot creator who can get into the paint at will, and has really improved his shooting from deep.

In terms of fit, Markkanen is a good match next to Scottie. Still kind of a big fish, but not Giannis level.

He's kinda not, because he needs a PG to get him the ball, and then we have Ingram, who is going to have to be hidden on the corner shooters.

[Tha Cynic]

They brought up Pascal, it's in the podcast episode.

OK, so if Brandon Ingram was brought in to be the number two option...and the Raptors are now looking for a "big fish" on top of that...what does that make Scottie Barnes aka future face of the league?

(and Pascal Siakam is the reason the Raptors even came up on that podcast, most media people don't talk about middling lottery teams)

Scottie was likely never going to be a number 1, that's not his game. But what does this make him? A 23 year old capable of getting 20 a night on elite defense and playmaking... I mean lol

If he was "never" going to be a number one option, why did Darko call him the future face of the league? Why did the Raptors blow up this team to build around him?

OK, so he's 24 in 8 weeks and entering his fifth season in the league. He's actually not yet capable of averaging 20 PPG, he's never done it despite being force fed touches for the last 18 months. He can't shoot, he can't beat his defender with a live dribble, his ballhandling isn't good enough to actually leverage his ability to process the game.

He's a great defender, but he's best used offball, so you still need a primary onball defender next to him. Since he can't shoot, you also need shooting at every other position on the floor. Since he can't dribble, you also need live dribble creators next to him.

So again, what are we doing here? We're contorting ourselves to build around a player who is not a number one option, not a game changing defender, not a shooter, not a lead playmaker...why?

The Raptors even if you remove Barnes, are built like a balanced team. What are you going on about? This team isn’t “built around Barnes” as if they have no team without him. It’s clear they’re trying to build this team the same way they built the Derozan/Lowry Raptors who were very successful and the stepping stone to the championship team.

Also why did they move from the previous core? Because it wasn’t working? Heck, these guys on the podcast were basically mocking the Raptors for trying to win with those guys and now hypocritically talking as if we should have kept them. OG was very clearly leaving and Van Vleet was overpaid by Houston. Siakam was telling teams he would not sign with them and forced himself to Indiana who had Halliburton talking to him for the last couple of years.

Also once again - these American media members are so **** hypocritical. They were wondering why the Raptors didn’t trade any of these guys just a couple of season ago and now they’re talking as if the Raptors shouldn’t have traded Siakam lol. Masai was being crucified for asking for too much. At least you raptors fans should remember this if they conveniently forgot.