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

TheGeneral99 · Post #341 » by **TheGeneral99** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 2:40 pm

Would absolutely love Sabonis here. 28 years old, a monster in the paint and can hit the 3 at a high clip.

Poeltl, Barrett, and a future 1st??

And then do a swap of Barnes for Giannis?

Quickley, Gradey, Ingram, Giannis, Sabonis starting line-up????

:lol:

Johnny Bball · Post #342 » by **Johnny Bball** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 2:42 pm

If this team were to trade for GA, I would only want him to play centre. And I'm not sure he wants to play centre, does he?

Basketball_Jones · Post #343 » by **Basketball_Jones** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 2:43 pm

Sorry guys but Doug Smith reporting it first isn’t credible

Nebuchadnezzar · Post #344 » by **Nebuchadnezzar** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 2:43 pm

TravisScott55 wrote:Going after Giannis would gut the team, and not leave them with enough to be a contender after

Feels like there have been plenty of proposals here that are realistic - please explain what you mean.

Gavin_TDThree · Post #345 » by **Gavin_TDThree** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 2:44 pm

If this doesn't need it's own thread please lock or merge.

When Windy was talking about big fish, I wonder if this was what he was referring to.

MiamiSPX · Post #346 » by **MiamiSPX** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 2:44 pm

Johnny Bball wrote:If this team were to trade for GA, I would only want him to play centre. And I'm not sure he wants to play centre, does he?

No. He is on record as saying he will do it in spurts IF needed, but that Power Forrard is his natural position and more importantly, where he WANTS to play. Pretty sure that is something that will be considered when picking his new team.

Raptorfan2012 · Post #347 » by **Raptorfan2012** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 2:45 pm

WuTang_OG wrote:

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Very strange about our connection with Sabonis. Good player, but do we really need him? Does Jak go the other way?

Nebuchadnezzar · Post #348 » by **Nebuchadnezzar** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 2:46 pm

Johnny Bball wrote:If this team were to trade for GA, I would only want him to play centre. And I'm not sure he wants to play centre, does he?

So you'd take a top ten centre off the floor, so Giannis could play out of position?

Mr. Perfect · Post #349 » by **Mr. Perfect** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 2:47 pm

I'd feel more confident in the report if it didn't come from one of our local beat writers, especially Doug Smith.

PhilBlackson · Post #350 » by **PhilBlackson** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 2:50 pm

Sabonis is such a bad fit.

Obv doesn’t space the floor and not a good defender.

Johnny Bball · Post #351 » by **Johnny Bball** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 2:50 pm

Nebuchadnezzar wrote:
Johnny Bball wrote:If this team were to trade for GA, I would only want him to play centre. And I'm not sure he wants to play centre, does he?

So you'd take a top ten centre off the floor, so Giannis could play out of position?

How does it work otherwise? You want to take Barnes or Ingram out? I would think then they would obviously be shopping Poeltl for another backup C. Or draft one.

The spacing would be horrible. And I do not think that is out of position.

Gavin_TDThree · Post #352 » by **Gavin_TDThree** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 2:51 pm

Mr. Perfect wrote:I'd feel more confident in the report if it didn't come from one of our local beat writers, especially Doug Smith.

Yeah that's fair. I'd have to think he has some sort of source though right? You can't just toss your credibility that far down the drain... I'd hope

WuTang_CMB · Post #353 » by **WuTang_CMB** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 2:52 pm

The NBA landscape has totally changed especially in the East with Bucks diminished, BOS without Tatum and looking to make moves to scale back,
CLE and Indy are great teams but I wouldn't call them unbeatable. The Knicks struck too soon with Bridges deal and they likely already hit their ceiling.

Indiana made a huge jump once they got Siakam but they also kept a lot of depth which was key

You absolutely have to explore getting Giannis even if you gut your future picks and trade Scottie, RJ, JKW.

As I said before, more moves will come. Masai will have the challenge to replace the depth. This completely changes the dynamic of the team with a true #1. Not to mention you have BI to add.

Johnny Bball · Post #354 » by **Johnny Bball** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 2:54 pm

MiamiSPX wrote:
Johnny Bball wrote:If this team were to trade for GA, I would only want him to play centre. And I'm not sure he wants to play centre, does he?

No. He is on record as saying he will do it in spurts IF needed, but that Power Forrard is his natural position and more importantly, where he WANTS to play. Pretty sure that is something that will be considered when picking his new team.

That's a shame because when the Bucks were their very best was when they won the title and he played C mostly and Lopez sat.

RandomRaptorfan · Post #355 » by **RandomRaptorfan** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 2:54 pm

It's Doug Smith so we know the opposite is going to happen. Congrats to whatever other team get him

ishoy123 · Post #356 » by **ishoy123** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 2:54 pm

Gavin_TDThree wrote:
Mr. Perfect wrote:I'd feel more confident in the report if it didn't come from one of our local beat writers, especially Doug Smith.

Yeah that's fair. I'd have to think he has some sort of source though right? You can't just toss your credibility that far down the drain... I'd hope

It's a high-upside, no downside report for Doug. He knows (like we all do) that Masai loves Giannis and wanted him here for years. If against all odds, Giannis ends up coming here, Doug looks like a genius with inside connections. If he doesn't, it was just a rumor that people will forget.

Post #357 » by **tsherkin** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 2:55 pm

RandomRaptorfan wrote:It's Doug Smith so we know the opposite is going to happen. Congrats to whatever other team get him

Ugh, truth stings... lol.

CeltsfanSinceBirth · Post #358 » by **CeltsfanSinceBirth** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 2:55 pm

My cousin used to work for the Raptors. And I said this years ago - Masai’s wife is buddies with Giannis’ mom. Helps them navigate around tampering rules. Lol.

Westside Gunn · Post #359 » by **Westside Gunn** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 2:55 pm

Will Doug really put his 30 year plus reputation on the line for this

Clutch0z24 · Post #360 » by **Clutch0z24** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 2:55 pm

If we traded for Giannis we would prolly have to give up Barnes/Dick #9 as the main assets to get the talks started....How many more draft picks + players added will be up to what the Bucks ask for....Prolly 3-4 future first and one of Ochai/Walter/Mogbo added on top...

We would have the assets to make a follow up move if need be with IQ/Barrett/Yak/Other picks/ two of Ochai/Walter/Mogbo....a Ingram/Giannis duo becomes the best duo in the East next year...Even if we keep IQ/Barrett/Yak them 3 are pretty elite complementary guys to the elite Duo we would have....Giannis won with Middleton...Ingram is just as good if not better than him when healthy....

Also buy out options would become a thing + Vets maybe would come here on cheap free agent deals to shape out the roster and bench more...Heck maybe Lopez comes here on a cheap deal...Lots of possibilites

If Giannis trade ever becomes a possibility and Bucks accept a deal you have to take it and shape out the roster as you go ....Getting a player like Giannis in the door is just the first step...