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

[Clutch0z24]

Sitting in meetings, playing around. Don't flame me.

Who says no?

What would the Raptors have to add in terms of picks to get this done? Scottie is worth what 2-3 FRPs?

Will have to get some min salary players to surround the 2.

Bucks will want way more....Boucher is also a Free agent so you can't really move him....

Bucks will have big time offers on the table for Giannis so if we do not come correct to match what other teams will be throwing out we do not have a chance....Barnes/Dick or RJ/#9/Ochai is prolly the starting offer to get on the phone with Bucks...The pick package will follow (Most likely 3-4 FRPs/Swaps in addition....So many teams could beat that offer pretty easily...As for KD....I think its possible we could get KD on a good deal but KD will have a say in where he ends up so he would have to accept us first.

[Scase]

I believe it

this is the 2nd time he's been rumoured to us

Ohhh interesting.

But that implies moving 9 for him and 19. I mean, that would have to happen after we have already landed this supposed "big fish", I guess.

Johnson misses a ton of games due to injury, He's probably up there in terms of games missed over the last 5-6 years. Not sure that is ideal when we will already be holding our breath in the hopes BI stays relatively healthy.

Presumably getting him makes the Giannis trade more difficult as you now lose an asset with a defined value (9th) and have to replace it with one or more undefined assets, likely multiple FRPs with worse/no protections. And filling the team with BI, Cam, and Giannis is a serious health risk, that puts you firmly in the same situation we've been in the last 2 years where injuries can derail an entire season, except now we'd be paying another team for us to crash and burn.

Sounds absurdly risky.

[Clutch0z24]

If Cam Johnson is the "Big Fish" that would be funny....But doubt this is going to happen....Why would Masai move down 10 spots in the draft while we would have to try and match 20 mill in salary on top of that...So you are prolly trading RJ on top of that just to move back 10 spots for Cam?....Won't happen...

I think the “big fish” statement by Windy is being a bit overblown in the sense that it make a lot of sense for Toronto to be interested in making a big splash (weak east conference) but I don’t think it’s their only focus.

I mean I think they would like to make a win now move if the opportunity presents itself but when all is said and done maybe it will be no fish, only a small fish, a mid fish, a big fish.

Even if a big fish is being considered it’s probably also the less likely scenario.

Also I would not be surprised if the team evaluate what is the value of RJ + 9 in a trade .

Yep but i believe if Giannis requests a trade which is prolly most likely going to happen....Masai is holding every attractive asset he has until the Giannis Sweepstakes are over....There is no chance he makes a move to lower his asset pool because if one bad move lowers our asset pool to miss out on Giannis i don't think Masai risks it...

Ofc if we miss out on Giannis there could be moves made...But i think any team in the NBA right now that feels they have a chance are waiting on Giannis word before making moves....It will be the summer of Giannis...

[SpezNc]

If Cam Johnson is the "Big Fish" that would be funny....But doubt this is going to happen....Why would Masai move down 10 spots in the draft while we would have to try and match 20 mill in salary on top of that...So you are prolly trading RJ on top of that just to move back 10 spots for Cam?....Won't happen...

I think the “big fish” statement by Windy is being a bit overblown in the sense that it make a lot of sense of Toronto to be interested in making a big splash but I don’t think it’s their only focus.

I mean I think they would like to make a win now move if the opportunity presents itself but when all is said and done maybe it will be no fish, only a small fish, a mid fish, a big fish.

Even if a big fish is being considered it’s probably also the less likely scenario.

Also I would not be surprised if the team evaluate what is the value of RJ + 9 in a trade .

They will be aggressive ... probably moreso than in previous years for a number of factors

- masai wants to flex / new ownership wants better results
- development baby time is over and these guys want to get back to the playoffs
- east is wide open

So it makes all the sense in the world for them to go out and get a star if the price makes sense

In that I agree . But doing a big trade is very difficult and most often than not , the result is no trade.

I think they will look at many “big fish”’options but I don’t think they will do a big trade at all cost .

I still think that no trade or smaller trade is probably more likely than not. But yes they will try for a big fish . But try doesn’t mean succeeding.

I just saying that it’s very possible we do a smaller trade but this doesn’t mean that THIS was the big fish. But unfortunately only a small fish trade succeed.

[WuTang_CMB]

I think the “big fish” statement by Windy is being a bit overblown in the sense that it make a lot of sense of Toronto to be interested in making a big splash but I don’t think it’s their only focus.

I mean I think they would like to make a win now move if the opportunity presents itself but when all is said and done maybe it will be no fish, only a small fish, a mid fish, a big fish.

Even if a big fish is being considered it’s probably also the less likely scenario.

Also I would not be surprised if the team evaluate what is the value of RJ + 9 in a trade .

They will be aggressive ... probably moreso than in previous years for a number of factors

- masai wants to flex / new ownership wants better results
- development baby time is over and these guys want to get back to the playoffs
- east is wide open

So it makes all the sense in the world for them to go out and get a star if the price makes sense

In that I agree . But doing a big trade is very difficult and most often than not , the result is no trade.

I think they will look at many “big fish”’options but I don’t think they will do a big trade at all cost .

I still think that no trade or smaller trade is probably more likely than not. But yes they will try for a big fish . But try doesn’t mean succeeding.

I just saying that it’s very possible we do a smaller trade but this doesn’t mean that THIS was the big fish. But unfortunately only a small fish trade succeed.

All trades are difficult and none of this is guaranteed its all speculation but I believe 100% Windy's report

Again, they will pull the trigger if they feel the price is right

but it looks like the mandate is to be as aggressive to as possible to find that big fish and based on the factors i listed before, this is absolutely the right decision

if the price is right, it can catapult us into contention for the east ... assuming this is for the white whale Giannis. Booker is off the table since he's been in the interview process

[WuTang_CMB]

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[MiamiSPX]

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Pretty much what you have to say when your player is untradeable.

[JB7]

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Pretty much what you have to say when your player is untradeable.

All of the years left on Zion's contract are non-guaranteed. Pelicans hold all the cards with him. If he doesn't get his **** in order, I'm sure they can get out of his contract easily. And with his latest problems, no team is offering him the money on his current deal.

I would expect him to be on his best behaviour for the next few years.

[Scase]

Read on Twitter

Pretty much what you have to say when your player is untradeable.

All of the years left on Zion's contract are non-guaranteed. Pelicans hold all the cards with him. If he doesn't get his **** in order, I'm sure they can get out of his contract easily. And with his latest problems, no team is offering him the money on his current deal.

I would expect him to be on his best behaviour for the next few years.

Not quite, they are partially guaranteed pending him meeting things like weight checkins and such.

Guaranteed seasons became non-guaranteed due to games played clause:

2024-25: 50% guaranteed, fully guaranteed 1/7/25
2025-26: non-guaranteed, fully guaranteed 7/15/25
2026-27: non-guaranteed, fully guaranteed 7/15/26
2027-28: non-guaranteed, fully guaranteed 7/15/27

Guarantee triggers exist if certain criteria has been met:

20% of 2025-26 salary becomes guaranteed if passes all six of his weigh-in checkpoints during the 2024-25 season
40% of 2025-26 salary becomes guaranteed if plays >= 41 games during 2024-25 season, additional 20% if plays >= 51 games, remaining 20% if plays >= 61 games.
Salaries for 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons can be re-guaranteed if above metrics are hit the season prior

[MiamiSPX]

Read on Twitter

Pretty much what you have to say when your player is untradeable.

All of the years left on Zion's contract are non-guaranteed. Pelicans hold all the cards with him. If he doesn't get his **** in order, I'm sure they can get out of his contract easily. And with his latest problems, no team is offering him the money on his current deal.

I would expect him to be on his best behaviour for the next few years.

I believe it's not as cut and dry as just walking away anytime they want and not owing him anything. I remember someone posted the details from Spotrac. I think next season is already partially guaranteed and becomes fully guaranteed next month. Then during the upcoming season there are some metrics that if hit, trigger a certain percentage of the following season being guaranteed.

EDIT - Posted this as Sacse was posting his, which outlines much better what I was trying to say.

[OakleyDokely]

[MiamiSPX]

Pretty much what you have to say when your player is untradeable.

All of the years left on Zion's contract are non-guaranteed. Pelicans hold all the cards with him. If he doesn't get his **** in order, I'm sure they can get out of his contract easily. And with his latest problems, no team is offering him the money on his current deal.

I would expect him to be on his best behaviour for the next few years.

Not quite, they are partially guaranteed pending him meeting things like weight checkins and such.

Guaranteed seasons became non-guaranteed due to games played clause:

2024-25: 50% guaranteed, fully guaranteed 1/7/25
2025-26: non-guaranteed, fully guaranteed 7/15/25
2026-27: non-guaranteed, fully guaranteed 7/15/26
2027-28: non-guaranteed, fully guaranteed 7/15/27

Guarantee triggers exist if certain criteria has been met:

20% of 2025-26 salary becomes guaranteed if passes all six of his weigh-in checkpoints during the 2024-25 season
40% of 2025-26 salary becomes guaranteed if plays >= 41 games during 2024-25 season, additional 20% if plays >= 51 games, remaining 20% if plays >= 61 games.
Salaries for 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons can be re-guaranteed if above metrics are hit the season prior

This is what I was trying to say. There is a belief that Zion's contract holds zero risk and you can walk away anytime, which is not true at all, as you have shown.

[Scase]

Daaaaad, towel rack.

[WuTang_CMB]

is this guy from toronto

Read on Twitter

[OakleyDokely]

Giannis contract:

25/26 (31): 54.1M
26/27 (32): 58.4M
27/28 (33): 62.7M (player option)
28/29 (34): FA

Basically a 3 year window with him because it's unlikely he declines a 60+ mill option at 33/34 years old.

[ForeverTFC]

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I believe it

this is the 2nd time he's been rumoured to us

Also gets us off RJ. If they threw in one of the 3 2027 1sts they have, I wouldn't be opposed to this.

Johnson/19/2027 first (from Philly or NY) for RJ/9

[JB7]

All of the years left on Zion's contract are non-guaranteed. Pelicans hold all the cards with him. If he doesn't get his **** in order, I'm sure they can get out of his contract easily. And with his latest problems, no team is offering him the money on his current deal.

I would expect him to be on his best behaviour for the next few years.

Not quite, they are partially guaranteed pending him meeting things like weight checkins and such.

Guaranteed seasons became non-guaranteed due to games played clause:

2024-25: 50% guaranteed, fully guaranteed 1/7/25
2025-26: non-guaranteed, fully guaranteed 7/15/25
2026-27: non-guaranteed, fully guaranteed 7/15/26
2027-28: non-guaranteed, fully guaranteed 7/15/27

Guarantee triggers exist if certain criteria has been met:

20% of 2025-26 salary becomes guaranteed if passes all six of his weigh-in checkpoints during the 2024-25 season
40% of 2025-26 salary becomes guaranteed if plays >= 41 games during 2024-25 season, additional 20% if plays >= 51 games, remaining 20% if plays >= 61 games.
Salaries for 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons can be re-guaranteed if above metrics are hit the season prior

This is what I was trying to say. There is a belief that Zion's contract holds zero risk and you can walk away anytime, which is not true at all, as you have shown.

So he only played 30 games in 2024-25. Provided Zion met all six of his weigh-in checkpoints during the 2024-25 season (which who knows), does that mean the Pelicans could cut him before July 15, and would only be required to pay 20% of his 2025-26 salary, and that's it?

[WuTang_CMB]

Giannis contract:

25/26 (31): 54.1M
26/27 (32): 58.4M
27/28 (33): 62.7M (player option)
28/29 (34): FA

Basically a 3 year window with him because it's unlikely he declines a 60+ mill option at 33/34 years old.

He will likely get extended so he can take his money
if things work out for his new team, he stays, if not he will ask out
plus at that age as you said, he wants to be secured on a new deal

[WuTang_CMB]

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I believe it

this is the 2nd time he's been rumoured to us

Also gets us off RJ. If they threw in one of the 3 2027 1sts they have, I wouldn't be opposed to this.

Johnson/19/2027 first (from Philly or NY) for RJ/9

I changed my mind

hope it doesnt happen

[JB7]

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?s=46&t=PSy3Ch7pvG4ybe2MpvWFcw

I believe it

this is the 2nd time he's been rumoured to us

Also gets us off RJ. If they threw in one of the 3 2027 1sts they have, I wouldn't be opposed to this.

Johnson/19/2027 first (from Philly or NY) for RJ/9

I don't get the hate for RJ. While Cam shoots the 3 better, RJ is stronger in other areas (rebounding, assists, getting to the line). And RJ is 5 years younger than Cam.

And on top of that, the team is moving back 10 draft spots.