Free Agency & Trades Thread **NOW OPEN**

[redraptor77]

Hey guys I have a great idea lets trade the 9th pick we sucked all season for and Rj for a guy thats always injured and 4 years older than RJ to move down 10 spots in the draft! WOOOOO amazing idea guys

I have no clue how this rumour has any traction or excitement
Cam is 29 years old plays about 55 games a year
He doesn’t push the needle forward plays overlapping role to BI, Dick, Ochai
He is okay on D but nothing special
We want to give the 9th pick in a deep draft to drop ten spots after giving them in my opinion a better prospect who is still developing and who is fairly durable RJ has grown over the last year not perfect but wow
We have another year to worry about RJ contract and it would be much better to package his higher salary to grab a star especially if we are including a top ten pick
That is a trade for the sake of a trade

[ATLTimekeeper]

In the case of an RJ+9 for Cam & 19 trade, wouldn't we also get enough cap space to spend the MLE (without going into the tax?). So it could give us room to bring in a backup Center as well, like Lopez, Cappela, Adams, Looney, Powell, Kornet, Bryant, etc. Or it could give us some room to take on a bigger contract in a trade without being right up against the tax.

There have been rumours of us wanting to get off of RJ's contract, so it's not crazy.

Obviously, if we think there's a chance of getting Giannis, or if there's a guy our FO loves at #9, then this isn't a trade you do. But I do think there's some merit to the idea, and I do like the idea of having a legit top #100 player available to start if Scottie or Ingram go down.

Throwing the whole year just to get off RJ's contract would be insane.

[DreamTeam09]

This is evidence that RJ is way more hated around here compared to his actual on court production

Over 82+ games for the Raps RJ is like 20 5 5 on 36% from 3 + 49% FG

That is a good player you can win with + plays with a passion, gumption & energy this team needs & covets.

[ForeverTFC]

Throwing the whole year just to get off RJ's contract would be insane.

They have pretty much the same contract. Same term, RJ is like $5m more expensive. I think we'll be getting more assets + Cam's contract is a much better trade asset.

This is evidence that RJ is way more hated around here compared to his actual on court production

Over 82+ games for the Raps RJ is like 20 5 5 on 36% from 3 + 49% FG

That is a good player you can win with + plays with a passion, gumption & energy this team needs & covets.

Here's the thing. A lot of what you said is correct: he does play with passion and energy, he does put up counting stats, and I'd add that he is Canadian, from the GTA and really wants to be here. So then I ask: why are so many of us so down on him? The truth is, his player archetype is very hard to build with. He's too small to play as a wing, too slow to play as a guard. He has no pull-up game and needs a decent amount of usage to get his stats. And a lot of what we need on this team is what he doesn't bring to the table.

Trust me, most of us want to like RJ on this team. I recognize that a few hate him because they hate Masai. But most of us who want to move on are coming at it from a very logical place.

[ATLTimekeeper]

I think people hate on RJ for all sorts of reasons and not all of them are logical.

For me, if you don't increase star power with him then you certainly should not be decreasing star power by moving him. Let alone adding assets to him to bring in a role player. That's insane. Like, fire the entire management team in one email insane.

I can understand fans that don't have faith and don't like him. I would rather invest with young players that have that kind of work ethic and professionalism, and see how many flaws can be corrected over time.

[DreamTeam09]

Throwing the whole year just to get off RJ's contract would be insane.

They have pretty much the same contract. Same term, RJ is like $5m more expensive. I think we'll be getting more assets + Cam's contract is a much better trade asset.

This is evidence that RJ is way more hated around here compared to his actual on court production

Over 82+ games for the Raps RJ is like 20 5 5 on 36% from 3 + 49% FG

That is a good player you can win with + plays with a passion, gumption & energy this team needs & covets.

Here's the thing. A lot of what you said is correct: he does play with passion and energy, he does put up counting stats, and I'd add that he is Canadian, from the GTA and really wants to be here. So then I ask: why are so many of us so down on him? The truth is, his player archetype is very hard to build with. He's too small to play as a wing, too slow to play as a guard. He has no pull-up game and needs a decent amount of usage to get his stats. And a lot of what we need on this team is what he doesn't bring to the table.

Trust me, most of us want to like RJ on this team. I recognize that a few hate him because they hate Masai. But most of us who want to move on are coming at it from a very logical place.

I disagree with the bolded parts he's listed 6'6 215 / Jaylen brown is 6'6 223 Edwards is 6'4 220 / RJs basketball ref page has him as a 2-3. Heck we lined him up at PF last year. At the guard spot his advantage is his height & size, again, he's bigger than Edwards.(Yes Edwards is better)
He also doesn't need a high ish to get his game off as evident of last year, especially in a Darko offense. Infact bringing down his usg will and has improved his game / %s

Fans only wanna get rid of him because they have this preconceived notion on how to construct a team. Others may be factoring his 30m cap hit, fine...Am I saying he's untouchable, no? But if we are using him as salary filler it should be for a superstar star, not a lateral move who's older

[WaltFrazier]

Raps odds for KAT

Let's say Giannis doesn't work out. KAT would actually be a really good fit next to Scottie in terms of spacing/offence. The defence is a major issue though with KAT. Does SB's help side /off ball defence make up for some of it?

Knicks were 13th in defensive rating. Granted they had OG, Hart, and Bridges who are all viewed as + defenders

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What would a realistic trade be for Kat to Raptors?

[WaltFrazier]

I've been pushing for his signing everywhere for like the last 3 weeks.

He's good and I want to sign him too, but the problem is we only have about 4-5M before hitting the tax.
With the current roster, the FO won't go into the tax.
If we end up trading for a star like Giannis, or we free up some cap room, then that may change.

Trade for KD and Giannis. Use the full MLE before they are a repeater and only have half of it.

Weird seeing a likely fake rumour that KD and Giannis have talked about teaming up in Toronto.

Would those two demand a new coach like KD and Kyrie did in Brooklyn?

[ForeverTFC]

Send RJ Barrett home!

IQ
Scottie
Ingram
KAT
Poeltl

[WuTang_OG]

Kat just got exposed. Raps wont chase him.

Giannis or bust

[S.W.A.N]

Kat just got exposed. Raps wont chase him.

Giannis or bust

This.

One way players, even elite ones, are hard to win with in the playoffs. Teams target them.

[S.W.A.N]

I think people hate on RJ for all sorts of reasons and not all of them are logical.

For me, if you don't increase star power with him then you certainly should not be decreasing star power by moving him. Let alone adding assets to him to bring in a role player. That's insane. Like, fire the entire management team in one email insane.

I can understand fans that don't have faith and don't like him. I would rather invest with young players that have that kind of work ethic and professionalism, and see how many flaws can be corrected over time.

I don't think the RJ hate is as real as people think.

Personally it feels like RJ is a really good player that might not fit with where we are going as a team.

First, and arguably foremost, the Cap situation.
RJ makes 28 and 30 million over then next two years is an expensive contract. Even if RJ earns that money, it still makes roster construction more challenging when you have him at 28 and Quickley at 32.5.

Second, RJ's role. I actually think he fits pretty decent with BI and Scottie because of his cutting. The problem is defense. BI and RJ at the 2 and 3 might not work well.


Honestly, if RJ were willing to be a super 6th man. I'd overpay to have him be the guy that runs the second unit and part time starter when someone else is hurt. That said I don't know if he's willing to accept that type of role.

The Cam trade intrigues me because you are in theory looking at Cam plus Free agent or Cam plus another trade that optimizes the RJ money. That isn't about hating RJ, it is just the only contract we have that works for that type of move.

[TorontoRapsFan]

Cam johnson managed to average 18 ppg on the Brooklyn Nets. The team with nobody on it. No body. And this is the highest he's ever scored. In 31 minutes. 18 points. Even as sixth man on this team we'd be lucky if he averages more than Grady.

From a different perspective. Johnson was able to score 19 points per game on a 6-7% higher than league average TS with next to no help on the team.

That's pretty impressive.

By that logic Harrison Barnes is even more impressive. Yes TS matters, but it's just one indicator amongst many.

[ForeverTFC]

Cam johnson managed to average 18 ppg on the Brooklyn Nets. The team with nobody on it. No body. And this is the highest he's ever scored. In 31 minutes. 18 points. Even as sixth man on this team we'd be lucky if he averages more than Grady.

From a different perspective. Johnson was able to score 19 points per game on a 6-7% higher than league average TS with next to no help on the team.

That's pretty impressive.

By that logic Harrison Barnes is even more impressive. Yes TS matters, but it's just one indicator amongst many.

Johnson takes ~2x the FGs and ~30% of his shots are pullups vs Barnes at ~10%. Barnes isn't in the comp set for Johnson.

[Raptorfan2012]

No thanks for KAT - we are the Toronto Raptors, not for household pets.

[gerrit4]

Kat just got exposed. Raps wont chase him.

Giannis or bust

This.

One way players, even elite ones, are hard to win with in the playoffs. Teams target them.

While I think there's probably a way to be really good with Kat, I'm really not sure what that is. We've seen him as a PF beside an elite shotblocker and as a C with elite wing defenders, and he still seemed to get targeted. I mean, there was success there though, as he's made two conference finals.

[Tripod]

If you added Cam + say a Kornet in FA and a few picks, it balances out the lineup nicely.

Cam could come off the bench to relieve either Barnes or BI but also be a starter in games they miss.

Ochai could start for 3+D vs guards and Walter could come in when he sits.

Korner fills big hole at backup C who can start when Yak misses games.

Just a better balance....unless at #9 they see someone who can be a above average starter.

[Merit]

How about we trade RJ and 9 and 39 for Cam and 8. If you don’t like this trade for the Nets, then you probably understand why the Raps aren’t interested in the Cam +19 for RJ and 9.

No reason why we trade the younger player and the better draft pick for a perpetually injured dude and one mid pick. Even 19+26 gives me pause.

[S.W.A.N]

Kat just got exposed. Raps wont chase him.

Giannis or bust

This.

One way players, even elite ones, are hard to win with in the playoffs. Teams target them.

While I think there's probably a way to be really good with Kat, I'm really not sure what that is. We've seen him as a PF beside an elite shotblocker and as a C with elite wing defenders, and he still seemed to get targeted. I mean, there was success there though, as he's made two conference finals.

Ya, I think you can hide 1 guy with schemes, but hiding your pg and your pf/c is pretty damn hard. And then factor in his salary... 53 million next year. Yikes.

[WuTang_OG]

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