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

[tdotrep2]

Giannis
KD
KAT

what other potential gets? I highly doubt booker.

[DreamTeam09]

Now any move we make or don't make is going to get highly criticised based on a "rumor" from media members who might have biases, agendas, or working behalf of agents or teams...

[WuTang_CMB]

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[DG88]

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Seems to me like regular Masai trying to find opportunities to increase the talent on the team. I'm still skeptical about a Giannis trade. We still haven't heard anything about him wanting to leave.

[Tor_Raps]

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Seems to me like regular Masai trying to find opportunities to increase the talent on the team. I'm still skeptical about a Giannis trade. We still haven't heard anything about him wanting to leave.

Even if we don't get Giannis, maybe we land a tier 2 star. Teams don't normally go from tanking to a championship in one offseason unless you're the 2008 Celtics.

Regardless, I expect this team to take a massive step to becoming relevant again and thats all you can hope for after several depressing seasons.

[PhilBlackson]

I'd rather we pursue Trey Murphy for a 1/3 of the price and a timeline that actually matches and retains most of our assets.

Same. Unless Masai has an actual plan in place to build a contender here with Giannis (I just don't see it, given the lack of talent and thin asset base), I'd rather stay the course. We need to get much better before we start burning assets on a big "win now" move.

I do like the idea of trading for Trey Murphy. He's a potential breakout candidate.

Agreed.

Ofc I'd love to have Giannis on the roster, who wouldn't?! BUT we'd just be so heavily leveraged and with just one BI injury (knock on wood), things could take a disastrous turn and suddenly Giannis is pressing Masai to find a way to improve (the way he has the Bucks over & over) before he re-signs and there's just no way to make another substantial move and He Gone.

With someone like Trey, he's already locked in, yes there's absolutely the chance he's a breakout candidate too -- he's already made a significant jump from his previous years with increased usage. If you watch him, he's added A LOT of stuff off the dribble. Whereas before he sorta played a "Klay Thompson"-like role which would still be an ideal fit and his contract is sneakily a HUGE plus. Because we really couldn't trade too much depth due to the relatively lower dollar amount which means we'd still have both the assets AND cap space to make another big move -- yet I think a trio of Trey/BI/Scottie could hang with pretty much anyone in the East. Especially if we retained our depth then down the line we could still try to make another big move for maybe an upgrade at PG (LaMelo, Ja, Trae etc) or C (*ahem Jokic in a complete fantasy land lol but heck we could still be creative ie/ trade back into the 1st for Hansen Yang this year)...and I think we could be relatively stacked with room still left to grow and tons of flexibility to adjust or take advantage of a better fitting scenario.

Plus the league is in a place with the speed of the game etc that you can't really be a top heavy team anymore, it's just too much wear & tear on the stars bodies. But clearly it's becoming much more about great depth, going literally "all in" on Giannis (pause) just leaves way too little room for error/anything unexpected. It's why I'd prob even still go for KD instead due to the costs/remaining assets but for me nothing tops going for Trey because just everything about a move him makes sense whether it's timeline, financially or flexibility.

[KP730]

Grange says theres legs to Giannis on JD bunkis .. thinks they could be open to putting Barnes in it. but hasnt :looked" into it

My guess is they dont want to jeapordize Barnes relationship. They would low key do it if Giannis says "I'm ready for you Masai"

Masai has to be smart about this .... and its gotta get done fast and not dragged thru the mud to hurt us

https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/the-jd-bunkis-podcast/oilers-panthers-takeaways-lazy-leafs-bennett-fears-giannis-raptors-murmurs-and-nba-finals-preview-w-michael-grange/

so the only ones reporting Scottie for Giannis are…Michael Grange and Doug Smith?

guys it’s not happening

[sidsid]

Giannis
KD
KAT

what other potential gets? I highly doubt booker.

I just don't know how Booker doesn't end up in Houston if they trade him. They've got the upcoming picks, and the west is brutal so even a trade with useful players still sends you to the cellar.

Zion is there for the taking. Memphis is primed to move something from their core.

[Tor_Raps]

Grange says theres legs to Giannis on JD bunkis .. thinks they could be open to putting Barnes in it. but hasnt :looked" into it

My guess is they dont want to jeapordize Barnes relationship. They would low key do it if Giannis says "I'm ready for you Masai"

Masai has to be smart about this .... and its gotta get done fast and not dragged thru the mud to hurt us

https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/the-jd-bunkis-podcast/oilers-panthers-takeaways-lazy-leafs-bennett-fears-giannis-raptors-murmurs-and-nba-finals-preview-w-michael-grange/

so the only ones reporting Scottie for Giannis are…Michael Grange and Doug Smith?

guys it’s not happening

Grange didnt even report anything, he said he was too busy with the finals coverage to look into any Giannis links. Its probably his way of saying I have no connections to provide any insight on this discussion. The same holds true for Doug Smith but he's ok with speaking out of his ass lol.

[CPT]

How sure are we that Trey Murphy doesn't cost as much (or more than) KD?

If they were offered for each other straight up, who says no?

[PhilBlackson]

One more thing why I'm not as gunhoe about trading for Giannis as many are...

I'm certainly not wishing it, I don't even like putting the thought/energy out in the universe (obv not saying my thoughts have any bearing on it happening lol just saying...) BUT I don't think it should be ignored that GA has been dealing with INJURIES the last couple of years or so.

Thankfully it hasn't been anything too serious....YET. But the fact that it's starting to happen, keep in mind although Giannis might be the most physically imposing player in the league, even a beast like LeBron didn't really start dealing with injuries like Giannis until LBJ reached his late 30s. Giannis is starting to get them late 20s, early 30s and while a lot of LeBron's game was about getting down hill, he wasn't anywhere near as reliant as Gianis is which is essentially code for Giannis does probably the most running up & down of anyone in the league. I just dunno how long can a guy play like that?!

How long can a player really go all out, every game, not only physically taxing with all the physical contact but guys are injuring their lower extremities more and more. Achilles tears were like anomalies and now it's almost becoming accepted as a more common occurrence. But a lot of that is planting feet and needless to say Giannis is really digging in when he moves...and I obv pray something like that doesn't happen but I don't think you can be jaded to the fact he's starting to get these dings and with age they usually only become more severe. Couple that with BI's checkered injury history -- a serious loss of depth and roster flexibility --- idk man, that's a very hefty gamble imo. I wish we could've gotten Giannis in his last FA but I don't think this is as an "obvious right move" as some think.

[Tor_Raps]

How sure are we that Trey Murphy doesn't cost as much (or more than) KD?

If they were offered for each other straight up, who says no?

Pelicans aren't trading Trey... he's probably their most valuable asset. A team that just finished in the bottom 5 doesnt trade away young players like this.

[ForeverTFC]

Giannis
KD
KAT

what other potential gets? I highly doubt booker.

I just don't know how Booker doesn't end up in Houston if they trade him. They've got the upcoming picks, and the west is brutal so even a trade with useful players still sends you to the cellar.

Zion is there for the taking. Memphis is primed to move something from their core.

Agree. And Booker is the perfect fit on that team.

[KP730]

Grange says theres legs to Giannis on JD bunkis .. thinks they could be open to putting Barnes in it. but hasnt :looked" into it

My guess is they dont want to jeapordize Barnes relationship. They would low key do it if Giannis says "I'm ready for you Masai"

Masai has to be smart about this .... and its gotta get done fast and not dragged thru the mud to hurt us

https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/the-jd-bunkis-podcast/oilers-panthers-takeaways-lazy-leafs-bennett-fears-giannis-raptors-murmurs-and-nba-finals-preview-w-michael-grange/

so the only ones reporting Scottie for Giannis are…Michael Grange and Doug Smith?

guys it’s not happening

Grange didnt even report anything, he said he was too busy with the finals coverage to look into any Giannis links. Its probably his way of saying I have no connections to provide any insight on this discussion. The same holds true for Doug Smith but he's ok with speaking out of his ass lol.

could you imagine being a TOR Raptors reporter and just not finding any time to “look into” the biggest Raptors trade rumour in months that has dominating headlines/talk shows all week?

lol yeah…Grange just doesn’t want to admit he’s got NO sources on this

[TravisScott55]

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Fischer is saying execs around the league are skeptical the Bucks will trade Giannis

[KP730]

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Fischer is saying execs around the league are skeptical the Bucks will trade Giannis

now Fischer actually has some credibility

[TimeForChange]

Read on Twitter

please add this to the OP Wu.

I know people here have hated Fischer for years, but he definitely has sources in the Raps organization.

[KP730]

there is clearly credible reporting around the league that the Raptors are looking to make a move for a star player (Whindorst and Fischer have credibility)…

…but no credible reporting that the Raptors would actually offer Scottie in a Giannis trade (Doug Smith and Michael Grange have no credibility for Raptors trade rumours…they literally NEVER know anything ahead of time)

I wouldn’t conflate the credible reports with the non-credible reports

all this means is the Raptors are pursuing a star player

[WuTang_CMB]

Read on Twitter

please add this to the OP Wu.

I know people here have hated Fischer for years, but he definitely has sources in the Raps organization.

ya he's been calling stuff for years now. most recently ingram with stein. hes connected for sure across the league

just good to know we r being aggressive from multiple top guys in windy and him

[CPT]

How sure are we that Trey Murphy doesn't cost as much (or more than) KD?

If they were offered for each other straight up, who says no?

Pelicans aren't trading Trey... he's probably their most valuable asset. A team that just finished in the bottom 5 doesnt trade away young players like this.

That's pretty much what I'm saying. His name is being tossed around in here like some kind of consolation prize.