Free Agency & Trades Thread 2 **NOW OPEN**

[PushDaRock]

Sure. But absent a massive and transformational trade, this path would entail us moving one or two of our young guys for no return to stay under the tax for the next 2 years. Is that worth the chance that you can give RJ a value contract - which embeds in it the assumption that he has not become a needle mover as a player and has a limited market?

Ducking the tax this year is not difficult, so I don't think it should even factor too much into our plans. We should not be removing talent from this roster which is already lacking in it. If our young guys make some big jumps that make RJ expendable, that's something we can worry about then. Right now, I don't think that's even close to the case. I think we should be operating under all possibilities being out there as we still have yet to see this team play a single game together.

Ducking the tax would require moving one of our young guys. You are right that it's not difficult, but I'd rather not ship Mogbo out for nothing. I really don't know what RJ is doing for this team mid to long term.

I'm pretty sure there are more options on the table than just dumping one of our young players for nothing.

[dagger]

Ducking the tax this year is not difficult, so I don't think it should even factor too much into our plans. We should not be removing talent from this roster which is already lacking in it. If our young guys make some big jumps that make RJ expendable, that's something we can worry about then. Right now, I don't think that's even close to the case. I think we should be operating under all possibilities being out there as we still have yet to see this team play a single game together.

Ducking the tax would require moving one of our young guys. You are right that it's not difficult, but I'd rather not ship Mogbo out for nothing. I really don't know what RJ is doing for this team mid to long term.

I'm pretty sure there are more options on the table than just dumping one of our young players for nothing.

As Blake Murphy has pointed out, most of the current overage is comprised of unlikely bonuses, which count for now for apron purposes, but will likely disappear as the season progresses because they are"unlikely". The Raptors are barely over the line, by less than Mogbo or Battle's salary for 2025-26

[navyblue]

Ducking the tax would require moving one of our young guys. You are right that it's not difficult, but I'd rather not ship Mogbo out for nothing. I really don't know what RJ is doing for this team mid to long term.

I'm pretty sure there are more options on the table than just dumping one of our young players for nothing.

As Blake Murphy has pointed out, most of the current overage is comprised of unlikely bonuses, which count for now for apron purposes, but will likely disappear as the season progresses because they are"unlikely". The Raptors are barely over the line, by less than Mogbo or Battle's salary for 2025-26

Dumping temple will be enough. And he gave up his right to veto a trade.
And before someone gets on the case we shouldn't have signed him just to dump him, we would have had to sign someone for that roster spot anyways.

[ForeverTFC]

Ducking the tax this year is not difficult, so I don't think it should even factor too much into our plans. We should not be removing talent from this roster which is already lacking in it. If our young guys make some big jumps that make RJ expendable, that's something we can worry about then. Right now, I don't think that's even close to the case. I think we should be operating under all possibilities being out there as we still have yet to see this team play a single game together.

Ducking the tax would require moving one of our young guys. You are right that it's not difficult, but I'd rather not ship Mogbo out for nothing. I really don't know what RJ is doing for this team mid to long term.

I'm pretty sure there are more options on the table than just dumping one of our young players for nothing.

What else is there?

Our active roster is at ~$193m right now. Let's say we waive Castleton and Lawson and Sign Martin to the minimum - this puts us at ~$191m. The tax is at ~$188m this year. We'll need to shed ~$3m to get under. Look at our roster, how else are you going to do it?

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/toronto-raptors/cap/_/year/2025

[bboyskinnylegs]

isn't Ochai to the Bucks much more likely than RJ?

And what do they have that we would value in return? It's not kuzma..

Nothing...

the point of the deal is to help get us out of the luxury tax. So there wouldn't be much salary coming back. So perhaps we're asking for a future pick, or a minor salary like... AJ Green (who they don't want to give up)? I think they can even absorb Ochai without giving any salary back.

[CazOnReal]

Make of this what you will:

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I know the Raptors had interest in Kuzma several years ago but I can't imagine they'd be keen on any package without AJ Green/Tyler Smith and/or their sole remaining first to trade.

[ForeverTFC]

isn't Ochai to the Bucks much more likely than RJ?

And what do they have that we would value in return? It's not kuzma..

Nothing...

the point of the deal is to help get us out of the luxury tax. So there wouldn't be much salary coming back. So perhaps we're asking for a future pick, or a minor salary like... AJ Green (who they don't want to give up)? I think they can even absorb Ochai without giving any salary back.

Ochai has real value. It would be straight up negligent to salary dump him. RJ is the natural salary dump solution to the mess; he has limited value.

[navyblue]

Ducking the tax would require moving one of our young guys. You are right that it's not difficult, but I'd rather not ship Mogbo out for nothing. I really don't know what RJ is doing for this team mid to long term.

I'm pretty sure there are more options on the table than just dumping one of our young players for nothing.

What else is there?

Our active roster is at ~$193m right now. Let's say we waive Castleton and Lawson and Sign Martin to the minimum - this puts us at ~$191m. The tax is at ~$188m this year. We'll need to shed ~$3m to get under. Look at our roster, how else are you going to do it?

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/toronto-raptors/cap/_/year/2025

Martin isn't getting signed to regular deal. He will get a 2way.

Plan is probably to keep 14 man roster + 3 2way, at deadline dump temple +cash somewhere. Upgrade martin to standard contract at deadline and that will be enough to stay under tax.

That is probably the course unless a trade happens.

[bartron_44]

Imo they should trade Quickley before RJ if you are just trying to save $$$$. RJ is the best scorer in the half court that they have..and they are going to need him when they get back to the playoffs.

[bboyskinnylegs]

something based around Kuzma for RJ would help address our tax concerns, but would be seriously depressing. He also has 2.4M in unlikely incentives.

[PushDaRock]

Ducking the tax would require moving one of our young guys. You are right that it's not difficult, but I'd rather not ship Mogbo out for nothing. I really don't know what RJ is doing for this team mid to long term.

I'm pretty sure there are more options on the table than just dumping one of our young players for nothing.

What else is there?

Our active roster is at ~$193m right now. Let's say we waive Castleton and Lawson and Sign Martin to the minimum - this puts us at ~$191m. The tax is at ~$188m this year. We'll need to shed ~$3m to get under. Look at our roster, how else are you going to do it?

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/toronto-raptors/cap/_/year/2025

They can sign Martin to a 2 way, dump Temple later on and get under pretty easily without getting rid of a young player.

[tdotrep2]

Imo they should trade Quickley before RJ if you are just trying to save $$$$. RJ is the best scorer in the half court that they have..and they are going to need him when they get back to the playoffs.

He's a better scorer than ingram? Also, RJ is going to get paid and quickley fits better with scottie and ingram.

[WuTang_OG]

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[PushDaRock]

I'm pretty sure there are more options on the table than just dumping one of our young players for nothing.

What else is there?

Our active roster is at ~$193m right now. Let's say we waive Castleton and Lawson and Sign Martin to the minimum - this puts us at ~$191m. The tax is at ~$188m this year. We'll need to shed ~$3m to get under. Look at our roster, how else are you going to do it?

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/toronto-raptors/cap/_/year/2025

Martin isn't getting signed to regular deal. He will get a 2way.

Plan is probably to keep 14 man roster + 3 2way, at deadline dump temple +cash somewhere. Upgrade martin to standard contract at deadline and that will be enough to stay under tax.

That is probably the course unless a trade happens.

Yup, that's the likely plan for now assuming nothing changes which is obviously not a given either. We helped the Pacers do the same last year with Wiseman.

[mtcan]

Make of this what you will:

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I know the Raptors had interest in Kuzma several years ago but I can't imagine they'd be keen on any package without AJ Green/Tyler Smith and/or their sole remaining first to trade.

Raptors need athleticism, versatility and burst from the wing too. Oh wait...we already have that! I have no desire to salary dump RJ.

[Tor_Raps]

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There is very little chance he can play alongside Jokic so maybe he doesnt want to play only 10 to 15 minutes a night.

[CazOnReal]

Don't love an RJ-Bucks deal but this is probably the best we'd be looking at.

[Tor_Raps]

Trading RJ for Kuzma + AJ Green even if they included him would be stupid. RJ made some strides in his defense/3 point shooting, and is still young enough where he can improve even more this offseason.

Let's see how we look with a full/healthy roster first before we decide to give him away for a downgrade. Its not like we are going to win a championship so we should be patient before deciding to blow anything up that isnt a clear upgrade.

[Dalek]

Make of this what you will:

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I know the Raptors had interest in Kuzma several years ago but I can't imagine they'd be keen on any package without AJ Green/Tyler Smith and/or their sole remaining first to trade.

Raptors need athleticism, versatility and burst from the wing too. Oh wait...we already have that! I have no desire to salary dump RJ.

I think for Milwaukee it doesn't really make sense. They have cheap guys that fill out their wing position. They need a PG otherwise they are starting Ryan Rollins who is a $3m a year PG.

For Toronto I don't see how we can achieve cost savings this year. Maybe next season with Kuzma's declining deal, but he is just not a player we even want on the team because he doesn't care about winning.

My pick is doing a deal with the Wizards to get Marcus Smart for RJ. They can give us cost-savings and some picks. Smart fits us giving leadership and defensive identity. He is still only 31 and he is only a one year deal. Can play PG or SG so a good positional fit.

[mtcan]

Make of this what you will:

Read on Twitter

I know the Raptors had interest in Kuzma several years ago but I can't imagine they'd be keen on any package without AJ Green/Tyler Smith and/or their sole remaining first to trade.

Raptors need athleticism, versatility and burst from the wing too. Oh wait...we already have that! I have no desire to salary dump RJ.

I think for Milwaukee it doesn't really make sense. They have cheap guys that fill out their wing position. They need a PG otherwise they are starting Ryan Rollins who is a $3m a year PG.

For Toronto I don't see how we can achieve cost savings this year. Maybe next season with Kuzma's declining deal, but he is just not a player we even want on the team because he doesn't care about winning.

My pick is doing a deal with the Wizards to get Marcus Smart for RJ. They can give us cost-savings and some picks. Smart fits us giving leadership and defensive identity. He is still only 31 and he is only a one year deal. Can play PG or SG so a good positional fit.

Ochai's 6 million cap number makes it most likely that he gets moved for perhaps a couple of 2nd round picks...and if we don't take back too much guaranteed salary...that gets us under the tax.
Blake Murphy's cap primer indicates that we are about 4 million over. Ya...Ochai will be the most likely guy moved a) because he is a valuable 3+D guy to any contender and b) he is on a rookie scale contract still that is easily tradeable.