PG: Raptors Win!

[YogurtProducer]

Which is why it should have happened from day 1. RJ not fitting the SL well was entirely predictable, and it would have been such an easy sell when Ochai was coming off a solid season as a starter.

But you are right - now it will be hard - even though it is entirely clear what needs to happen.

I have been trying to see what a possible RJ trade even looks like and damn, even with RJ + Ochai the salaries are next to impossible to match. The closest I found is going the other way, and turning RJ into two pieces such as Gafford + Washintong from Dallas, but then that creates a massive clog at the 4/5 spots.

Feels like if there is an RJ trade, it is going to be a multi team deal. Maybe something like
DAL - RJ
TOR - Gafford / Grayson Allen
PHO - PJ Washington

Obviously picks would need to fly around somewhere but just a thought

RJ’s contact has 2 years left, this and next season. Therefore I think we don’t need to rush for a RJ trade.

I'm only moving RJ if he gets us an actual upgrade. I don't find that type of trade likely though. The shopping list right now is adding a 3rd string C at some point probably at the deadline and buy out market. Additionally, it would be ideal to add a POA wing defender to the rotation in the mold of Caruso/Dort/Wallace. Teams aren't usually giving those types away though. Ochai or Walter developing into that would have been the most ideal.

I'd probably do a trade for a true 3+D 2-guard, 2 things our SL needs and 2 things RJ either is average at (3's) or sucks at (D).

Essentially, who is the next Derrick White we can get? (edit - or like Divencenzo)

[PushDaRock]

RJ’s contact has 2 years left, this and next season. Therefore I think we don’t need to rush for a RJ trade.

I'm only moving RJ if he gets us an actual upgrade. I don't find that type of trade likely though. The shopping list right now is adding a 3rd string C at some point probably at the deadline and buy out market. Additionally, it would be ideal to add a POA wing defender to the rotation in the mold of Caruso/Dort/Wallace. Teams aren't usually giving those types away though. Ochai or Walter developing into that would have been the most ideal.

I'd probably do a trade for a true 3+D 2-guard, 2 things our SL needs and 2 things RJ either is average at (3's) or sucks at (D).

Essentially, who is the next Derrick White we can get?

Derrick White himself

[Psubs]

Nae'Qwan Tomlin is like an undrafted version of Pascal Siakam.

[dagger]

I'm still not a big fan of Ingram as a player nor the trade itself, but I will say that even when BI has a mediocre game, the extra attention he gets really does free up Barnes and other players to get the ball in motion and attack 1-on-1 instead of having to go through multiple layers of defence.

His elite mid range shooting has been massive for our halfcourt offense. Not many guys can turn nothing possessions into solid efficiency offense.

This will be even more important when the Raptors are in a crunch time game against a good team - maybe needing a bucket to tie or win or put a lead out of reach - and they need someone to manufacture a basket out of nothing with the shot clock running down. Last year, there were a number of close games, before they embraced the tank, where the lack of that clutch basket pretty well doomed them to a loss.

[YogurtProducer]

I'm only moving RJ if he gets us an actual upgrade. I don't find that type of trade likely though. The shopping list right now is adding a 3rd string C at some point probably at the deadline and buy out market. Additionally, it would be ideal to add a POA wing defender to the rotation in the mold of Caruso/Dort/Wallace. Teams aren't usually giving those types away though. Ochai or Walter developing into that would have been the most ideal.

I'd probably do a trade for a true 3+D 2-guard, 2 things our SL needs and 2 things RJ either is average at (3's) or sucks at (D).

Essentially, who is the next Derrick White we can get?

Derrick White himself

Straight swap

[dagger]

If we're actually going to be a good team, they will need to pay some tax.

And probably will. It's more advantageous financially for Rogers if the team makes the playoffs, so paying some tax and foregoing the tax rebate - so long as they stay below the first apron. They'd have to be closing in on contender status to flirt with the second apron.

[Boogie!]

One of the reasons why Ochai doesn't work in Darko's offense is he really struggles making decisions with the ball. He's excellent when decisions are made for him (you're open, shoot or you're cutting and they aren't paying attention, here's a lay-up). This is why Mogbo also can't play right now. Both of them are very good defenders. Mogbo might be the best on the team, really.

This argument makes no sense as Walter and dick are not any better in this regard

[DreamTeam09]

If we're actually going to be a good team, they will need to pay some tax.

And probably will. It's more advantageous financially for Rogers if the team makes the playoffs, so paying some tax and foregoing the tax rebate - so long as they stay below the first apron. They'd have to be closing in on contender status to flirt with the second apron.

We wont be in the tax this year, and likely not next year either. Right now an we are less than an Ochai away from being out of the tax completely and he's noteven in rotation for us currently. Cap going up by 8-10% next yr, but we probably have to give Mamu a small raise.

[navyblue]

If we're actually going to be a good team, they will need to pay some tax.

And probably will. It's more advantageous financially for Rogers if the team makes the playoffs, so paying some tax and foregoing the tax rebate - so long as they stay below the first apron. They'd have to be closing in on contender status to flirt with the second apron.

We wont be in the tax this year, and likely not next year either. Right now an we are less than an Ochai away from being out of the tax completely and he's noteven in rotation for us currently. Cap going up by 8-10% next yr, but we probably have to give Mamu a small raise.

not even ochai, just temple salary dump over the tax line, send temple and cash to a team.

[PushDaRock]

If we're actually going to be a good team, they will need to pay some tax.

And probably will. It's more advantageous financially for Rogers if the team makes the playoffs, so paying some tax and foregoing the tax rebate - so long as they stay below the first apron. They'd have to be closing in on contender status to flirt with the second apron.

We wont be in the tax this year, and likely not next year either. Right now an we are less than an Ochai away from being out of the tax completely and he's noteven in rotation for us currently. Cap going up by 8-10% next yr, but we probably have to give Mamu a small raise.

It's incredibly easy to get under the tax. But, if they're looking to add to the roster, then being in the tax will likely be necessary. I don't anticipate it happening this year though, because this is year 1 of actually trying to compete and I expect management to want to evaluate what they already have on the roster before deciding what they need to add to it.

[DreamTeam09]

And probably will. It's more advantageous financially for Rogers if the team makes the playoffs, so paying some tax and foregoing the tax rebate - so long as they stay below the first apron. They'd have to be closing in on contender status to flirt with the second apron.

We wont be in the tax this year, and likely not next year either. Right now an we are less than an Ochai away from being out of the tax completely and he's noteven in rotation for us currently. Cap going up by 8-10% next yr, but we probably have to give Mamu a small raise.

It's incredibly easy to get under the tax. But, if they're looking to add to the roster, then being in the tax will likely be necessary. I don't anticipate it happening this year though, because this is year 1 of actually trying to compete and I expect management to want to evaluate what they already have on the roster before deciding what they need to add to it.

yup, fair enough, u right

[tsherkin]

Nice to get a win!

[Brinbe]

Read on Twitter

creeping up towards that top-right quadrant

[PushDaRock]

Read on Twitter

creeping up towards that top-right quadrant

The East is wide open this year. There's no dominant team out there.

[lobosloboslobos]

One of the reasons why Ochai doesn't work in Darko's offense is he really struggles making decisions with the ball. He's excellent when decisions are made for him (you're open, shoot or you're cutting and they aren't paying attention, here's a lay-up). This is why Mogbo also can't play right now. Both of them are very good defenders. Mogbo might be the best on the team, really.

This argument makes no sense as Walter and dick are not any better in this regard

totally disagree about Dick. the vast majority of his decisions with the ball are good decisions, because the vast majority of the time he gets it he moves it quickly, which is the essence of our offense. the problem is that when he then moves without the ball nobody ever passes it to him. dick's game is based on movement but our starters rarely take advantage of that movement. it's too bad. like a lot of players Dick hits more of the shots he does take when his teammates show confidence in him and look for him, instead of feeling left out and forcing stuff after a while. Dick has shown he can fill the bucket when he is integrated into the offense and not a last option. wish we'd look for him more often.

edit: plus, as he showed last night when he came in in garbage time and immediately made a beautiful bounce pass to the cutter for a layup, dick can also deliver some pretty creative passes.

[Grew]

Ochai for Tomlin, get it done Bobbayyyy!

[HumbleRen]

Ochai for Tomlin, get it done Bobbayyyy!

Tomlin gave me Boucher vibes haha. He was everywhere.

[Boogie!]

One of the reasons why Ochai doesn't work in Darko's offense is he really struggles making decisions with the ball. He's excellent when decisions are made for him (you're open, shoot or you're cutting and they aren't paying attention, here's a lay-up). This is why Mogbo also can't play right now. Both of them are very good defenders. Mogbo might be the best on the team, really.

This argument makes no sense as Walter and dick are not any better in this regard

totally disagree about Dick. the vast majority of his decisions with the ball are good decisions, because the vast majority of the time he gets it he moves it quickly, which is the essence of our offense. the problem is that when he then moves without the ball nobody ever passes it to him. dick's game is based on movement but our starters rarely take advantage of that movement. it's too bad. like a lot of players Dick hits more of the shots he does take when his teammates show confidence in him and look for him, instead of feeling left out and forcing stuff after a while. Dick has shown he can fill the bucket when he is integrated into the offense and not a last option. wish we'd look for him more often.

this does not match anything that i see in regards to dick's game. again, it seems like people are trying so hard to find ways to blame everyone else except dick himself. anytime that happens, it usually means the player is not that great.

[Madvillainy2004]

Read on Twitter

creeping up towards that top-right quadrant

The East is wide open this year. There's no dominant team out there.

Literally not saying its us but who's really scared of a Brunson/Kat led team lol

[Madvillainy2004]

Nice to get a win!

Best win of Darko era?