Raptors Fan here

[darkangle901]

You don't like T Ross or DD but you like Fields? lol thats crazy talk but sure. Have you seen Landry's contract?

I didn't mean Fields as the centerpiece of the deal: that would have to be the package of draft picks coming back. But it's fairly important that Memphis gets back a SF capable of starting. DeRozan I figured would be off the table in this deal, and Terrence Ross is probably too small to play SF.

[mid-post]

Speights and Gay for Lowry, Calderon and Ross. But I wouldn't want to make a deal like that until the season was already a complete failure (first or second round exit) anyway.

Raptors probably wouldn't do a deal like that (unless Lowry winds up being a real malcontent or totally ineffective as the go to guy), but that's the kind of deal that Memphis would want for Gay. Substitute in Fields for one of Lowry/Ross if you're super attached to those guys and Memphis might still bite.

[darkangle901]

Speights and Gay for Lowry, Calderon and Ross. But I wouldn't want to make a deal like that until the season was already a complete failure (first or second round exit) anyway.

Raptors probably wouldn't do a deal like that (unless Lowry winds up being a real malcontent or totally ineffective as the go to guy), but that's the kind of deal that Memphis would want for Gay. Substitute in Fields for one of Lowry/Ross if you're super attached to those guys and Memphis might still bite.

I don't really understand the trade you proposed... 2 Forwards for 3 Guards?

Memphis ends up having:

PG Conley / Lowry / Calderon / Bayless / Wroten
SG Allen / Ross / Ellington / Selby
SF Pondexter
PF Randolph / Arthur
C Gasol / Haddaddi

I just don't really understand why we would want both Calderon AND Lowry really. Or why we would include Speights in this deal rather than Bayless or Ellington

[vanjulio]

We're not trading for Kyle Lowry - unless you're talking about trading Mike Conley instead of Rudy Gay. One of the key components of this trade is to unite Lowry and Gay because they were best of friends.

I never said I don't like Terrance Ross - in fact I'm a fan. I didn't see Landry's contract balloon to $8M in 2015 - ouch! But Rudy will be making $19M and one of the highest paid in the NBA that year... you gotta give a little to get a little and I think Landry is "serviceable".

[mid-post]

I don't really understand the trade you proposed... 2 Forwards for 3 Guards?

Memphis ends up having:

PG Conley / Lowry / Calderon / Bayless / Wroten
SG Allen / Ross / Ellington / Selby
SF Pondexter
PF Randolph / Arthur
C Gasol / Haddaddi

I just don't really understand why we would want both Calderon AND Lowry really. Or why we would include Speights in this deal rather than Bayless or Ellington

I think you can play Ross as a 3 if you play with a relatively big lineup, but your point is fair. I'm just trying to best balance our needs (perimeter threats) with what Toronto might be willing to give up in exchange for Gay. I have serious doubts as to whether Hollins ever decides to use Wroten or Selby either based on our track record with young guys during his tenure.

As much as I like Speights, he seems like a pretty inconsistent guy offensively and defensively and with Arthur back he's almost our fourth option at the 4/5. I doubt Toronto wants Bayless back and Speights, although a little more expensive, is a more enticing piece than Ellington. I'd hate to have to give him up, because when he plays hard, he's a great player.

These are just theoretical trades that I think could work if Memphis was completely removing Rudy from the equation following a failed run in the 2013 playoffs and if they had to trade with Toronto. I don't really see it happening because I don't think the teams are great trading partners, but if Memphis wanted to shed salary without completely blowing things up, it might be a good option. Some of those guards you have in the lineups are very tradeable assets. In the process, at least Toronto could pick up a "name" player and dump Calderon (which is what a lot of Toronto fans seem to clamor for).

[darkangle901]

Yeah I suppose if it's after the season then you could do it, but it would require more trading before the start of the next season. I don't like getting into a situation where other teams KNOW you need to make a deal by a certain time, because it reduces leverage.