Say it aint so

Moderators: Kilroy, Danny Darko, TyCobb
dockingsched wrote:It's very very hard to get excited about this development. Theoretically the lack of shooting that would surround Russell would be alarming and discouraging.
But replacing DeRozan would be hard. He has gotten about as good as any guard can get without a 3-point shot -- a hole in his game Toronto doesn't feel as much, now that all their power forwards can shoot 3s. A year or two ago, most teams would have run away from a DeRozan max deal. Hell, we all pilloried Colangelo for paying him $9 million per season in the fall of 2012. Back then, DeRozan was a low-IQ passer who barely ran the pick-and-roll; he shot 32-of-90 on that play in 2011-12, with a high turnover rate and few assists, per Synergy Sports.
Today, DeRozan runs as many as Lowry, and he's among the half-dozen most efficient pick-and-roll ball-handlers in the league, per Synergy. He has hit 98-of-197 shots out of the pick-and-roll this season, and he's dishing dimes at a career-best rate.
ak7 wrote:You all are missing the main reason. Kobe gone = major void left to draw in ticket sales. Sign "promising" LA-native Shooting guard = revitalized ticket sales. Business.
Nobody is paying $150 a pop to sit in the Upper Deck to watch Lou Williams score 25 a game.
crazyeights wrote:What's Lowe's actual quote? Was this on his podcast? Because I don't trust the wiretap's adaptations.
(Talking about what Toronto will do if they lose early in the playoffs again)
That starts with DeRozan, a lock to decline his option and hit free agency this summer. A bunch of teams, including DeRozan's hometown Lakers, are prepared to offer him a max deal starting at $25 million per season, and the Raptors know they will have to spend big to keep him.