Thank Nation! Pre-Lottery: Denver 9th, NY pick 7th (PART 4)

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CoachJReturns wrote:
My brothers, the time is almost upon us. The season where all may finally stand united: Draft watchers, season seat holders, tankers, treadmillers, dreamers, casual fans, idealists, pessimists, realists and Bargnani hating Raptors fans the world over!

THANK NATION IS HERE! AKA The Jimmy Dolan appreciation thread.

For anyone who has been hiding under a rock since Masai Ujiri became General Manager or is simply a casual fan, this year we have an additional first round pick. It is an unprotected first rounder received as the prize in the Andrea Bargnani trade. We receive the worse of the New York Knicks or Denver Nuggets first round picks in 2016. This means we do not need to tank in order to secure a lottery pick.

Anyone who wants to post game updates would be a great help.

My brothers...The season of glory begins!

And so it continues...

Bucks 32-46

Apr 8 @Bos L
Apr 10 @Phi W
Apr 11 @Orl L
Apr 13 Ind L

..final record: 33-49

Magic 33-45

Apr 8 Miami L
Apr 10 @Miami L
Apr 11 Mil W
Apr 13 @Char L

...final record: 35-48

Sacramento 31-47

Apr 7 Min W
Apr 9 OKC L
Apr 11 @Pho W
Apr 13 @Hou L

...final record: 33-49

Denver 32-47

Apr 8 SA L
Apr 10 Utah W
Apr 13 @Port L

..final record: 33-49

Knicks 31-48

Apr 8 @Phi W
Apr 10 Tor L
Apr 12 @Ind L

..final record 32-50


Best case will probably be 8th but we need all 3 of Milwaukee, Orlando and Sacramento to finish better than Denver.

We could see a tie with Bucks and Denver. Pick will probably be 10th or 9th.

[super_balls]

Thank nation #teampositive

[TdotRap4Lyfe]

We haven't been so engaged in a draft thread like this ever I believe. We need to get more lottery picks from other teams in future years, lol.

[Kevin Willis]

What happened in the other topic - did I do that???

[super_balls]

What happened in the other topic - did I do that???

I think we are so into this years draft we destroyed it.

[One And Done]

Feels good to be a 2nd seed AND have top 10 pick

#TeamPositive

[kem416]

Thank you Dolan.. now hands off Masai!

[Risk101]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/theScoreNCAAB/status/717743597714472960[/tweet]

[TdotBasketball]

What happened in the other topic - did I do that???

[kron100]

Dragan Bender and Brandon Ingram are beasts!

[CoachJReturns]

Thank Nation lives on!!! Best. Thread. Ever.

We may need to have a Thank Nation gathering in Jurassic Park, or close by on draft night.

[zilby]

Proud to be a Thanker with you all this year. Even if it's not the same next year as our pick will not be lottery-bound, we can still keep the rituals and/or hope Masai does something with our two picks and flips it into a lotto pick. So far, Thank Nation has reaped the returns on Norman Powell, and this pick may turn out to be a gem too. It's the gift that keeps on giving, and it matters not where you pick, but who you pick in that spot!

[gerrit4]

Proud to be a Thanker with you all this year. Even if it's not the same next year as our pick will not be lottery-bound, we can still keep the rituals and/or hope Masai does something with our two picks and flips it into a lotto pick. So far, Thank Nation has reaped the returns on Norman Powell, and this pick may turn out to be a gem too. It's the gift that keeps on giving, and it matters not where you pick, but who you pick in that spot!

I actually have some hope that the Clips pick could be in that #15-#20 range, which would be pretty great.

[CoachJReturns]

Proud to be a Thanker with you all this year. Even if it's not the same next year as our pick will not be lottery-bound, we can still keep the rituals and/or hope Masai does something with our two picks and flips it into a lotto pick. So far, Thank Nation has reaped the returns on Norman Powell, and this pick may turn out to be a gem too. It's the gift that keeps on giving, and it matters not where you pick, but who you pick in that spot!

Masai's knack for winning trades by a landslide is becoming the stuff of legend around here. We traded Vazquez, who has been a net negative in Milwaukee, for a second rounder which turned out to be Powell AND a late first rounder from the Clippers next year. The Bargs trade is arguably the greatest heist in this team's 20 year history. I know the Knicks have expressed interest in hiring Masai, but they'll have to pry him from our cold dead hands!

If we wind up with one of Luwawu or Rabb I'll be satisfied. I think both will be starters at least within a couple years.

[CoachJReturns]

Detroit @ Orlando tonight.
Charlotte @ New York.

Let's get it!

[wegetitin08]

Lotto Pick: Jaylen Brown/Timothe Luwawu/Marquese Chriss
Latter Pick: T. Prince/Ben Bentil/Thon Maker(if available)

[RyderMike]

If only Masai had fleeced the Knicks a little less the first time, we'd have a slightly better pick lol.

[RyderMike]

I just love how at this point of the year, we are watching three different races in the standings, none of which involve our team
1) Thank Race
2) 7/8 Race
3)3/4/5/6 Race

[nabbs]

Detroit @ Orlando tonight.
Charlotte @ New York.

Let's get it!

Who do we want to win exactly???

[I_Like_Dirt]

Masai's knack for winning trades by a landslide is becoming the stuff of legend around here. We traded Vazquez, who has been a net negative in Milwaukee, for a second rounder which turned out to be Powell AND a late first rounder from the Clippers next year. The Bargs trade is arguably the greatest heist in this team's 20 year history. I know the Knicks have expressed interest in hiring Masai, but they'll have to pry him from our cold dead hands!

If we wind up with one of Luwawu or Rabb I'll be satisfied. I think both will be starters at least within a couple years.

A lot of the trades Masai "wins" has more to do with astute scouting on his part. For instance, that Vasquez trade would have looked a whole lot worse had he used the money in free agency to sign CJ Watson to the same contract Cory Joseph signed, and drafted internet draftnik darling Christian Wood, or Aaron White, or JP Tokoto instead of Powell, and the belief was that he would eventually bungle the Clippers pick as well.

On the surface, it seems as though Masai's strength is trades, but the reality is that it's his ability to assess players, what they can and can't do, and how they might be able to develop under certain conditions. The Rudy Gay trade didn't look like a haul on the surface, but it turns out that, in the right situation, Vasquez, Patterson, Hayes and Salmons were better able to help the Raptors than Rudy Gay, Aaron Gray and Quincy Acy. He let Amir and Lou walk for nothing, but very astutely replaced them with guys who fit what he was doing on both ends of the floor in Biyombo, Joseph, Scola and Carroll, and while Carroll has been hurt so far, and isn't an amazing player or anything, if the idea is to have one player only for the same price because the Raptors didn't need 3 or 4 more players and the free agent options weren't great last season nor will they be this coming season, Carroll certainly fits the bill as arguably the best option, and could still be traded for value in return if Masai wants to, provided he can return healthy.