Post#169 » by Red_Claw » Fri Feb 8, 2019 1:30 am
Edit: i posted this in that joke of a appreciation thread but it probably deserves to be here...
What an absolute tragic day for so many reason. Before i go on my rant i want to say that the one thing ive learned today is theres no basketball move that deserves to make me as angry as id like to be right now. Also, i don't want to speculate numbers, we're just going to have to wait an see how Gasol fits and how far we go into the playoffs. But that variable is also completely unpredictable.
1. One of the talking points this season is how well Serge has transitioned to the C position this year. We literally had the best tandem centers in the league at around 39 mil total (thats alot). It was our deepest position so i don't understand why we had to try and "upgrade" it with a higher paid player, much older player (now 47 Million total). And for the love of god, don't tell me Serge can shift to PF cause he couldn't do it when JV was here and he won't do it now. This is Hakeem all over again....
2. Fred is not a PG who can lead the bench. He's a great spot up shooter, a very good chippy defender, an average driver but NOT a PG. Our bench got significantly worse chemistry wise, which is another MASSIVE unpredictable variable we are to the deal with the rest of the season.
3. If even there was a sliver of a chance that Kawhi was staying, thats totally gone. There is no way in hell Kawhi is signing because of a 33 year old Lowry and 35 year old Gasol. The future is not bright for Kawhi to sign a max contract and it would HAVE to be a max contract (5 year) because thats our only real advantage we have to offer him.
4. I could not be more disappointed in Masai. He's had few errors as his time as raptor GM (Demarre Carroll - signing and trade) but he got too cocky, flew too close to the sun and i think hes finally mortal now. Trading Demar was addition by subtraction but to also get an MVP calibre player was amazing. Masai, felt the pressure and folded on this Gasol deal and i think this will be the beginning of the end for his time in Toronto. The biggest reason, Gasol was a lateral move and JV WILL have a chance to finally prove what he's made of on a team that will finally know how to use him. JVs numbers in Memphis will be impressive and i could be wrong, but ive seen too many of his stats to not bet my account on it.
5. What a poor soul Nick Nurse is. The roster has been significantly changed twice on a rookie coach since he was hired.... The amound of pressure thats on him now does not bode well for us in the playoffs.
6. Getting rid of CJ's salary next year is the best thing about this trade.......but it really just got added to a 35 year old Gasol so thats moot.
7. This is for the mods: Shame on you for letting a known JV hater create this green font "appreciation" thread. Its totally insulting to what was the longest tenured Raptor who was arguably the best teammate. The first guy helping out his team on the ground. The tough guy who stood up for his guys. JV did all the dirty work no one wanted to do and didn't complain once. I always believed or hoped that this was a place the great Raptor minds to collaborate informed opinions using stats. I expect that moderators would strive for that instead of letting fortniters use childish insults to "win" arguments. I expect at least ONE real appreciation thread thats actually an appreciation thread. So again, shame on you.
JV, Good luck in Memphis and make Masai accountable for his lack of backbone.