5 Ways to Improve the Offense

[Wannabe MEP]

This team was good enough defensively to win an championship. The offense showed some things throughout the year, but wasn't enough in the playoffs against a top-tier mobile defense, and it wasn't as close as "game 7" would suggest. The offense likely would have struggled similarly against other top-tier defenses like the Clippers or Lakers, and without something changing, will probably struggle again next year in the same way.

So something needs to change by next year. What?

1) Blow it up and start over

Certainly one of the better ways to get top-tier talent. However...

• This team has a really really good core. One of the five or so best in the NBA. With a lot of good years left. If you think this team should blow it up...do you think 20-25 NBA teams should blow it up every year?
• You fail more than you win in the draft. You're more likely to get a Michael Beasley than a Kevin Durant. And the team that gets Kevin Durant still probably doesn't win a title with him (see: Durant, Kevin).

2) Get a superstar

Brilliant. Just not easy to do. If there's something out there that makes sense, sure, go for it. Another trade like the one for Kawhi might not come around again for a while, and the Raptors aren't going to win many free agency battles for the top guys.

3) Get a (non-superstar) offensive spark

Suppose it's impossible to land a guy at Kawhi's level. Is there lower-tier/flawed offensive talent that the Raptors could get for a lower price? I'm thinking somebody like Jamal Crawford a few years ago: can create his own shot, but obtainable, lower price, and can bring off the bench. Maintain a stout defensive starting five, let Crawford 2.0 loose with the 2nd unit, and bring him in with the starters when you need more offense (end game, or perhaps as a starter in a playoff series when you need an offensive spark, like Dallas did with Jason Terry).

4) Develop the guys we already have

None of the Raptors were able to provide the offensive spark the team needed this year. Is it crazy to think of them developing into the offensive spark we need over the next 2 or 3 years? When I think of non-superstars that could become the next Kawhi, or perhaps a lower-level offensive spark like Jamal Crawford, perhaps the Raptors have just about as much potential/future talent as anyone.

• Siakam --> Kawhi 2.0/Giannis 2.0
• Powell --> Bradley Beal 2.0
• Davis --> Klay Thompson 2.0

5) Go small/spread

Out of 7 core rotation guys...

1. 4 shot under 32% from three
2. 2 are pretty big/slow for today's NBA

While some of those shooters are certainly capable of better percentages, this was not a case of, say, JJ Redick having a bad series. There's a snowball effect if you add more elite shooting: FVV probably would have shot better if there were better shooters around the perimeter pulling the defense out wider, creating space.

And that 2nd number has to go down to 1. You can't play Gasol and Ibaka that much in that series, which means you might as well have only one bigger C like that in the core rotation at all. Still made sense for the Warriors to have Bogut, but ultimately won with Draymond at the 5.

[mrdressup]

Make more shats.

[Fairview4Life]

Make more shats.

[Rebel INS]

6) Keep cap space open and wait until 2021 off season

Beyond just putting all the eggs in the Giannis basket (or the Oladipo back up basket), there are a bunch of teams keeping space open and a lot of dominoes that are going to fall. You'll have a better idea of who the buyers and sellers are then, and what your options are in either direction

[sule]

If Houston is blowing it up, then I'd like the team to go after Robert Covington in a trade or Thabo as a cheap defensive bench piece (Thabo's a FA).

Oladipo is probably the best choice. He could be a solid reclamation player who remains loyal to the franchise if we can swing a deal for him and get his career back not track.

We could also go after James Johnson for the 8th time

[prelude00]

Trade for Harden

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[Steelo Green]

Try to get a star player. Harden or Beal seem like the only players who could be available.

Not saying either are dealt or are necessarily available but Houston might decide they have gone with Harden long enough and want to reset, and Washington is in a rebuild as well. Wall is in all likelihood never going to be the same.

Other teams likely can offer more but let's see. Throw Pascal in either teams direction and see what they say.

The 1% chance to get Giannis becomes 2% with another star.

[niQ]

Try to get a star player. Harden or Beal seem like the only players who could be available.

Not saying either are dealt or are necessarily available but Houston might decide they have gone with Harden long enough and want to reset, and Washington is in a rebuild as well. Wall is in all likelihood never going to be the same.

Other teams likely can offer more but let's see. Throw Pascal in either teams direction and see what they say.

The 1% chance to get Giannis becomes 2% with another star.

Not that it seems likely that we're getting Harden or Beal but... I think getting Harden might actually lower our chances at recruiting Giannis since they have some...history lol

[ruckus]

We need to continue to develop what we have and if the right opportunity comes up, pounce on it.

If Giannis isn't available, Harden or Beal would be interesting but at what cost would any of those be in a trade?

Siakam was laid bare for the whole world to see in the bubble. I don't think the trade market would be there for him right now.

[Indeed]

You forgot OG under the development.

1) We are clearly not blowing it up, as we have our players in rookie contracts this season: Siakam, OG, Davis
2) We had our superstar, and it didn't last long, so I am unsure this is the plan
3) Lowry and VanVleet already occupied the guard scoring, so we want a SF or PF offensive spark instead, and Siakam was that spark (under development), which is why we got to fight against the elite Celtics

Therefore, we only have 2 choices (and may do both):
4) Develop our players
5) Go small and may need to draft/trade for another or two excellent forward to replace Gasol and RHJ (Actually Celtics played Theis, and he is no faster than Gasol, and Ibaka maybe quicker than Theis. Therefore defense wasn't the issue, but offense, while Ibaka was lighting it up)

[Johnny Bball]

1 and 2 are not happening this year. 3 is right out since it will impact our cap space. Could just start and finish with 4 and 5.

[Son Goku 25]

Can we get someone like Levert but a cheap version of him

[Wannabe MEP]

1 and 2 are not happening this year. 3 is right out since it will impact our cap space. Could just start and finish with 4 and 5.

and

Therefore, we only have 2 choices (and may do both):
4) Develop our players
5) Go small and may need to draft/trade for another or two excellent forward to replace Gasol and RHJ

4) Who in particular do you envision making a leap that gets the Raptors on a different plane in the future?

5) Who do we get for this?

[Indeed]

1 and 2 are not happening this year. 3 is right out since it will impact our cap space. Could just start and finish with 4 and 5.

and

Therefore, we only have 2 choices (and may do both):
4) Develop our players
5) Go small and may need to draft/trade for another or two excellent forward to replace Gasol and RHJ

4) Who in particular do you envision making a leap that gets the Raptors on a different plane in the future?

5) Who do we get for this?

4) We have a lot of good young players and some can go to the next level. If we need an upgrade, they are still a good trade assets.
Siakam, OG, Davis. FA includes VanVleet, Boucher.

5) Who is available? We acquired Ibaka when he was not in the right situation, perhaps there are players in that situation as well. And we have been drafting well.

[Wannabe MEP]

If Giannis isn't available, Harden or Beal would be interesting but at what cost would any of those be in a trade?

Beal would cost Siakam, right?

[Wannabe MEP]

Oladipo is probably the best choice. He could be a solid reclamation player who remains loyal to the franchise if we can swing a deal for him and get his career back not track.

Interesting. I have absolutely no idea what that would take.

If Houston is blowing it up, then I'd like the team to go after Robert Covington in a trade

Love him, but not sure what you mean...you mean as a starter? At the 4 or 5? Just start a small-ball frontcourt? I'd be game, but that seems like too big a leap for the franchise.

[Wannabe MEP]

Oladipo is probably the best choice. He could be a solid reclamation player who remains loyal to the franchise if we can swing a deal for him and get his career back not track.

Interesting. I have absolutely no idea what that would take.

FVV sign-and-trade?

[phanman]

I think the easiest way is give OG more opportunities to experiment and develop his offensive game in the regular season. The guy has shown he is efficient in his limited role offensively, so lets see what he can do in an expanded role. We have already seen a noticeable improvement in his handles and the guy is strong as hell so let him take defenders off the bounce to the hole. Could also give him the reps when teams try to hide their worse defenders to punish them in the post.

You can't do it anymore, but I think starting Freddy all year was a mistake. We lost what made our bench special with him starting and that unit just looked lost at times without him. Even though him and Lowry were good defenders, we were always susceptible with two 6ft guards in the back court. It also contributed to him having a career year and thus career pay day so that hurts the cap going forward.

[SurgeIblocka]

We had no ball movement in our offence at all against Boston, everything was ISO for various players. We need to get back to a better flow on offence and more ball movement and be a run and gun team, especially with the way Siakam plays

[Indeed]

We had no ball movement in our offence at all against Boston, everything was ISO for various players. We need to get back to a better flow on offence and more ball movement and be a run and gun team, especially with the way Siakam plays

Celtics went back to defend the transition quickly, where there are way less run and gun opportunities, particularly during playoffs. I think it is best to look at half court offense, as I feel this is a good development year for Siakam and OG.