[Shams] Khem Birch expected to sign with the Toronto Raptors after being waived by Orlando

[metafisical]

When is this happening? When do I get a chance to watch Baynes-free basketball?

Never. I am hearing from my sauces that Baynes is signing a 5 year extension with us. He is FOREVER cemented into the Raptors' legacy.

[basketballRob]

Are you guys going to sign Birch? Or are they going to try and build around Baynes?

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

[tecumseh18]

I would have loved the idea of bringing in Birch several games ago, but I am not exactly sure what Toronto is doing here. With the loss to Chicago the Raps are 3 games back, effectively 3.5 games back because Chicago has the tie breaker.

Likely this weekend we lose both games unless we get back Lowry. For sure FVV is missing one or both games. Likely, Birch and/or Gillespie come in on Sunday unless they can some how expedite things. Even if that is the case that one or both are ready for Saturday, they will be playing with zero practice time.

To me, by the end of the weekend, this team will be 5.5 games back of a play-in opportunity. That is an insurmountable challenge.

Why even both bringing in Birch?

Good point. Why waste an opportunity to inflict further physical/psychological damage to OG/Pascal.

Well, my point is it is too late to actually make the playoffs. You bring in a veteran back-up like Birch and the team plays above .500 ball and just misses the playoffs. All it accomplishes is ticking all the players off that the FO responded too late. This team should be focusing on testing out young guys that they could sign on the cheap to develop.

I guess from a physicality perspective it does save the team from getting beat-up by adding some additional players, but they have honestly went this far without doing anything, I wonder why the FO chose to respond now.

Trying to figure out Masai and Bobby's reasoning and motivation once the team started out 2-8 and the deficiencies up front were evident is certainly a puzzle. Why let Len leave so early in the season, without replacing him? I hope they are questioned on this in the season-ending presser.

Perhaps they assumed the losses would continue, and were happy to tank. Then when the team beat the Nets without OG (OK, KD didn't play much, but that's still a hell of a team), Bucks twice and split the Sixers series without Kyle, they decided they would try to bring in a decent big (Dummond?) at the deadline. Then COVID took out Pascal, Fred and OG, and it was like, what's the point? Especially when Portland offered Trent for Norm.

Immediately after the deadline, playoffs were still possible and maybe they thought they could get a C on the buy-out market by offering 30-35 mpg. No takers, maybe because the Raps were losing. The big name guys (Drummond, LMA) wanted to go to a contender. What Dieng was thinking in going to the Spurs I can't imagine, although he is supposed to have a connection there with the head office.

So the Raps gave up. But with the latest spate of player losses, I can only surmise they wanted to bring in not only a G-League prospect but someone who was a certified NBAer who could take the physical heavy lifting duties from OG and Pascal. Birch is that guy. I wouldn't worry about him helping the team win, he only seems to turn on the jets when he's playing the Raptors. He seems to like it here:

Read on Twitter

So yeah, a preview of next season as Merit and SWAN have said above. Otherwise, Birch is what he is, a third string, undersized, shotless C. No threat to the tank.

[GLF]

I would have loved the idea of bringing in Birch several games ago, but I am not exactly sure what Toronto is doing here. With the loss to Chicago the Raps are 3 games back, effectively 3.5 games back because Chicago has the tie breaker.

Likely this weekend we lose both games unless we get back Lowry. For sure FVV is missing one or both games. Likely, Birch and/or Gillespie come in on Sunday unless they can some how expedite things. Even if that is the case that one or both are ready for Saturday, they will be playing with zero practice time.

To me, by the end of the weekend, this team will be 5.5 games back of a play-in opportunity. That is an insurmountable challenge.

Why even both bringing in Birch?

I think Birch is for next season really. I think they just want to get an early look at him to see how he fits with the guys which only helps. I read somewhere that he wants to play for the Raptors and wants to resign here so I don't think it's really about this season all that much. I also think as many have said it's to spare OG and Pascal from having to guard Centres all game because Baynes is trash and Boucher can't handle them.

[Badonkadonk]

I honestly don't get why the Knicks would pass him up. Noel and Robinson are injured, so they're desperate for both playoffs and at that position. They also have the cap room to outright absorb him off of waivers.

I hope he makes it to the Raps, just don't get it.

[Zeno]

I honestly don't get why the Knicks would pass him up. Noel and Robinson are injured, so they're desperate for both playoffs and at that position. They also have the cap room to outright absorb him off of waivers.

I hope he makes it to the Raps, just don't get it.

The only reason is maybe the agent angle. Birch is a CAA client. If he asks strongly that he go to the Raps, I doubt Leon Rose formerly of CAA would block it. But it is unknown how much Birch has his heart set on only the Raptors.

[Kingsway_fan]

Following a long line of scrubs who wanna play for raptors.... wake up when ONE TOP TIER Canadian in his prime want to play for raptors....and does so....

[Ackshun]

We have all learned with Baynes, if it looks like a bench guy and quacks like a bench guy, it must be a bench guy.

It's funny. If a guy averages a 24/12 on a losing team for example, he is labeled a perennial loser, stad padder etc... So the Realgm squad says no thanks.

Then we grt our hands on a 5/5 guy off the bench that csnt even crack the rotation on losing squad and yeah, he is solving some of our issues. Lol

[TD2FutureStar]

Are you arguing with yourself?

I was replying to Fairview4Life..................

Just a point of clarification about the first quote- why would you be dissatisfied with an undefeated team?

I wouldn't. My point was that they think they can with with all defense and no offense, when I fact that's not possible in today's NBA.

[TD2FutureStar]

Are you arguing with yourself?

I was replying to Fairview4Life..................

I know you were but you still did a 180 on your view. First you said we'd win all our games then later ask how has that worked out after Fairview4life agreed with your initial statement.

I wasn't implying that we would win all our games. In fact I've been saying that it's a losing formula. My point was that it appears that Masai and Nurse think they can win with all D and no offense teams when in reality that’s not possible with the way the game is played today.

[TD2FutureStar]

I was replying to Fairview4Life..................

I know you were but you still did a 180 on your view. First you said we'd win all our games then later ask how has that worked out after Fairview4life agreed with your initial statement.

I wasn't agreeing, I just thought winning all our games would be pretty awesome.

It certainly would b and I believe Nick and Masai believe it's a winning formula. However with defenders being penalized for playing defense in the NBA and the fact that you still need to outscore your opponents to win basketball games its not a good strategy to field a team of one way players that only play defense.

Very shocked how this has lead to such massive confusion here. Haha. Anyways, moving on.

[Merit]

I honestly don't get why the Knicks would pass him up. Noel and Robinson are injured, so they're desperate for both playoffs and at that position. They also have the cap room to outright absorb him off of waivers.

I hope he makes it to the Raps, just don't get it.

Nobody wants a player on their team who isn't actually interested in playing for them. Noel isn't a long term injury. They also have Taj Gibson, and Robinson can come back in time for the playoffs if the Knicks make it there. Not enough playing time down the road, IMO. There are also agents at play who look to do the best for their clients. I'm sure Birch's agent would encourage teams to pass on him so he can get to the Raptors.

The key word here for me is "home". Nobody in the NBA can fault someone for wanting to go home.

[Mehar]

I honestly don't get why the Knicks would pass him up. Noel and Robinson are injured, so they're desperate for both playoffs and at that position. They also have the cap room to outright absorb him off of waivers.

I hope he makes it to the Raps, just don't get it.

Nobody wants a player on their team who isn't actually interested in playing for them. Noel isn't a long term injury. They also have Taj Gibson, and Robinson can come back in time for the playoffs if the Knicks make it there. Not enough playing time down the road, IMO. There are also agents at play who look to do the best for their clients. I'm sure Birch's agent would encourage teams to pass on him so he can get to the Raptors.

The key word here for me is "home". Nobody in the NBA can fault someone for wanting to go home.

Birch might be an upgrade over Baynes, but I cannot fault a lot teams who would pass on him. Birch is 6 foot 7.5 inches tall (without shoes), and does not contribute much on the offensive end.

[GreatWhiteStiff]

Raptors signing the worst offensive player in the league and it killing the tank is beyond turbozone Sig territory. But quite possible.

[Dennis 37]

Following a long line of scrubs who wanna play for raptors.... wake up when ONE TOP TIER Canadian in his prime want to play for raptors....and does so....

But, but, but, Vince Carter put us on the map. How could they not want to play for us?

When Jamal Murray demands to be traded here, then and only then will I accept having Vince's jersey in the rafters.

[GreatWhiteStiff]

I know you were but you still did a 180 on your view. First you said we'd win all our games then later ask how has that worked out after Fairview4life agreed with your initial statement.

I wasn't agreeing, I just thought winning all our games would be pretty awesome.

It certainly would b and I believe Nick and Masai believe it's a winning formula. However with defenders being penalized for playing defense in the NBA and the fact that you still need to outscore your opponents to win basketball games its not a good strategy to field a t

eam of one way players that only play defense.

Very shocked how this has lead to such massive confusion here. Haha. Anyways, moving on.

Luckily the refs not allowing much defence to be played will have minimal impact on Terrence Davis.

[Dennis 37]

I honestly don't get why the Knicks would pass him up. Noel and Robinson are injured, so they're desperate for both playoffs and at that position. They also have the cap room to outright absorb him off of waivers.

I hope he makes it to the Raps, just don't get it.

Nobody wants a player on their team who isn't actually interested in playing for them. Noel isn't a long term injury. They also have Taj Gibson, and Robinson can come back in time for the playoffs if the Knicks make it there. Not enough playing time down the road, IMO. There are also agents at play who look to do the best for their clients. I'm sure Birch's agent would encourage teams to pass on him so he can get to the Raptors.

The key word here for me is "home". Nobody in the NBA can fault someone for wanting to go home.

Al Leiter says hi.

If Kawhi Leonard finishes his career in California, then I give him a pass.

The BlueJays paid Al Leiter to soak his finger in pickle juice for 1 and a half seasons. Then, when finally healed, he has a good part of a season and then buggers off home to Florida, only to stay there a short time before turning up in New York. So much for the I miss home BS.

If you come home, fine, but don't use that as your excuse unless you are being sincere. I think Birch wants to play for Nurse more than he wants to come home.

[WeThe2019Champs]

What's taking so long? Need Baynes to take a break.

[douggood]

What's taking so long? Need Baynes to take a break.

doesnt clear waivers till tomorrow

[TD2FutureStar]

I wasn't agreeing, I just thought winning all our games would be pretty awesome.

It certainly would b and I believe Nick and Masai believe it's a winning formula. However with defenders being penalized for playing defense in the NBA and the fact that you still need to outscore your opponents to win basketball games its not a good strategy to field a t

eam of one way players that only play defense.

Very shocked how this has lead to such massive confusion here. Haha. Anyways, moving on.

Luckily the refs not allowing much defence to be played will have minimal impact on Terrence Davis.

*Terence...Ftfy