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Unemployed Centers Thread: Raptors opening

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Dennis 37
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Re: Unemployed Centers Thread: Raptors opening 

Post#21 » by Dennis 37 » Sat Dec 27, 2025 4:05 pm

Indeed wrote:That would clearly means we end Barnes experience.

The reason we have a stretch 5 off the bench is to provide Barnes paint touches, having another rim running big means Barnes would be at the corner with his average (or likely below) 3 from there.

On the defensive end, that would also conclude the roaming Barnes experience, where you dont need to roam while your shot blocker goes for the block (you are unlikely to switch with a slower shot blocker).

Unless people can tell me their offensive and defensive strategy, otherwise, this thread is clearly meant ending the Barnes era.


Having Barnes wear out his body battling other team's bigs will end the Barnes era as well.
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Re: Unemployed Centers Thread: Raptors opening 

Post#22 » by Indeed » Sat Dec 27, 2025 4:11 pm

CPT wrote:
PushDaRock wrote:
Indeed wrote:That would clearly means we end Barnes experience.

The reason we have a stretch 5 off the bench is to provide Barnes paint touches, having another rim running big means Barnes would be at the corner with his average (or likely below) 3 from there.

On the defensive end, that would also conclude the roaming Barnes experience, where you dont need to roam while your shot blocker goes for the block (you are unlikely to switch with a slower shot blocker).

Unless people can tell me their offensive and defensive strategy, otherwise, this thread is clearly meant ending the Barnes era.


Probably some truth to this that having a stay at home 5 takes away some of Scottie's best defensive traits. Not a huge sample size but the Jak + Scottie pairing is at 114.6 DRTG while the Mamu + Scottie pairing is 103.8 and CMB + Scottie pairing is at 105.9.


Those are interesting numbers and maybe worth considering when trying to figure out the best permanent fit going forward, but the idea that we would make any decision about Scottie Barnes’ future based on a 10-day contract emergency stopgap big is clearly ridiculous.


I would also look at the competition, some teams like the Miami Heat really got downgraded after the Butler trade.
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Re: Unemployed Centers Thread: Raptors opening 

Post#23 » by Indeed » Sat Dec 27, 2025 4:13 pm

Dennis 37 wrote:
Indeed wrote:That would clearly means we end Barnes experience.

The reason we have a stretch 5 off the bench is to provide Barnes paint touches, having another rim running big means Barnes would be at the corner with his average (or likely below) 3 from there.

On the defensive end, that would also conclude the roaming Barnes experience, where you dont need to roam while your shot blocker goes for the block (you are unlikely to switch with a slower shot blocker).

Unless people can tell me their offensive and defensive strategy, otherwise, this thread is clearly meant ending the Barnes era.


Having Barnes wear out his body battling other team's bigs will end the Barnes era as well.


I don't see we made the same claim about Siakam on his last year of the Raptors, and he did a much better job on both end.
Regardless, if your near-max franchise player needs to be covered so much on both end, is he really someone you should build around?
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Re: Unemployed Centers Thread: Raptors opening 

Post#24 » by MEDIC » Sat Dec 27, 2025 4:17 pm

Bring Serge home.

Bamba is the obvious one. I have a feeling we will persue him, but strike out on him once 10 days are allowed. It would be in Bamba's best interest to sign here due to available playing time.......but I know how these things typically go.

Could we cut one of our two way guys & sign Bamba to a 2 way?

I mean....if we aren't going to use Lawson, why not cut him & sign someone that plays a position of need?
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Re: Unemployed Centers Thread: Raptors opening 

Post#25 » by Landomar » Sat Dec 27, 2025 4:59 pm

I have liked Charles Bassey since his draft year, wanted us to sign him in the summer, and he's currently available.

Mo Bamba is another guy who is available and who could play minutes right away.

The NBA luxury tax is calculated on the last day of the season. We have a roster spot and could add a center for the minimum any time we want. There will be plenty of time to make a trade to get under the luxury tax before the trade deadline. To be honest, it was very poor roster planning that we're worried about the tax to begin with.
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Re: Unemployed Centers Thread: Raptors opening 

Post#26 » by TimeForChange » Sat Dec 27, 2025 7:04 pm

The Raptors will need to shut Jak down and try to apply for a hardship exception. Other than that, it's going to be difficult to bring someone in.
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Re: Unemployed Centers Thread: Raptors opening 

Post#27 » by mihaic » Sat Dec 27, 2025 7:13 pm

Indeed wrote:That would clearly means we end Barnes experience.

The reason we have a stretch 5 off the bench is to provide Barnes paint touches, having another rim running big means Barnes would be at the corner with his average (or likely below) 3 from there.

On the defensive end, that would also conclude the roaming Barnes experience, where you dont need to roam while your shot blocker goes for the block (you are unlikely to switch with a slower shot blocker).

Unless people can tell me their offensive and defensive strategy, otherwise, this thread is clearly meant ending the Barnes era.

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Re: Unemployed Centers Thread: Raptors opening 

Post#28 » by Psubs » Sat Dec 27, 2025 7:14 pm

Landomar wrote:I have liked Charles Bassey since his draft year, wanted us to sign him in the summer, and he's currently available.

Mo Bamba is another guy who is available and who could play minutes right away.

The NBA luxury tax is calculated on the last day of the season. We have a roster spot and could add a center for the minimum any time we want. There will be plenty of time to make a trade to get under the luxury tax before the trade deadline. To be honest, it was very poor roster planning that we're worried about the tax to begin with.


Garrett Temple should've just been an assistant coach.
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Re: Unemployed Centers Thread: Raptors opening 

Post#29 » by Raptorfan2012 » Sat Dec 27, 2025 7:16 pm

Psubs wrote:
Landomar wrote:I have liked Charles Bassey since his draft year, wanted us to sign him in the summer, and he's currently available.

Mo Bamba is another guy who is available and who could play minutes right away.

The NBA luxury tax is calculated on the last day of the season. We have a roster spot and could add a center for the minimum any time we want. There will be plenty of time to make a trade to get under the luxury tax before the trade deadline. To be honest, it was very poor roster planning that we're worried about the tax to begin with.


Garrett Temple should've just been an assistant coach.


This right here. When you already so close to the tax, signing Temple when there were tons of vets that can actually play meaningful minutes was just beyond dumb
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Re: Unemployed Centers Thread: Raptors opening 

Post#30 » by Grew » Sat Dec 27, 2025 7:18 pm

Bamba would be great. Actually 7ft, can block a shot, catch a lob, and is shooting almost 40 from 3.

Extremely low risk with potential huge rewards.
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Re: Unemployed Centers Thread: Raptors opening 

Post#31 » by MEDIC » Sat Dec 27, 2025 7:43 pm

Grew wrote:Bamba would be great. Actually 7ft, can block a shot, catch a lob, and is shooting almost 40 from 3.

Extremely low risk with potential huge rewards.


With our desperate need for a C, I am not sure why they don't offer him a contract.

I am guessing it's a luxury tax issue?
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Re: Unemployed Centers Thread: Raptors opening 

Post#32 » by Thaddy » Sat Dec 27, 2025 7:51 pm

We should do the Ochai for Richards trade. I think they'll probably wait for the deadline to keep flexibility. I doubt we sign anyone either.

The likely scenario is we trade Ochai + 59th for Richards, that'll create some space. Then we sign another GLeague center and then wait until the off-season to get a real acquisition.

The ideal scenario would be to get into the playoffs at the 6th seed, get the highest 1st round pick we can while being a lock for the playoffs (avoid play in), and then draft some steals.
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Re: Unemployed Centers Thread: Raptors opening 

Post#33 » by Rainman66 » Sat Dec 27, 2025 7:58 pm



Also GD for Thomas Sorber actually works 1 for 1, I wonder if Okc would bite seeing as they need to shore up their wing rotation.
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Re: Unemployed Centers Thread: Raptors opening 

Post#34 » by PushDaRock » Sat Dec 27, 2025 8:04 pm

Rainman66 wrote:

Also GD for Thomas Sorber actually works 1 for 1, I wonder if Okc would bite seeing as they need to shore up their wing rotation.


lol what? OKC has like 6-7 wings in their rotation.
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Re: Unemployed Centers Thread: Raptors opening 

Post#35 » by Grew » Sat Dec 27, 2025 8:07 pm

MEDIC wrote:
Grew wrote:Bamba would be great. Actually 7ft, can block a shot, catch a lob, and is shooting almost 40 from 3.

Extremely low risk with potential huge rewards.


With our desperate need for a C, I am not sure why they don't offer him a contract.

I am guessing it's a luxury tax issue?


I guess. This ownership nickle and diming like this is not a good sign.

At least we have Temple for that team building conga line everyone stopped putting any energy into after the 3rd game. Glad we kept him on the roster. Imagine, no conga line? Who needs size and depth when you got a guy that can move his hips like that.
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Re: Unemployed Centers Thread: Raptors opening 

Post#36 » by PushDaRock » Sat Dec 27, 2025 8:11 pm

Thaddy wrote:We should do the Ochai for Richards trade. I think they'll probably wait for the deadline to keep flexibility. I doubt we sign anyone either.

The likely scenario is we trade Ochai + 59th for Richards, that'll create some space. Then we sign another GLeague center and then wait until the off-season to get a real acquisition.

The ideal scenario would be to get into the playoffs at the 6th seed, get the highest 1st round pick we can while being a lock for the playoffs (avoid play in), and then draft some steals.


Debatable whether that even helps us. Our wing depth which already sucks gets even worse and we get worse defensively losing our best POA defender. Ochai has sucked this year but if we are relying on Nick Richards to play meaningful mins we are probably screwed regardless.
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Re: Unemployed Centers Thread: Raptors opening 

Post#37 » by ill-Will03 » Sat Dec 27, 2025 9:13 pm

Thaddy wrote:We should do the Ochai for Richards trade. I think they'll probably wait for the deadline to keep flexibility. I doubt we sign anyone either.

The likely scenario is we trade Ochai + 59th for Richards, that'll create some space. Then we sign another GLeague center and then wait until the off-season to get a real acquisition.

The ideal scenario would be to get into the playoffs at the 6th seed, get the highest 1st round pick we can while being a lock for the playoffs (avoid play in), and then draft some steals.


Then what happens if Barrett or quickly get injured? We are forced to play more Gradey and Jakobe, and we’ve seen how that plays out.

As sad as it is, Ochai is one of our most reliable bench guards lol
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Re: Unemployed Centers Thread: Raptors opening 

Post#38 » by Thaddy » Sat Dec 27, 2025 9:36 pm

ill-Will03 wrote:
Thaddy wrote:We should do the Ochai for Richards trade. I think they'll probably wait for the deadline to keep flexibility. I doubt we sign anyone either.

The likely scenario is we trade Ochai + 59th for Richards, that'll create some space. Then we sign another GLeague center and then wait until the off-season to get a real acquisition.

The ideal scenario would be to get into the playoffs at the 6th seed, get the highest 1st round pick we can while being a lock for the playoffs (avoid play in), and then draft some steals.


Then what happens if Barrett or quickly get injured? We are forced to play more Gradey and Jakobe, and we’ve seen how that plays out.

As sad as it is, Ochai is one of our most reliable bench guards lol

We have Lawson, Martin and Hepburn too. I'd give them some run. Agbaji isn't that good either. Agbaji is out most expendable piece.

If Quick gets injured RJ isn't a bad PG option. He was used as the back up PG in NY (fairly sure about this).

Dick shouldn't be traded with his value this low. He's going through a tough stretch but he isn't this bad. The shooting should come back at some point. It was his best college skill.

If he could pull in a Mark Williams or similar type prospect I would definitely ship him out.
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Re: Unemployed Centers Thread: Raptors opening 

Post#39 » by Rainman66 » Sat Dec 27, 2025 10:17 pm

PushDaRock wrote:
Rainman66 wrote:

Also GD for Thomas Sorber actually works 1 for 1, I wonder if Okc would bite seeing as they need to shore up their wing rotation.


lol what? OKC has like 6-7 wings in their rotation.

Can you actually list these 6-7 wings? Besides Jdub and Kenrich williams their bench is just 6'5 guards and under, not what im referring to as "wing rotation".
Anyway, you seem to have a pretty set agenda with having a vertically challenged basketball team :crazy: you dont need keep reiterating it. Lol
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Re: Unemployed Centers Thread: Raptors opening 

Post#40 » by Psubs » Sat Dec 27, 2025 10:42 pm

Why did they draft Martin instead of Maxime Raynaud?
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