Back on the treadmill

[McFurious1]

A "big problem for our city." Umm...you realize we resigned Derozan, we resigned Lowry twice to long-term deals, and we already resigned Ibaka in 2017 on a three year deal. Even Lou Will said he wanted to stay but Masai didn't even give him an offer.

It was Masai who chose not to give Ibaka a two year deal despite that Ibaka loved the franchise.

Enough with this myth of a big problem keeping guys...as Masai said, "believe in yourself, believe in this city."

Listen man... I love Toronto but only players who get traded here end up loving it. Theres a reason why our biggest free agent signing in team history is a joke.

American players have misconceptions that cant get changed unless they're forced or severely overpaid to be here. I'm just happy the league is trending more international which will help our case long term but with American born players, it is what it is.

Here is a fun exercise. Please name one organization outside of the Lakers and Heat that has become a championship team based on being a "free agent destination".

Brooklyn... not Championship team (yet), but now Championship contender.

No rings, no history of winning, but attracted top 3 player in the league.

[Kingsway_fan]

Listen man... I love Toronto but only players who get traded here end up loving it. Theres a reason why our biggest free agent signing in team history is a joke.

American players have misconceptions that cant get changed unless they're forced or severely overpaid to be here. I'm just happy the league is trending more international which will help our case long term but with American born players, it is what it is.

Okay, lol? How is this different from 90% of the league?

Name me one marquee free agent that the Chicago Bulls signed in free agency since Jordan retired? Carlos Boozer is probably the biggest name. Rose and Butler were both drafted by the team.

What about the Nuggets? Melo was drafted and requested a trade. Jokic and Murray were drafted by the team.

What about the Blazers? Clyde Drexler, Lillard, CJ, Aldridge were all drafted by them. Aldridge left the team in free agency.

What about the Sixers? Iverson, Igoudala, Embiid, Simmons etc. were all drafted by the team.

What about the Bucks? They drafted Ray Allen, Giannis and traded for Jrue. Ray Allen left in free agency.


I mean it's still pretty rare to sign a superstar free agent unless you are the Heat, Knicks, LA or have Lebron, lol.


Also, do you not think that perceptions have shifted in the last 5 years? We have a championship, the 6ix is known everywhere, our team is linked with Drake, we have excellent management and coaching. Everyone knows we are a 1st class organization with incredible fans. Maybe 10 years ago you would be right, but not anymore.

Its not about only signing free agents but having american superstar free agents demanding to come here.

And no, it has not changed with American players. We just had Kawhi leave us after winning a god damn title. Kawhis a different dude but that didn't do much to help the misconceptions.

We will have a lot of money next offseason so let's see how much progress we really made.

Best to focus on top international talent for toronto... American players for most part like the warm climate cities and us culture and toronto is hard sell...

[Ramed Nazored]

Listen man... I love Toronto but only players who get traded here end up loving it. Theres a reason why our biggest free agent signing in team history is a joke.

American players have misconceptions that cant get changed unless they're forced or severely overpaid to be here. I'm just happy the league is trending more international which will help our case long term but with American born players, it is what it is.

Okay, lol? How is this different from 90% of the league?

Name me one marquee free agent that the Chicago Bulls signed in free agency since Jordan retired? Carlos Boozer is probably the biggest name. Rose and Butler were both drafted by the team.

What about the Nuggets? Melo was drafted and requested a trade. Jokic and Murray were drafted by the team.

What about the Blazers? Clyde Drexler, Lillard, CJ, Aldridge were all drafted by them. Aldridge left the team in free agency.

What about the Sixers? Iverson, Igoudala, Embiid, Simmons etc. were all drafted by the team.

What about the Bucks? They drafted Ray Allen, Giannis and traded for Jrue. Ray Allen left in free agency.


I mean it's still pretty rare to sign a superstar free agent unless you are the Heat, Knicks, LA or have Lebron, lol.


Also, do you not think that perceptions have shifted in the last 5 years? We have a championship, the 6ix is known everywhere, our team is linked with Drake, we have excellent management and coaching. Everyone knows we are a 1st class organization with incredible fans. Maybe 10 years ago you would be right, but not anymore.

Its not about only signing free agents but having american superstar free agents demanding to come here.

And no, it has not changed with American players. We just had Kawhi leave us after winning a god damn title. Kawhis a different dude but that didn't do much to help the misconceptions.

We will have a lot of money next offseason so let's see how much progress we really made.

How many superstar agents demanded to come to the teams the last poster listed above? None. Why is our position so much worse than theirs? Kawhi left because he wanted to "go home", and he's myopic. End of story. This isn't an accurate reflection of anything.

Bosh re-signed before leaving due to managerial incompetence. T-Mac left because he was a child, and to this day he says he regrets the decision. We don't have a storied history of superstars walking. We've re-signed many talented, coveted players over the years. Lowry included.

[2019nbachamps]

No one left good in 2021 UFA class...

[bluerap23]

Listen man... I love Toronto but only players who get traded here end up loving it. Theres a reason why our biggest free agent signing in team history is a joke.

American players have misconceptions that cant get changed unless they're forced or severely overpaid to be here. I'm just happy the league is trending more international which will help our case long term but with American born players, it is what it is.

Here is a fun exercise. Please name one organization outside of the Lakers and Heat that has become a championship team based on being a "free agent destination".

Brooklyn... not Championship team (yet), but now Championship contender.

No rings, no history of winning, but attracted top 3 player in the league.

Not a bad answer. But I'd like to see them win a couple rounds in the playoffs before anointing them as a championship contender.

My point still stands. Free agency is a terrible way for the vast majority of the league to reach contention. Even the Heat have really only had one truly consequential free agency and they had won a championship (and had a top 5 player on their team) a couple years before that happened. Golden state become a destination after they won a championship and had an MVP on their team as well.

The only consistent free agency destination in the league has been the Lakers. Too many on this board do not realize how fortunate we are to have won a championship.

[bboyskinnylegs]

No one left good in 2021 UFA class...

that was true as soon as Giannis signed the supermax. Gobert was not going to make this team a championship contender without a legit superstar already here.

[Tor_Raps]

No way would I have liked to pay Gobert that much money but next years FA class is depressing. Kawhi will re-sign today or tomorrow to fully seal that class being a joke.

[McFurious1]

Here is a fun exercise. Please name one organization outside of the Lakers and Heat that has become a championship team based on being a "free agent destination".

Brooklyn... not Championship team (yet), but now Championship contender.

No rings, no history of winning, but attracted top 3 player in the league.

Not a bad answer. But I'd like to see them win a couple rounds in the playoffs before anointing them as a championship contender.

My point still stands. Free agency is a terrible way for the vast majority of the league to reach contention. Even the Heat have really only had one truly consequential free agency and they had won a championship (and had a top 5 player on their team) a couple years before that happened. Golden state become a destination after they won a championship and had an MVP on their team as well.

The only consistent free agency destination in the league has been the Lakers. Too many on this board do not realize how fortunate we are to have won a championship.

That's because the league favors the Lakers and their location/influence i.e. Cali. I would listen to the podcast Whistle-blower if you haven't already. Lakers are the chosen team for the NBA. Lakers being good equals big money for the NBA.

Toronto will never attract a big name free agent unless they are Canadian or International player with Canadian ties.

[VinBaker6]

Looking clearer and clearer by the day.

[VinBaker6]

Bringing this thread back. Looks like treadmill was being generous.