Raptors Discussion: v78| It's playoff time | Rd 1 vs ORL | Gm3: Fri 4/19 7pm ET/4pm PT | SN

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topched

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Nov 19, 2008
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The slim pickings are getting... slimmer.
Not worried. There will be a ton of names out there by March 1.

Realistically we have one true rotation spot up for grabs that will get about 10-15 mins a night, and then maybe one more than will play only in the event of an injury or load management.
 
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Glenn Isildur Healy

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Ideally, you're looking to fill up the ??? if the idea is to also convert Boucher and Loyd

Lowry/FVV/???
Green/Powell/McCaw/Loyd
Leonard/OG/Miller
Siakam/???
Gasol/Ibaka/Boucher

As long as Markieff isn't out long term, his scoring versatility would work great as our backup PF
The 3rd PG, if Jeremy Lin isn't available then maybe you bring in someone like Teodosic
 
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topched

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Ideally, you're looking to fill up the ??? if the idea is to also convert Boucher and Loyd

Lowry/FVV/???
Green/Powell/McCaw/Loyd
Leonard/OG/Miller
Siakam/???
Gasol/Ibaka/Boucher

As long as Markieff isn't out long term, his scoring versatility would work great as our backup PF
The 3rd PG, if Jeremy Lin isn't available then maybe you bring in someone like Teodosic
Totally agree with this, one thing I’ll add is ideally 1 of those 2 ???? is a guy who can shoot the three above 35%
 

Kurtz

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How long before were able to sign a waiver player?

There are a few interesting names out there.

For bigs Morris if healthy would be a good get. Gortat could be a decent get. Need a shooter.

Shooters: Stauskas besides being from Mississauga isn't that good. Might provide some shooting. Not much else. Ellington I guess could be serviceable. Ben McLemore for all his skills just hasn't been able to figure it out. Not sure what's the scenario there but maybe he's a guy that we bring in as a project.

Do we need another PG?

We need a #3 PG, a #3 C, and a #3 PF. If any of those guys can shoot the 3, that's ideal.

Not for the playoffs mind you, but just so we can give some of our vets an occasional game off down the stretch without giving up on the games.

Several good options at those positions still available (Mack, Gortat, Kanter, Morris), and more guys will likely be bought out in the coming weeks.

...maybe Boucher can be that #3 C, but given that we'll likely be resting Gasol and Ibaka a couple of times each down the stretch, I'd prefer a solid vet (who is not Monroe).

Edit: Oh, and we can sign waved players pretty much right away...but if we wait something like 2 more weeks, we get considerable tax savings on their deals. But we can come to an agreement with a waved player right away.
 

topched

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Marc Gasol waived his 1.3m trade kicker. Wow.

This is awesome to hear but I don’t fully understand Gasol’s need to do this?

I see it saved the Raps 3mil-ish on the luxury tax, but the report says it didn’t need to be done to make the trade happen.

If someone has a better grasp of the tricky NBA cap sitch... do tell!
 

Kurtz

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This is awesome to hear but I don’t fully understand Gasol’s need to do this?

I see it saved the Raps 3mil-ish on the luxury tax, but the report says it didn’t need to be done to make the trade happen.

If someone has a better grasp of the tricky NBA cap sitch... do tell!

He didn't need to do this at all. He's just excited to play in Toronto and was willing to give up a few dollars to help out the team.
 
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Glenn Isildur Healy

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Blake Murphy's latest piece on the Athletic runs through a lot of the buyout market options.

I'm still in the process of reading it, but the first takeaway is that apparently the Hawks don't plan on buying out anyone on their roster. So any Lin/Carter pipe dreams can pretty much be dashed.

After Miller signing, the candidates for Raptors' remaining...

Did he mention Milos Teodosic?
From all the names that I’ve heard, I think he’s the best option
 

The Nemesis

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Apr 11, 2005
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The cliff-notes version of Murphy's buyout options exploration (it appears his list of subjects to explore is half based on twitter suggestions, half on his own considerations)

Guards
Milos Teodosic - Doesn't do anything but catch-and-shoot 3s and sweet passes, but that's what the Raptors need.

Shelvin Mack - Low-ceiling option average at shooting from deep, can run the offence, was a Raptor Killer at one point, but is almost dead last in +/-

Jeremy Lin - Hawks don't intend to buy him (or anyone) out apparently.

Jamal Crawford - Brings experience and looks the part of a microwave bench guy, but is no longer an efficient scorer and is 38.

Wings
Wes Matthews - Ideal candidate, but intends to sign in Indiana.

Wayne Ellington - Murphy's ideal candidate and the 2nd best option behind Matthews because he lacks D. But Woj says he's headed to Detroit.

Troy Daniels - Off-brand Ellington. Good shooter (40% from 3) but that's all he has.

Vince Carter - It seems that he isn't hung up on chasing a ring and prefers a situation on a young team as a mentor rather than sitting on a bench as a niche player.

Nik Stauskas - Everyone wants him because he's Canadian, but he's a low-% shooter for a guy who would be a pure specialist (35%). He'd be the depthiest of depth options if he was a target.

Ben McLemore - High profile guy with pedigree as a top-shelf draft pick, but he's a 35% shooter as well and doens't do much else of note and has continuously struggled to find minutes elsewhere in the league.

JR Smith - Cavs don't intend to buy him out. (on a personal level, all I have to do is watch Lebron incredulously stare at him as he pissed away that game in the finals to know why I wouldn't wand him if he were bought out.)

Forwards

Markieff Morris - One of the best players available, history with Kyle Lowry, but he's had some neck issues that muddy his timeline. Tough and a viable PF/small C, but there are questions about his temper.

Carmelo Anthony - Broken shell of his former self who hasn't adapted to the changing reality of his ability to contribute to a team. Doesn't fit with what the Raptors need.

Michael Beasley - a bench scorer, has championship experience, and is apparently a good teammate now in spite of his rep for being a disengaged, disinterested floater when he was younger. But his skillset is limited. Murphy wants him. (I'm not convinced)

Chandler Parsons - Was a great player years ago, but injuries have curtailed his effectiveness to the point that he's barely played the last few seasons. Nobody knows what he could possibly bring to the table and if he would need some G-League time to get his game legs back)

Jeff Green - Having a good year, but no indication the Wizards would buy him out

Lance Thomas - Has a non-guaranteed deal for next year which makes him more valuable as a trade chip than a buyout candidate.

Bigs

Robin Lopez - Would offer leadership, experience, and defence. But he has a checkered history with the Raptors and would have to get used to playing a much lesser role than he has been.

Enes Kanter - Scorer and rebounder, but limited utility based on matchup issues, attitude problems, and the fact that he was already pissed at the Knicks for barely using him (which is exactly what the Raptors would do)

Marcin Gortat - Would have to accept a limited role like Lopez and Kanter. Would provide toughness and decent contributions, but he also has a history with the team (though it was with Valanciunas)

Zach Randolph - Hasn't played since March of last year and not exactly a center. His biggest upside is as a fun story to put with Gasol.

Frank Kaminsky - Stretch 5 who's hit 35% from deep (not great, but OK for a big). It's also all he really has going for him. The fact that he's fallen out of the Hornets rotation almost entirely is a big red flag about his usefulness.

Channing Frye - Probably can't contribute

Dewayne Dedmon - Probably won't be bought out because of a contract quirk, and again he's a Hawk and they're not looking to buy people out.

DeAndre Jordan - the Kincks don't intend to buy him out

It's not a super encouraging list, but the reality of the buyout market is that most of the guys you'd pick up are misfit toys.
 

stickty111

Registered User
Jan 23, 2017
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The cliff-notes version of Murphy's buyout options exploration (it appears his list of subjects to explore is half based on twitter suggestions, half on his own considerations)

Guards
Milos Teodosic - Doesn't do anything but catch-and-shoot 3s and sweet passes, but that's what the Raptors need.

Shelvin Mack - Low-ceiling option average at shooting from deep, can run the offence, was a Raptor Killer at one point, but is almost dead last in +/-

Jeremy Lin - Hawks don't intend to buy him (or anyone) out apparently.

Jamal Crawford - Brings experience and looks the part of a microwave bench guy, but is no longer an efficient scorer and is 38.

Wings
Wes Matthews - Ideal candidate, but intends to sign in Indiana.

Wayne Ellington - Murphy's ideal candidate and the 2nd best option behind Matthews because he lacks D. But Woj says he's headed to Detroit.

Troy Daniels - Off-brand Ellington. Good shooter (40% from 3) but that's all he has.

Vince Carter - It seems that he isn't hung up on chasing a ring and prefers a situation on a young team as a mentor rather than sitting on a bench as a niche player.

Nik Stauskas - Everyone wants him because he's Canadian, but he's a low-% shooter for a guy who would be a pure specialist (35%). He'd be the depthiest of depth options if he was a target.

Ben McLemore - High profile guy with pedigree as a top-shelf draft pick, but he's a 35% shooter as well and doens't do much else of note and has continuously struggled to find minutes elsewhere in the league.

JR Smith - Cavs don't intend to buy him out. (on a personal level, all I have to do is watch Lebron incredulously stare at him as he pissed away that game in the finals to know why I wouldn't wand him if he were bought out.)

Forwards

Markieff Morris - One of the best players available, history with Kyle Lowry, but he's had some neck issues that muddy his timeline. Tough and a viable PF/small C, but there are questions about his temper.

Carmelo Anthony - Broken shell of his former self who hasn't adapted to the changing reality of his ability to contribute to a team. Doesn't fit with what the Raptors need.

Michael Beasley - a bench scorer, has championship experience, and is apparently a good teammate now in spite of his rep for being a disengaged, disinterested floater when he was younger. But his skillset is limited. Murphy wants him. (I'm not convinced)

Chandler Parsons - Was a great player years ago, but injuries have curtailed his effectiveness to the point that he's barely played the last few seasons. Nobody knows what he could possibly bring to the table and if he would need some G-League time to get his game legs back)

Jeff Green - Having a good year, but no indication the Wizards would buy him out

Lance Thomas - Has a non-guaranteed deal for next year which makes him more valuable as a trade chip than a buyout candidate.

Bigs

Robin Lopez - Would offer leadership, experience, and defence. But he has a checkered history with the Raptors and would have to get used to playing a much lesser role than he has been.

Enes Kanter - Scorer and rebounder, but limited utility based on matchup issues, attitude problems, and the fact that he was already pissed at the Knicks for barely using him (which is exactly what the Raptors would do)

Marcin Gortat - Would have to accept a limited role like Lopez and Kanter. Would provide toughness and decent contributions, but he also has a history with the team (though it was with Valanciunas)

Zach Randolph - Hasn't played since March of last year and not exactly a center. His biggest upside is as a fun story to put with Gasol.

Frank Kaminsky - Stretch 5 who's hit 35% from deep (not great, but OK for a big). It's also all he really has going for him. The fact that he's fallen out of the Hornets rotation almost entirely is a big red flag about his usefulness.

Channing Frye - Probably can't contribute

Dewayne Dedmon - Probably won't be bought out because of a contract quirk, and again he's a Hawk and they're not looking to buy people out.

DeAndre Jordan - the Kincks don't intend to buy him out

It's not a super encouraging list, but the reality of the buyout market is that most of the guys you'd pick up are misfit toys.
Great work
From the list, I prefer Lin, and Teodosic from the guards. Daniels and Carter from the wings as Ellington is not available. Morris and Green from the forwards. Dedmon from the bigs.
 

Suntouchable13

Registered User
Dec 20, 2003
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Toronto, ON
I still sense a lack of respect for the Raps. They are 40-16, but they had to do this with a mishmash of lineups. It hasn't been smooth sailing at all and yet they still sit with an excellent win-loss record. They still get brushed off to the side. This is a team to be reckoned with in the playoffs.
 

Mitchy

#HFOutcasts
Jul 12, 2012
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Hopefully, we'll cut to the basket a lot more with Gasol. IIRC, we're one of the worst teams in the league in terms of cutting.

Siakam, OG and Norm could be big beneficiaries.

Also, Gasol will allow us to play 5 out if the matchup dictates it (Milwaukee).
 

theaub

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Nov 21, 2008
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Toronto
Teodosic is everything I want from an entertainment factor but he can't defend a paper bag so I'm not sure I want him in a playoff rotation.
 

Glenn Isildur Healy

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Teodosic is everything I want from an entertainment factor but he can't defend a paper bag so I'm not sure I want him in a playoff rotation.

If we sign Teodosic, he wouldn't be in a playoff rotation. At most, he'll get small doses of minutes here and there
As our 3rd PG, he's useful in the regular season giving Lowry some rest, letting FVV play more off ball off the bench and giving other teams a different look

In the playoffs, you're looking at a 8-10 man rotation so he won't fit

Lowry/FVV
Green/Powell
Leonard/OG
Siakam/(Morris??)
Gasol/Ibaka
 

IceColdBear

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Apr 5, 2016
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If we sign Teodosic, he wouldn't be in a playoff rotation. At most, he'll get small doses of minutes here and there
As our 3rd PG, he's useful in the regular season giving Lowry some rest, letting FVV play more off ball off the bench and giving other teams a different look

In the playoffs, you're looking at a 8-10 man rotation so he won't fit

Lowry/FVV
Green/Powell
Leonard/OG
Siakam/(Morris??)
Gasol/Ibaka

We've played a lot of 2 PG lineups in the past, Delon Wright averaged over 20 minutes a game in the playoffs last year - a 3rd PG could be in the rotation in the playofffs.
 

topched

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Toronto, Ontario
We've played a lot of 2 PG lineups in the past, Delon Wright averaged over 20 minutes a game in the playoffs last year - a 3rd PG could be in the rotation in the playofffs.
Nurse isn’t Casey. He’ll adjust his sets and rotations to his personnel.

Just like he didn’t start Ibaka at the 4 this year with JV, he likely won’t stert Gasol and Ibaka because he “has” to, and his lineup will flex based on the matchup. With no Delon, we won’t see many, if any 2PG lineups that aren’t Fred and Kyle.

That said, still need a 3rd PG. They will get some playoff PT, and we also need to rest Kyle down the stretch.
 
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