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OT: The Official Toronto Raptors Thread

Yeah, we're a fucking problem kids. Some major question marks, but with any good fortunate at all, a fucking problem

- Is playoff Scottie the real Scottie? This is where I'm the most bullish, he's just turned 25. He's likely not quite in his prime yet, and it's coming just in time.

- Can we keep Kawhi healthy? Yeah, I think so. We've done it once before and his major issues as a Clipper mostly came down to him being overused. I don't think we're going to fall into that trap.

- Is Jake's back cooked? This I'm less bullish on. What little I've heard/seen over the off season sure doesn't seem to suggest that he's 100% and ready to be full Jake.

- Are the kids ready to be real role players? Super bullish on CMB and Ja'Kobe being high level role players this year. Graves I'm not so sure on, but this D+Intangibles weirdo players we seem to love are guys that I need to see in the league a bunch first. Most of the rest I don't love, but they're NBA bodies now for the most part. Also, I think we'll be active at the deadline for the first time in a long time if we're healthy and in the mix at the top of the conference. We're not going to be in the business of burning Kawhi years being patient.
 
I've seen lots of CMB and Jakobe propaganda during the summer. They're both in the best shape of their lives and made significant improvements, which is something no one has ever said in the history of offseasons. One of them taking a major step forward + Scottie taking another step = can & will?
 
CMB is a beast period.

Jakobe i'm a little iffier on but if his shot stays money like it was the last few months he's a really good 3+D already, which is a great thing to complement RJ with.

I'm pretty sure Graves has already shown us he's legit and will be a contributor this year.

and I doubt Jak is totally cooked. probably in the best shape of his life tbh.
 
Preston said:
I've seen lots of CMB and Jakobe propaganda during the summer. They're both in the best shape of their lives and made significant improvements, which is something no one has ever said in the history of offseasons. One of them taking a major step forward + Scottie taking another step = can & will?
Click to expand...

Thing is, with both is that they were both much better in the 2nd half than in the 1st half of the season. So just that + a bit of improvement from a good professional off season means that both are either starter level or high level top of the bench type guys this season anyway.

I think we're stealth contenders who are the right deadline move away from

iu
 
MindzEye said:
Thing is, with both is that they were both much better in the 2nd half than in the 1st half of the season. So just that + a bit of improvement from a good professional off season means that both are either starter level or high level top of the bench type guys this season anyway.

I think we're stealth contenders who are the right deadline move away from

iu
Click to expand...
Is the roster upgrade opportunity basically just dealing RJ+Jak? I assume they can't realistically do anything else?
 
Did we have the pieces to have pulled off a Giannis trade post-Kawhi trade if he hadn't been dealt yet?

I mean, without gutting the team of Scottie for one.
 
Preston said:
Is the roster upgrade opportunity basically just dealing RJ+Jak? I assume they can't realistically do anything else?
Click to expand...

Those are the two easy levers, yeah. Though turning IQ into a higher end lead guard is a possible and more expensive situation that we should be open to.
 
Gavin McKenna, super healthy "best shape of his life" Auston Matthews, Kawhi Leonard and Jays in playoffs. Gonna be a fun start to the fall.
 
Whenever I watch IQ I feel like he's a day away from breaking out. He's so close to being real gud, but just can't put it together. But he scores well analytically anyway. RJ is the guy you try to upgrade on at this stage, rather than selling low on IQ. That's a player that has nothing more to give. I won't comment on Jak cuz heads explode whenever he's mentioned.

For tsn, this is basketball analyst, Preston Mizzi.
 
Feels like IQ is always a day away from breaking. He was mostly healthy last year, but not super durable, and I am not a fan of injury prone guys in any sport.

I almost forgot, he didn't even play in the playoffs. I'm definitely listening to any trade suggestions to upgrade there.
 
Looking at the online chatter now that the trade is completed, I'm surprised but not surprised at the amount of people who think we're badly overpaying here. We didn't pay much at all compared to other trades for similar veteran impact players over the last few years:

Kawhi to Toronto: 35 yrs old - 8.0 BPM before the trade - Ingram, Dick, 2 1sts,

Kevin Durant to Phoenix: 34 yrs old - 7.0 BPM before the trade - Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, 4 1sts'
1 yr younger than Kawhi with worse durability over the previous couple of season, but similar impact in the season prior to the trade. KD was still very much a Batman level scorer who had some tread left on his tires. But that package man, that's multiples of what we gave up in value.

Kevin Durant to Houston: 37 yrs old - 3.2 BPM before the trade - Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, 10th overall, 5 2nd rounders
2 yrs older than Kawhi, slightly more durable over the few seasons prior but a clear, clear step down in quality. From a Batman to a good Robin offensively. This is much closer to what we gave up in value. Arguably pretty even, with Brooks and the 10th being enough to even prefer this.

Dame to Minnesota: 33 yrs old - 7.1 BPM before the trade - Jrue, Ayton, Camara, 1st, 2 swaps
2 yrs younger, but a small guard with similar durability concerns. Looked like an elite Batman nearing the end of his time as Bruce Wayne at the time. Jrue is a much better player than anything we gave up but I could see someone preferring our package to this. I'd disagree because I love Jrue, but sure.

Giannis to Miami: 32 yrs old - 9.5 BPM before the trade - Herro, Ware, JJJ, Jakucionis, 3 1sts + other draft stuff
3 yrs younger than Kawhi at the time of the trade, with similar durability concerns. Elite player who will probably remain elite or close for near term future, but the package given up was much higher than what we paid. Herro is the Ingram in this trade, but he's a much better version of what Ingram is supposed to be as a scorer. Ware-JJJ-Jak are all 3 better to much much better young players than Gravy. 3 1sts > 2 1sts. Now, Giannis is better and younger than Kawhi so all of that makes sense, but I don't think he's as much better than Kawhi as his trade package is than Kawhi's.
 
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