I gave them a 70. Positive moves, but no real breakout. And JV was last years move :-)
Room for them to make a move at the trade deadline with Jose, if an upper tier contender loses a PG or needs insurance. But that won't be the off-season.
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I gave them a 70. Positive moves, but no real breakout. And JV was last years move :-)
Room for them to make a move at the trade deadline with Jose, if an upper tier contender loses a PG or needs insurance. But that won't be the off-season.
I say 70%. But only because I think the "tanking" of last year should have produced a higher pick, but that is not really part of the off season. So, working with what they had, I would give it 80%.
But to be clear, I hope that the Raptors never try to tank again.
I wonder if they're waiting to see how JV does first. I think making such a big move without knowing how JV will adapt and perform at the NBA level is a tad premature. Because if he over-performs (fingers crossed) maybe Toronto doesn't need to add another "big-time" player.Quote:
Apollo wrote:
Its a good point, but I still think we could use an elite-level wing player to really allow us to take that next step. However, I feel that Lowry is that player that I've read everyone say we need. I truly believe he could be an all-star PG and I'll be looking for him to have similar number to Rondo, with less assists, but more points/3's. I am that high on him. Perhaps I am hyping him a bit too much and maybe it was the system he was in last year...but I think he has better players/weapons at his disposal in Bargs, Demar and Fields/Ross. Not to mention Casey is, imo, a MUCH better coach than Mchale.Quote:
10 000 Hours wrote:
I also have an exceptionally high view of Ross. I have this feeling that, although I know I cannot justify it with any proof or examples, he's going to be something good. So between his drafting, JV being signed this year (still counts as an off-season move as he was signed this year...technicality maybe, but I'll let the Raps have it lol), Lowry and Fields, I gave them a 90. In hindsight perhaps I was too excited to be excited for the upcoming season, but screw it. Its not like my vote has any merit anyways haha
70%. I like the moves but there are A LOT of if's going into the season.
agreed I think Lowry has the ability to be an all star in this league! His defense is superb and he can distribute! needs to work on his jump shot if he wants to reach the next level but in saying that rondos jump shot is still iffy and he is one of the Best PG's in the league!Quote:
Quito wrote:
LAST SEASON
PG: Calderon, Bayless, Carter
SG: Derozan Barbosa
SF: Johnson, Klieza
PF: Bargnani, Amir, Davis
C: Gray, Magloire
COMING SEASON
PG: Lowry, Calderon, Lucas 111-IMPROVED
SG: Derozan, Ross-IMPROVED
SF: Fields, Klieza
PF: Bargnani, Amir, Davis
C: Jonas, Gray-IMPROVED
While we are more or less even in two areas, we've improved in three. It's reasonable to expect a significant improvement in PG play while although there is improvement in SG and Centre positions, it's difficult to say how much. Could be anywhere from moderate to vast. It's in these two areas that the season for the Raptors depends. How much impact Jonas and Ross have will determine where we finish. Barring future moves.
I may have missed some names but I think I got the ones that matter.
How often do you hear of significant moves at the end of July and heading in to August? Rarely and this year with the Dwight Howard soap opera is certainly not helping and likely creating a bottle neck type of effect. But outside of just after December 15th, leading in to the trade deadline, and draft night, trades are usually fairly rare any time of the year. However do trades happen in late July/early August? Absolutely. 2011 does not qualify due to lockout but BC does have a history of roster tinkering in to late July/August and other significant trades have gone down:Quote:
Apollo wrote:
August 11, 2010:
August 18, 2009:Quote:
• Indiana acquired guard Darren Collison and forward James Posey from New Orleans. Traded forward Troy Murphy to New Jersey, who traded guard Courtney Lee to Houston. Houston traded guard/forward Trevor Ariza to New Orleans.
• Toronto trades guard Marco Belinelli to New Orleans for forward Julian Wright.
http://www.nba.com/news/transactions/2010_11/
July 30, 2009:Quote:
• Milwaukee acquired guard/forward Carlos Delfino and guard Roko Ukic from Toronto for forward Amir Johnson and guard/forward Sonny Weems.
http://www.nba.com/news/transactions/2009_10/
July 28, 2009:Quote:
• Toronto traded guard/forward Devean George and cash to Golden State for guard Marco Belinelli. Signed center Rasho Nesterovic to a one-year contract.
http://www.nba.com/news/transactions/2009_10/
Quote:
• Charlotte acquired center Tyson Chandler from New Orleans for forward/center Emeka Okafor
http://www.nba.com/news/transactions/2009_10/
As for the young free agents Toronto could have gone after, it takes 2 to tango. Did any of those young free agents want to come to Toronto? Who was worth pursuing and at what cost? Batum at 4 years and nearly $50M? They did add 2 young players at PG and wing - Lowry via trade and Fields through free agency - to go along with 2 incoming rooks. Outside of Steve Nash it really is tough to know who the Raptors were interested in or inquired about (Batum was rumoured initially).
As for capping out this summer, I thought that as well but it was always with assumption/hope of acquiring a younger, top tier SF. This was probably unrealistic, wishful thinking on my part that continues. Given the Raptors do not appear to have that alpha-dog, first option, All-Star calibre player, capping out the team might not be in the best interests.
At this time, I think BC has set the team up well for that final piece. On the trade front, the team has a large expiring contract, a rookie contract, role players on reasonable contracts. The downfall is they have no 1st round pick to offer but they do have 3 second round picks over the next 2 drafts. If no trade happens before the trade deadline, they have $10M in cap space (cap/luxury tax threshold might go up as has been reported so could be more) for next summer with DD's qualifying offer plus the amnesty is still at their disposal (Amir or Kleiza most likely). If they renounce DD they have enough for a max contract and via a trade they could use their cap space and then resign DD if they wanted. Even with this flexibility, the roster is still in tact with PG, SG, PF, and C all reasonably manned over the next 2 seasons.
The timing of this flexibility with a young roster is also advantageous considering the new CBA tax rates are coming in to effect after this season and luxury tax teams being limited to mini-MLE and minimum contracts (i.e. no sign and trades).
Despite the fact the Raps have not capped themselves out, they still are a better team in my opinion (younger, deeper, better). In the end though, we've heard all about this flexibility for over a year now and nothing has come of it. I remain skeptical but it is certainly better to be positioned to acquire a major talent than to not have that ability..... and the fact the team has improved despite not capping themselves out only makes it an added bonus.
I think there are two significant milestones that need to be reached before we can say that this off season is truly over. Dwight and the Olympics. Once those are over, I can see some last minute trades being done - and Bryan possibly getting in on the action.
I'd say fields is an improvement over JJ. He'll end up being the much better playerQuote:
Eric Akshinthala wrote:
I hope you're right.Quote:
NoPropsneeded wrote:
Agreed. as much as I love JJ, I have a feeling I'll love Fields even more. Shoots better, better bball IQ, same or better defensively (minus the blocked shots)Quote:
NoPropsneeded wrote:
and his girlfriend is hotQuote:
Raptor_11 wrote:
Quote:
Apollo wrote:
NOooooooooooooooooooooooooooo..... under no circumstances was this the summer to cap out
we are finally taking the right steps...now is not the time to sign bloated contracts and spend big
...6 new pieces have come in. Lets see what gels this season...shoot for 40 - 45 wins and let the league
see us on the way up. We are not signing ANY INTERESTING free agents after a 23 win season...at least not without breaking the bank
If the Raps had gotten an established, upper tier wing I would disagree.Quote:
thead wrote:
But because they did not, I do agree with your sentiments.
It might actually be better this way, assuming that elite wing is eventually added, because it gives an opportunity to see how the other pieces fit.
^Quote:
thead wrote:
I'm of the opinion that one of our most trade-able pieces is Ed Davis, and he really hasn't shown his potential yet. If you prescribe to the "buy low, sell high" theory than you just can't ship Ed out yet. I've seen him in a number of trade suggestions as somewhat of a throw in.. A guy that puts a deal over the top. We just throw him in thinking, "Meh, Ed Davis." The problem is, I would guess that the whole league feels that way about him. I wish we could showcase him a little this year and make a team that's holding a player like, say, Igoudala, a little more interested in what we have to offer.
We will see. I think for now I would argue Fields / LK is perhaps marginally better than JJ/LK .. but I think the characterization of that position as give or take equal to last year is pretty realistic.Quote:
NoPropsneeded wrote:
Fields will still be our fifth starter (like JJ was) in terms of talent / contribution to the team. Hopefully hes able to be a better fit if he finds his shot again. If not .. I like we will find LF is eerily simlar to JJ (only he costs us 3x the price!)
2.2x the price.Quote:
mountio wrote:
I think Fields last year is better than JJ.
If Fields returns to (or fingers crossed!) exceeds his rookie year form, he is without question a much better option than JJ - even at 2.2x the price.
75%
Love Lowry, perfect addition at a good price.
Remember watching Fields in his rookie year and thinking "why do we never get finds like that, he's awesome (in an unspectacular way)".
Feel like BC did a good job of improving and adding the right guys but was, like many, hoping for a big splash. I love Iggy and think he's perfect for this team so those rumours had me excited.
Have no opinion on Ross, can't help but think Drummond was a hugely missed opportunity but really wanted Barnes. Will just have to see how Ross fits I guess.
I like that we now have 3 starter positions filled and good players in Demar/Ross/Fields (hopefully) and still have good flexibility going forward. I want to see a perennial playoff team being built and I think that's happening.