CalgaryRapsFan wrote:
I think the other reason sleepz was arguing that trading away last year's #8 pick would have been better than the highly protected pick they did trade, was due to the uncertainty involved. Not only will the Raptors wind up losing a 1st round pick of somesort between 2013-2018, but the conditions attached to the pick also prevent BC from including future 1st round pick(s) in any potential trade.
Had the 2012 #8 pick been traded instead, BC would be able to trade the team's 2014 & 2016 1st round picks. Given what a combination of the team's most likely trade assets (ie: Davis, Calderon's expiring contract, Kleiza) and multiple draft picks (2 x 1st round picks & 4 x 2nd round picks) could possibly bring back in trade, it's a fair argument. I think the argument becomes even more significant with the extension handed out to DeRozan, now that Ross has been relegated to long-term backup.
For me, it's not only the unwillingness to trade the 2012 #8 pick for Lowry that irks me, given the DeRozan extension. There were rumors in the aftermath of the Howard trade that said the Raps might have been able to acquire Iguodala from Philly, had they been willing to include the 2012 #8 pick (along with Calderon and Davis). It would have been conceivable for the conditions on the pick included in the Lowry trade to begin in 2014 (instead of 2013), which would have theoretically allowed the Raps to acquire both Lowry AND Iguodala, essentially for Ross & Davis & Calderon & a conditional 1st round pick. How good would that lineup have looked?
Starters: Valanciunas, Bargnani, Iguodala, DeRozan, Lowry
Primary Backups: Gray, Amir, Kleiza, Anderson, Fields, Lucas
Bench: Acy, McGuire