Raptors on the Rise?

[Fully]

Pro-tankers (of whom I am one) - You're saying, vs. Nosike, that no "pro-tanker" is advocating a fire sale or transactions with poor returns. You're saying that Ujiri's "we will not be a treadmill team" statements mean this team is going to tank/rebuild.

I agree.

But.

What if there are no solid offers, or offers that are a marked win for the Raps, for DD or Amir? What if the return for Lowry includes a solid established young player? What if, sans a fire sale, this team ends up finishing this season seeded somewhere between 7-10 anyway? Isn't this a highly probable outcome, considering how much stock everyone is putting in 2014 draft picks?

What then? Will your opinion change, at some point closer to the trade deadline, on the returns you'd expect for DD or Amir? If a high lottery pick is still within reach in January/February, would you fire sale then?

Right now I think a lot of us are asking to have our cake and eat it too. Not only does life not work that way, we all know being a fan of the Toronto Raptors does not work that way...

I may be wrong, but I'm more and more convinced that Ujiri's rebuild will be severe, but it will be multi-year. I don't think he's feeling the pressure of the 2014 draft. He is going to demand good return on every transaction, and that may mean moving forward with some of the current core. It may mean not having any more first round picks in 2014.

We'll see!

It's very possible. It's definitely going to be a buyers market over the winter where a handful of top teams will have their choice of players from the dozen or so teams who will be jostling for position in the tank standings. I don't see any scenario where Ujiri purposely takes the ass end of a lopsided deal just to plummet in the standings, but there very well may be a few GMs who would be willing to do so. Naturally, the contending teams will be much more inclined to deal with them as the price they'll pay is going to be much lower.

I wouldn't drop my expectations on a return for DD/Amir very far as the trade deadline gets closer, but then again I'm already expecting a lot less than most of the board is. That Amir value thread sounds like people are expecting a top ten draft pick, or a lottery pick + more to come back for him, which I think is kind of ridiculous.

[Arsenalist]

The team is definitely more watchable.

We still need to tank, in my opinion. A team built around Derozan/Johnson/(Lowry?) can't go very far, but may go far enough to miss out on a star.

By "tank" are you referring to getting a top three pick, a top 10 pick, or a lottery pick. Be specific, because this draft is deep.

Also, love the avatar - Özil!

[Rapstor4Life]

Did we really just trade Gay before an injury?

GO JEDI MASSAI Ujiri! lol

[psrs1]

Did we really just trade Gay before an injury?

GO JEDI MASSAI Ujiri! lol

I love it. What a sign of things to come.

[enlightenment]

oh man, Ujiri is a wizard. It wouldve been Bargnani all over again if Rudy got hurt and we couldnt trade him by the deadline.

[stooley]

raps still with 0 wins against >.500 teams.

wins so far:
Boston
Milwaukee
Utah
Memphis
Philadelphia
Washington
LAL* Kobes first game back, he was terrible
Philadelphia
Chicago* 2 best PGs injured

[Fully]

I guess we can cancel the parade.

[Cody73]

I don't think Vasquez, DeRozan and Jonas are enough to fulfill Lieweke and Ujiri's dreams about hosting Larry O'Brien trophies....

If the three can get us a playoff spot, we'll attract free agents to TO, a place folks usually aren't interested in considering we have sucked for years. I'm thinking about how this team could be similar to last years Denver Nuggets. A team with a strong bench that can assist the starters and hold a lead. That is what I look forward to. Also, Vasquez should take over the starting spot. He fits in better with this offense, I'd even give him some time at SG if your willing to play Demar at SF.

[Rapstor4Life]

The starting line will be and should be soon Vasquez/DeMar/Ross/Amir/JV

[OldSkoolCool]

I hope you guys aren't suggesting that Vasquez should be starting over Lowry right....

[Shrub]

I hope you guys aren't suggesting that Vasquez should be starting over Lowry right....

That is not the suggestion.

[psrs1]

If the three can get us a playoff spot, we'll attract free agents to TO, a place folks usually aren't interested in considering we have sucked for years. I'm thinking about how this team could be similar to last years Denver Nuggets. A team with a strong bench that can assist the starters and hold a lead. That is what I look forward to. Also, Vasquez should take over the starting spot. He fits in better with this offense, I'd even give him some time at SG if your willing to play Demar at SF.

He forced way too many shots last night.

[OldSkoolCool]

A good case of:

1) not having a retarded coaching scheme
2) him not being the number 1 option
3) small sample size (same as what happened to the Raps)