Is Toronto in the Top or Bottom half of the League in terms of attractiveness to a Free Agent?

[mcHAPPY]

Winning helps, but I think we need to get a player that just attracts media. When VC was here, we started off terrible, but we still got some games because he was a walking highlight reel.

That would be ideal but finding a player like that is like catching lightning in a bottle.

[Mediumcore]

Depends on who you're asking. Is Toronto a top 5 or even a top 10 destination to a top teir player? probably not when there are warmer climates, better endorsements and bigger cities they can have their choice of.

Is Toronto a top destination for everyone else that just wants to get paid and doesn't have the options a top teir player does.

I would rank in no particular order, the following teams to be more attractive than Toronto to players because of a combination of weather and city itself:

Lakers
Clippers
Golden State
Phoenix
New York
Chicago
Miami
Orlando
Dallas
Houston

[Kuh]

It just seems agents and whatnot love to play the taxes card and it kind of scares them away. the weather obviously isn't as nice as a lot of the key cities, but it's really not that much worse than say boston or NY. plus it's easily one of the safest cities.

From the player's personal point of view, quality of life and quality of the club they are joining probably matter much more than the money: they probably have enough money that a little here or there for taxes is secondary.

From the agent's point of view, money is number one. They don't have to live in the city or play on that time.

[JordanMariam14]

I can't see Wiggins and DeRozan fitting together.. But Ross and Wiggins would fit beautifully

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[raptors999]

Toronto is the fourth largest city in NA and third largest market in the NBA after NY,LA. If the Raptors clean up the management and become perpetual #1 or #2 seed, they are a very desirable location.Also, being Canada's only NBA team, national endorsements are available. Miami, SA and Dallas are small markets and second tier in their own States. It took a Babcock and Coangelo to destroy the NBA in Toronto.

[mountio]

Good poll. I think most people got it right .. middle of the pack. Will never touch the marquee franchises (LAL, NYK, BOS, CHI), trails the good teams / locations (LAC, GSW, DAL, SAS, OKC, BRK) and the low state taxers (HOU, DAL, MIA) (who happen to be pretty good teams too) ... after that, we are right in the mix. Clearly ahead of the doormats (MIL, CHA, PHI, MIN), and the nowheresvilles (IND, DET, UTAH, DEN) in line with teams like WAS, POR, ORL (not now maybe), ATL, etc

[Jamshid]

Start wining and things will change.

[Scraptor]

I think we can all agree that Toronto should be a much more attractive destination than it is currently perceived by outsiders, and we've moved up from a bottom 3 destination, but we still have a lot of work to do. Based on weather, taxes, size, ownership/FO, history of winning, and current situation, I'd guess the tiers look something like this:

Worst
Milwaukee
Minnesota
Cleveland
Utah

Below Average
Detroit
New Orleans
Toronto
Denver
Washington
Charlotte

Average
Atlanta
San Antonio
Philadelphia
Portland
Memphis
Orlando
OKC
Indiana
Sacramento

Above average
Boston
Chicago
LA Clippers
Houston
Dallas
Golden State
Phoenix
Brooklyn

Best
LA Lakers
New York
Miami

I'd say that there are a number of teams that have moved up or down in the last decade. The Clippers used to be a wasteland despite being in LA. Charlotte would be the same but things look positive for the first time in a long time.

I think if we become a contender we could move into the above average category, but we'll never be one of the best markets just because of geography, weather, climate, and taxes.

[GoldenBaller]

I think Toronto is attractive to many International players because every other country hates America.

[Heatdreamer]

Not every country hates America, a great many people in each country like or dislike the USA. Life is not as black and white as you have presented.

[JordanSmith]

Teams currently worse off:

1. Sixers
2. Kings
3. Cleveland
4. Milwaukee
5. Detroit
6. Pelicans
7. Charlotte
8. Utah
9. Minnesota
10. Orlando
11. Denver
Tied with : Washington, Lakers

Even though the Sixers, Kings, Pelicans, and Orlando aren't very good, I think a lot of people wouldn't mind living there due to location.

Lakers will always be top 5 because they're the Lakers.

Atlanta would be there because they don't have the best fans and Atlanta's not the best area.

[Nilanka]

I'd just like to point out that Miami wasn't much of a free agent destination prior to Superfriends. Their draw is almost solely due to their current roster.

[Letter N]

I think Toronto is attractive to many International players because every other country hates America.

They hate it but they all want to live there.

[ceez]

I'd just like to point out that Miami wasn't much of a free agent destination prior to Superfriends. Their draw is almost solely due to their current roster.

and the beach

and the women on the beach

[ceez]

if you think that isn't a draw you've never been to miami beach as a young millionaire