Top 10 reasons why Durant will be a Raptor next summer!

[mcHAPPY]

10) Child hood dream was to play with Toronto. The Raptors can prove #DreamsCanComeTrue.

9) The Raptors payroll is set up to pay him a max contract....and someone else in 2017.

8) Dwane Casey's contract is up. KD can pick his own coach *cough*Kevin Ollie*cough* Ollie just finalized his divorce - no wife to appease, no baggage to check!

7) He has a perimeter defender in Toronto (Carroll) who will take the tougher wing check night in and night out. Decreases wear and tear plus amount of energy expended each game on defense.

6) The Raptors have the means to pay luxury tax unlike OKC and Toronto is a major international city unlike OKC. Toronto can offer a 2 year max with player option in year 3 allowing him to opt out again and take full advantage of rising salary cap. How will OKC feel about letting him opt out to sign for more? ....again with Westbrook and Ibaka looking to be paid as well.

5) Raptors fans are the best. What other team's fans stand outside the arena for a first round playoff series? And even for AWAY games?

4) Durant could end up in OKC alone as both Westbrook and Ibaka are free agents in 2017 - and all three are max players (see #6 again).

3) The West is brutal - especially relying on rookie contract players and journey men to round out the roster. The East is an easier mountain to climb - especially with a roster of established role players, promising prospects, future draft picks, and financial flexibility.

2) Drake. Raptors have their own, better version of Chandler Parsons.



....and the number 1 reason why Kevin Durant will be a Raptor:


1) NO ONE THINKS IT WILL HAPPEN!
....well, besides a few (or one) obsessed and insane RR poster(s).
Check all the stories of Durant to Toronto and read the comments. Even posters here don't believe it. Leiweke and Ujiri aren't effing around here people. Think BIG!




BONUS REASON!

Toronto is likely only team with assets to facilitate a sign and trade.

Durant, for all intents and purposes, seems like a good guy. The Raptors are the only team vying for his services that are going to be able to offer a package of former all-star entering prime (DeRozan) and draft picks (rights to own 2016 pick possibly and 2017 picks) in a possible sign and trade. This also benefits Raptors for 2017 free agency as to be in position to offer another max contract, Raptors will likely not want the cap hit associated with 2 more first round picks. With Oklahoma in the West, no issue for Toronto about making a conference rival better.

So something like DeRozan and rights to Raps own 2016 pick and Raps own 2017 pick for Durant.

[Uncle_Si]

I'd add that stars like to be around stars and in cities with other winning teams.

Picture this:

Next year, World Series in Toronto. David Price, after resigning for the biggest contract in MLB history is set to start.

Kevin Durant wearing a David Price jersey throws out the first pitch, strike. Fans go nuts, KDs ego inflates, blue jays win, blue jays win, blue jays win.

[Snooch]

Toronto....the NEW MECCA OF SPORTS!

[LJ2]

I'd add, social media is helping remove a lot of stigma surrounding Toronto, and Canada. Many of these guys run in the same circles, so one starts tweeting photos of the good time they are having at Carabana (whatever it's called now), partying with Drake, night out at Sun Downers etc. his NBA buddies are viewing it as well.

[ceez]

love the optimism

[BS10]

I think #2 is the real X factor mannnnnnn...

[Scraptor]

7) He has a perimeter defender in Toronto (Carroll) who will take the tougher wing check night in and night out. Decreases wear and tear plus amount of energy expended each game on defense.

Are we... are we playing Carroll at the 2 now?

[golden]

10) Child hood dream was to play with Toronto. The Raptors can prove #DreamsCanComeTrue.

9) The Raptors payroll is set up to pay him a max contract....and someone else in 2017.

8) Dwane Casey's contract is up. KD can pick his own coach *cough*Kevin Ollie*cough* Ollie just finalized his divorce - no wife to appease, no baggage to check!

7) He has a perimeter defender in Toronto (Carroll) who will take the tougher wing check night in and night out. Decreases wear and tear plus amount of energy expended each game on defense.

6) The Raptors have the means to pay luxury tax unlike OKC and Toronto is a major international city unlike OKC. Toronto can offer a 2 year max with player option in year 3 allowing him to opt out again and take full advantage of rising salary cap. How will OKC feel about letting him opt out to sign for more? ....again with Westbrook and Ibaka looking to be paid as well.

5) Raptors fans are the best. What other team's fans stand outside the arena for a first round playoff series? And even for AWAY games?

4) Durant could end up in OKC alone as both Westbrook and Ibaka are free agents in 2017 - and all three are max players (see #6 again).

3) The West is brutal - especially relying on rookie contract players and journey men to round out the roster. The East is an easier mountain to climb - especially with a roster of established role players, promising prospects, future draft picks, and financial flexibility.

2) Drake. Raptors have their own, better version of Chandler Parsons.



....and the number 1 reason why Kevin Durant will be a Raptor:


1) NO ONE THINKS IT WILL HAPPEN!
....well, besides a few (or one) obsessed and insane RR poster(s).
Check all the stories of Durant to Toronto and read the comments. Even posters here don't believe it. Leiweke and Ujiri aren't effing around here people. Think BIG!

Great stuff, Matt. Are you taking requests for new threads? lol. It could be premature, but I'd love to see a "top 10 reasons why the Raptors need to draft Jamal Murray" thread. 2016 off-season could be epic.

edit: actually another great reason for KD coming here would be that JV has a monster breakout year and KD finally gets to play with a dominant big man. It's so important for JV to get to the next level, if we're looking to attract any kind of dominant perimeter player via free agency.

[mcHAPPY]

Are we... are we playing Carroll at the 2 now?

Carroll is a versatile defender. In toronto he will guard the better wing player as he did in Atlanta.

Carroll can and will guard SF and SG. Durant will easily pick up the other.

On offense Durant most definitely has skill set to play SG.

[Snooch]

Are we... are we playing Carroll at the 2 now?

We certainly could.

Carrol is a better 2 guard than a PF imo.

At least on the defensive end, on Offense KD can play whatever position he wants, so it is moot there as Carroll sill be strictly cuts and threes.

[golden]

Carroll is a versatile defender. In toronto he will guard the better wing player as he did in Atlanta.

Carroll can and will guard SF and SG. Durant will easily pick up the other.

On offense Durant most definitely has skill set to play SG.

From Hawks-Wiz playoff series....

Demarre Carroll got back on track Friday night with a huge performance. Carroll scored 25 points on 9 of 14 shooting. When Carroll can give the Hawks this kind of offensive performance, the Hawks are on another level. Carroll also crashed the boards well, grabbing 10 rebounds. And as always, Carroll played spectacular defense on almost every Wizard. He guarded Wall, Beal, Pierce, and pretty much any Wizard that had the ball. He is one the best two-way players in the NBA and other teams are starting to take notice.

http://www.sportstalkatl.com/3-stars...r-the-wizards/

[Axel]

Shooting for the moon, but with space in back to back years, KD and Ibaka would be great to pair with Carroll and JV. Landing KD would obviously make Ibaka more attainable in a recruitment sense (OKC has some tough decisions to make if KD leaves).

[mcHAPPY]

Shooting for the moon, but with space in back to back years, KD and Ibaka would be great to pair with Carroll and JV. Landing KD would obviously make Ibaka more attainable in a recruitment sense (OKC has some tough decisions to make if KD leaves).

Landing KD would obviously make ANYONE more attainable in a recruitment sense.

[S.R.]

10) Child hood dream was to play with Toronto. The Raptors can prove #DreamsCanComeTrue.

9) The Raptors payroll is set up to pay him a max contract....and someone else in 2017.

8) Dwane Casey's contract is up. KD can pick his own coach *cough*Kevin Ollie*cough* Ollie just finalized his divorce - no wife to appease, no baggage to check!

7) He has a perimeter defender in Toronto (Carroll) who will take the tougher wing check night in and night out. Decreases wear and tear plus amount of energy expended each game on defense.

6) The Raptors have the means to pay luxury tax unlike OKC and Toronto is a major international city unlike OKC. Toronto can offer a 2 year max with player option in year 3 allowing him to opt out again and take full advantage of rising salary cap. How will OKC feel about letting him opt out to sign for more? ....again with Westbrook and Ibaka looking to be paid as well.

5) Raptors fans are the best. What other team's fans stand outside the arena for a first round playoff series? And even for AWAY games?

4) Durant could end up in OKC alone as both Westbrook and Ibaka are free agents in 2017 - and all three are max players (see #6 again).

3) The West is brutal - especially relying on rookie contract players and journey men to round out the roster. The East is an easier mountain to climb - especially with a roster of established role players, promising prospects, future draft picks, and financial flexibility.

2) Drake. Raptors have their own, better version of Chandler Parsons.



....and the number 1 reason why Kevin Durant will be a Raptor:


1) NO ONE THINKS IT WILL HAPPEN!
....well, besides a few (or one) obsessed and insane RR poster(s).
Check all the stories of Durant to Toronto and read the comments. Even posters here don't believe it. Leiweke and Ujiri aren't effing around here people. Think BIG!

I'm sold! Count me in!!!

If this team signs a legit top tier FA in 2016 and another one in 2017 I will crap my pants. If DD and Casey are both retained I will quit watching basketball forever. It's do or die time, baby.

[Axel]

Landing KD would obviously make ANYONE more attainable in a recruitment sense.

True but his buddy who happens to play PF, defend at elite level and shoot from midrange (all ideal traits next to JV) is even more than the average anyone. Their relationship would give us the leg up over Griffin for example (and Ibaka would be a much better fit than Griffin).