jimmie wrote:
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For me, one of my thoughts on acquiring Gay via trade, was that it also gives the Raptors an opportunity to unload some contracts and clear up some positional logjams at the same time. If the trade includes JJ and either Amir/Davis (regardless what else is included), it would make the cap hit more manageable and define both the PF (Bargnani, Amir/Davis) and SF (Gay, Kleiza) rotations.
If Batum is acquired via free agency, the Raptors would be left with a lot of salary being paid to 3rd string players. Of course they could find other trades to rid themselves of the salary hit, but I'm not sure how they'd do it without taking on salary in return. One obvious option would be to use JJ and Amir/Davis to move up in the draft - either from #8 or possibly from #37 - which might then make a Batum signing more advantageous than a trade for Gay.
All the Batum talk could very well be moot, as I expect Portland to match just about any offer. I'd be worried about trading away assets in the hopes of signing Batum, just to have Portland match, then being out the assets you would've used to trade for Gay.
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