CNNSI Grades the same as ESPN C- for Raps

[planetmars]

Just going off that list, I would think that Toronto and Cleveland would be the top 2 destinations, given the opportunity and direction the teams are headed. Personally I'd give the nod to Toronto, but who knows what his thought process is. A lineup with Gay & Lowry, along with youngsters like Valanciunas, Ross & possibly DeRozan, is the start of a very good, young, talented team.

Is Tristan Thompson a center or PF, and the way he's playing lately I can't see them putting him on the bench. Toronto (if they trade Bargnani) will need a PF and could guarantee Millsap starting minutes.

Other teams that could use a starting caliber PF include Sacramento, Phoenix, Boston, Brooklyn, and the Lakers (if they trade Gasol).

Not every team has cap space but they could engineer trades to get some or do sign and trades. Hopefully Millsap is on Bryan's radar. There have been zero rumours out there that the Raptors are even interested in him.

[planetmars]

A PF that would be awesome with Gay in the line up would be Kevin Love. Not a defensive power house, but is probably the best stretch four in the game. He's overrated but he's also unhappy in Minnesota. Could buy low. Minny needs a SG and had interest in DeMar at one point.

Would DeMar + Andrea get it done?

[Matt52]

Barring major trades, these are the teams that could be in position to sign Millsap straight-up and give him the starting spot.

Charlotte: $8.4 Cap room, expiring deals Diop $7.3M
Cleveland: $10.2 Cap room, expiring Luke Walton $6M, Daniel gibson $4.8M, Casspi $2.7M
Detroit: -$9.7M, expiring Magette and Calderon $10M each, Maxiel $5M
Milwaukee -$4.5M, expiring Udrih $7.3M, Dalembert $7M, Dunleavy $3.75M
Philly - -$6M, expiring Bynum $16M, Nick Young $5.6M, Wright $4M
Dallas: -$2.6M, expiring Kaman $8M, D. Jones $2.9M, Collison $2.3M, Beaubois $2.2M, D. Jones $1.3M (not a typo, they have 2 D. Jones)

All of these teams could hand the starting PF to Millsap from day 1 except Dallas. But Dallas does have the Cuban Effect. If you were a player, would you rather play for an owner who'd do anything to win no matter the cost or a more traditional win within these constraints? Don't count out Dallas just because Dirk is the starter.

Another potential option
Indiana: Sign and trade - Granger for Millsap, letting David West walk in free agency

In terms of desirability, I'd put the Raps ahead of Charlotte, Detroit and Milwaukee. I'd say Philly is highly unlikely and Cleveland and Dallas as slightly more attractive options for Millsap.

Bottom line, even with the landscape changing between now and the off-season, the Raps will have their work cut out for them.

Disagree on Cleveland more desirable. They have TT. Doubt they give him big money.

Detroit is going to be starting Drummond and Monroe.

Charlotte is a real possibility.

Milwaukee has a load of PF's, don't see it.

Philly, no.

Dallas has Dirk. Millsap said starting PF.


Don't forget Houston. Since it appears both West and Indy want to continue the partnership, Millsap to Houston makes a lot of sense.

[Matt52]

A PF that would be awesome with Gay in the line up would be Kevin Love. Not a defensive power house, but is probably the best stretch four in the game. He's overrated but he's also unhappy in Minnesota. Could buy low. Minny needs a SG and had interest in DeMar at one point.

Would DeMar + Andrea get it done?

Definitely not.

[planetmars]

Definitely not.

Definitely not in that Love is not a good fit.. or that Khan would laugh in Bryan's face, slam the phone and then send a mass email to all the other GM's describing the ridiculous offer he got from him.

[Matt52]

Definitely not in that Love is not a good fit.. or that Khan would laugh in Bryan's face, slam the phone and then send a mass email to all the other GM's describing the ridiculous offer he got from him.

The latter.... lol

[psrs1]

when is peitrus getting waved

Good point.

[psrs1]

A PF that would be awesome with Gay in the line up would be Kevin Love. Not a defensive power house, but is probably the best stretch four in the game. He's overrated but he's also unhappy in Minnesota. Could buy low. Minny needs a SG and had interest in DeMar at one point.

Would DeMar + Andrea get it done?

Or how About Derrick Williams + bad contract for ab?

[Matt52]

Or how About Derrick Williams + bad contract for ab?

Roy is going to be a medical retirement. That would be interesting. Unfortunately, especially with Pekovic's looming big pay day, I don't see the Wolves wanting to spend $11M per on Bargnani.

[CalgaryRapsFan]

Roy is going to be a medical retirement. That would be interesting. Unfortunately, especially with Pekovic's looming big pay day, I don't see the Wolves wanting to spend $11M per on Bargnani.

That's why I was wondering about a Bargnani for Williams & Ridnour trade. Both Bargnani & Williams are high lottery picks that have worn out their welcome and desperately need a change of scenery. Ridnour is Minny's 4th PG (Rubio, Shved, Barea). Toronto could also include Anderson, to replace Roy at SG (which is where they've been playing their PG depth).

Salary (12-13 / 13-14 / 14-15):

Bargnani: $10.00M / $10.75M / $11.50M (Early Termination Option)
Anderson: $0.85M / - / -

Williams: $4.81M / $5.02M / $6.33M (Team Option) / $8.26M (Qualifying Offer for '15-16)
Ridnour: $4.00M / $4.32M / -

2013-14: Minnesota would only add $1.41M to their payroll
2014-15: Minnesota would add either $5.17M or $11.50M (depending on William's Team Option), though Bargnani would be an expiring contract


Trade Machine: http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=a5bp8zu

Toronto could even include a 2nd round pick, if need be.

[Matt52]

That's why I was wondering about a Bargnani for Williams & Ridnour trade. Both Bargnani & Williams are high lottery picks that have worn out their welcome and desperately need a change of scenery. Ridnour is Minny's 4th PG (Rubio, Shved, Barea). Toronto could also include Anderson, to replace Roy at SG (which is where they've been playing their PG depth).

Salary (12-13 / 13-14 / 14-15):

Bargnani: $10.00M / $10.75M / $11.50M (Early Termination Option)
Anderson: $0.85M / - / -

Williams: $4.81M / $5.02M / $6.33M (Team Option) / $8.26M (Qualifying Offer for '15-16)
Ridnour: $4.00M / $4.32M / -

2013-14: Minnesota would only add $1.41M to their payroll
2014-15: Minnesota would add either $5.17M or $11.50M (depending on William's Team Option), though Bargnani would be an expiring contract


Trade Machine: http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=a5bp8zu

Toronto could even include a 2nd round pick, if need be.

I don't see it making any sense for Minnesota not because I think very little of Bargnani but the composition and needs of the roster.

DeMar would be a better trade asset with Minnesota than Bargnani, imo.

Also, I wonder with the wheels falling off in LA - again - if the Wolves are still interested in Gasol. If the Lakers really want to move Gasol, they are going to do it on the cheap.

[CalgaryRapsFan]

I don't see it making any sense for Minnesota not because I think very little of Bargnani but the composition and needs of the roster.

DeMar would be a better trade asset with Minnesota than Bargnani, imo.

Also, I wonder with the wheels falling off in LA - again - if the Wolves are still interested in Gasol. If the Lakers really want to move Gasol, they are going to do it on the cheap.

True. I guess my thinking is that those 2 players aren't worth DeRozan.

From what I've heard, Minny hasn't been able to find takers for Williams any more than Toronto has found takers for Bargnani. I read an article someplace today (CNNSI I think) that Minnesota asked Orlando about Reddick and Orlando asked for Williams and a 1st round pick in return - just a tidbit speaking to the minimal value it would seem teams have placed on Williams, given his struggles to get playing time as a tweener.

From the Calderon trade, all we heard is how saturated the PG market is, so I can't see Minny having many takers for Ridnour either.

Given that the situation with Love is tenuous and that their only backup PFs are Cunningham and Amundson (expiring), I thought they might like an 'upgrade' at the backup PF spot. I thought a 2nd round pick (or even 2 2nd round picks) could be enough sweetener to get Minnesota to bite.

---

I agree that a 3-way trade with Lakers & Minnesota could be another option to land at least Ridnour, if not both of them (considering LA has seemed disinterested in Williams).

[Shohtime]

The move in isolation warrants a C- based on the cap situation. But if we somehow find ways to trade/dump/amnesty Bargnani, Kleiza, DeRozan and/or Fields, the picture looks a lot brighter.

I'm excited about a core of Lowry, Gay, Jonas and Ross (and maybe even Amir).

A Lowry/Gay pairing might be enticing enough to attract a 3rd banana this summer....Millsap perhaps???

Pretty much totally agree here. More movement coming. The core of Lowry, Gay, Jonas and Ross is young, athletic, fast, fun to watch and can likely play better D than we have seen in Toronto. Ever.

People aren't talking about how we just traded two of our weaker defenders for an All star. I love Jose for all he brought, but at the end of the day he was a pylon on D. Davis was aweful on D as well. Yes he would get rebounds because of his quick leaping but that is it. It wasn't from boxing anyone out. Also both were at a premium for trade value that might have dropped with another Jose injury. Both performed against the weakest portion of the sched and both underperform against top caliber teams.

You have to believe that Derozan and Bargs are on the way out. BC has got to be looking at picks to keep the salaries down. Ross reminds me of a young MJ finding his way in college. Yes I actually said this. He just needs to find some con. 2 years from now he will be sick. First player I actually want to buy a Raps jersey of since VC - when he wasn't ultra soft.

[footarez]

Pretty much totally agree here. More movement coming. The core of Lowry, Gay, Jonas and Ross is young, athletic, fast, fun to watch and can likely play better D than we have seen in Toronto. Ever.

First player I actually want to buy a Raps jersey of since VC - when he wasn't ultra soft.

The bright side is that they can also be very effective on offense. So it doesn't look like we are building one dimensional team.
The bolded made me laugh half ironically half crying.

[raptors98]

Ok aside from taking on bad deals packaged with picks...cap space for Toronto is close to useless. The biggest free agent we have ever signed is like Hedo Turkoglu - although he is overpaid we could never sign some one of gay's caliber in free agency

[raptors98]

Also, is this the leagues most athletic starting 5.
If we play smallball
Lowry
Ross
Demar
Gay
Amir
is off the chars-3 dunk contest guys and a pg who can dunk easily