Have we entered an alternate universe? Are the Raptors buyers?

[enlightenment]

Bargnani + Anderson for Gasol is the only trade I would entertain.

[chrischris]

I just noticed Haddadi's 1.3mill current contract has a team option next year. Now that's great filler if needed.

[white men can't jump]

Bargnani + Anderson for Gasol is the only trade I would entertain.

I don't think that will get it done. In the end I think a multi-team deal might be necessary for LA to get what they want out of the deal....because LA won't deal unless they get what they want.

The only team I can picture putting an offer straight up and LA considers it is Minnesota, but it would cost them all their SFs.....Kirilenko + Williams + Budinger....LA might do that, and so might Minnesota given their season is pretty much done, but then Minnesota is basically paper thin at the wing positions.

[charlesnba23]

Why make a move this year? Chances are we don't make the playoffs so why rush it?
Wouldn't Bargs be more attractive next year with only that year plus 1 more left on his contract?

Yeah well I sorta agree with you but I was kinda shy to tell it... I think, right now, we should wait until the summer to trade Bargs.

Let's make him the backup power forward, playing 20 to 30 minutes. In the summer let's see.

[chrischris]

You never want to bet on a player making another player better...but I want to see if Gay has any impact on Bargs. Gay clearly has the swagger to improve his teammates. He's also not afraid to tell his teammates how it is. I heard he told Amir he should be playing like last night every night. Does Bargs have the humility to play with the 8th drafted player in his draft that's clearly better then he is 6 years later?

[octothorp]

I just noticed Haddadi's 1.3mill current contract has a team option next year. Now that's great filler if needed.

I just tossed Haddadi into ESPN's trade machine and it says a player we acquire in a trade cannot be traded in combination with other players for two months (but can be traded by himself).

By my count, there's three possible frameworks for Gasol, limiting it to two teams:
Bargnani + Gray + Lucas + Anderson
Bargnani + Kleiza + Anderson
Bargnani + Fields

We lose a lot of depth in the first trade, but I'd probably go for it. But it relies on Anderson consenting and waiving his bird rights. If Anderson refuses, then the trade is pretty-much impossible. Gray + Lucas + Acy isn't enough salary. The second scenario also involves Anderson, but here, if he refuses, you could swap in Acy and the numbers would work. But I don't think LA, with their tenuous salary situation, take on Kleiza. Realistically, I don't think LA would go for any of these.
The third is the most interesting, because Fields is actually a pretty decent asset (and the one that I would least want to trade. I really like Fields' game). But it doesn't give LA much cap relief. They may find the first scenario preferable because it allows them to clear a decent amount of cap space.

[Craiger]

Very interesting.

What do you think, should the Raptors trade for Gasol if the opportunity arises?

a week ago I probably would have said no. But since the Rudy Gay trade has more or less blocked (or speed bumped anyways) the direction I would have preferred to see this team go, it makes more sense now.

Ofcourse this doesn't come without alot of questions about how it would even get done. Between needing to make the trade work (ie. within NBA salary cap rules), Toronto would almost definetely need to be willing to pay tax next year aswell.

This deal made a lot more contractual sense when it was Bargs + Calderon for Pau. Now its a lot tougher.

[Matt52]

I just do not think that is at all possible. The players you'd be offering the Lakers would be Bargnani, Fields, Anderson, Kleiza, or/and John Lucas. I do not think the Lakers would want any of those guys. They want a legitimate piece to move forward with, and not inconsistent bench guys. If we want Gasol, we need to split with someone like Amir or Ross (with Bargnani and another bench guy like Anderson). It is just not worth it, to me.

With the trade assets we have, Colangelo would have to do something pretty spectacular to get a guy like Gasol on the team. I think we see many smaller deals made to just improve the overall roster (Backup PG/PF/C)

EDIT: The only way it could happen would be with something like another three team deal. While I think Atlanta could be good for that third team, I just do not trust BC to pull it off.

You know, if you had said last summer that the Raptors would get Gay for Calderon, ED, and a 2nd rd pick (likely around 40-44), I would have told you to put down the pipe. But it happened because basketball and non-basketball circumstances allowed it.

It is most likely delusional on my part but it would be incredible if Colangelo can buy on the cheap in two transactions in a row.

[white men can't jump]

a week ago I probably would have said no. But since the Rudy Gay trade has more or less blocked (or speed bumped anyways) the direction I would have preferred to see this team go, it makes more sense now.

Ofcourse this doesn't come without alot of questions about how it would even get done. Between needing to make the trade work (ie. within NBA salary cap rules), Toronto would almost definetely need to be willing to pay tax next year aswell.

This deal made a lot more contractual sense when it was Bargs + Calderon for Pau. Now its a lot tougher.

But that never made bball sense for LA. While I still think Bargs is a good fit for LA with Dwight there and the D'antoni system, Jose has no business being on a team with Steve Nash that already has 2 backup quality PGs in Duhon and Blake, and another young prospect there.....LA will want to get faster at the PF position, at the very least, and I'm guessing add at least one wing who's at least a quality role player. I still see Bargs, and Josh Smith, as their 2 biggest and most likely targets, and that even getting both might be their goal.

[Matt52]

a week ago I probably would have said no. But since the Rudy Gay trade has more or less blocked (or speed bumped anyways) the direction I would have preferred to see this team go, it makes more sense now.

Ofcourse this doesn't come without alot of questions about how it would even get done. Between needing to make the trade work (ie. within NBA salary cap rules), Toronto would almost definetely need to be willing to pay tax next year aswell.

This deal made a lot more contractual sense when it was Bargs + Calderon for Pau. Now its a lot tougher.

Definitely agree. No way the Raps can do it without a third team unless LAL is absolutely desperate and the only team willing to take Gasol is Toronto.

Now though it makes much more sense from a competitive-basketball sense..... and it is the first time we can speculate on any trade from that perspective in a long, long time.

[BasketballCrush]

I think it was a salary dump, they would of made the trade all along, just wanted to see how much they could get from us. Bryan played it cool and got a favorable deal for us. Some rare luck in Raptor land.

[Matt52]

I just noticed Haddadi's 1.3mill current contract has a team option next year. Now that's great filler if needed.

He can only be traded on his own until the Raptors season is over. He can't be packaged with other contracts/players.

[Craiger]

But that never made bball sense for LA. While I still think Bargs is a good fit for LA with Dwight there and the D'antoni system, Jose has no business being on a team with Steve Nash that already has 2 backup quality PGs in Duhon and Blake, and another young prospect there.....LA will want to get faster at the PF position, at the very least, and I'm guessing add at least one wing who's at least a quality role player. I still see Bargs, and Josh Smith, as their 2 biggest and most likely targets, and that even getting both might be their goal.

Jose would have been to make contracts work + be an expiring contract for next season (ease LA's financial burden). Calderon in LA was not for the long term. (I also don't agree that Blake or Duhon are quality PGs, and either way Jose would have been much better insurance than either of them)

[Buschfire]

I know everyone here is hoping to get rid of Bargnani, don't worry I'm in the same camp...

WHAT IF he came back and plays unreal? He actually avg 20 n 8 efficiently scoring, rebounding, help defending, hustling, showing more emotion, driving hard and seems to finally get that light bulb above his head to stay on permanently. Would you sell high? or keep him? Personally I would still trade him once his market value climbs back up, just for all the pain he caused me since that horrible day he was drafted.

[Craiger]

I know everyone here is hoping to get rid of Bargnani, don't worry I'm in the same camp...

WHAT IF he came back and plays unreal? He actually avg 20 n 8 efficiently scoring, rebounding, help defending, hustling, showing more emotion, driving hard and seems to finally get that light bulb above his head to stay on permanently. Would you sell high? or keep him? Personally I would still trade him once his market value climbs back up, just for all the pain he caused me since that horrible day he was drafted.

I'd be excited about a possible bump in trade value.

My biggest fear in a case like that is that it causes Colangelo to keep him. Even if it appears that "light bulb" went on, its going to burn out in not to long, it always does.

[white men can't jump]

Jose would have been to make contracts work + be an expiring contract for next season (ease LA's financial burden). Calderon in LA was not for the long term. (I also don't agree that Blake or Duhon are quality PGs, and either way Jose would have been much better insurance than either of them)

But LA doesn't care about financial burden....not even the slightest. They'd still have to pay tax for his salary, even expiring, if I'm not mistaken, and it would not really help them this year. Getting Jose would simply evaporate 10 million off their books next year without being able to turn it into another player.

[enlightenment]

I know everyone here is hoping to get rid of Bargnani, don't worry I'm in the same camp...

WHAT IF he came back and plays unreal? He actually avg 20 n 8 efficiently scoring, rebounding, help defending, hustling, showing more emotion, driving hard and seems to finally get that light bulb above his head to stay on permanently. Would you sell high? or keep him? Personally I would still trade him once his market value climbs back up, just for all the pain he caused me since that horrible day he was drafted.

Sell high, preferably for a lottery pick in next years draft (Wiggins), but I havent changed my signature yet, and I still cannot feel relieved with the team until they get rid of him.

[Craiger]

But LA doesn't care about financial burden....not even the slightest. They'd still have to pay tax for his salary, even expiring, if I'm not mistaken, and it would not really help them this year. Getting Jose would simply evaporate 10 million off their books next year without being able to turn it into another player.

LA didn't care about financial burden. Now with the new cap rules I wouldn't be so certain. They'll still consistently be a bigger spender than most, but not year in and year out like they use to be.

Bolded part - exactly.

[Matt52]

I'd be excited about a possible bump in trade value.

My biggest fear in a case like that is that it causes Colangelo to keep him. Even if it appears that "light bulb" went on, its going to burn out in not to long, it always does.

Seriously. It is so sad.

I still feel that Bargnani is going to blow up where ever he goes next. Likely (hopefully!) a similar Gay situation in the making.

[saints91]

I hope we don't go for Gasol... unless its for any of the following players Bargs, Fields, Klieza, Anderson, Lucas, Gray, Pietrus. I don't think it will get done. My reasoning is like most posters in this thread. We have a slim chance of making playoffs this year, so there is no rush to make this move. The core of this team is all young Gay, DeMar, Lowry, Ross, Val, Amir. Those players have to stay. I don't know why everyone is so hard on DeMar. He loves Toronto, he's a hard worker, and he is growing as a player. He's not a first option player, nor is he payed like one. He is leaps and bounds better than last year. I would like to see what he can do next year.

I would be okay with sticking with Bargnani as a sixth man. If he subs for the PF/C positions we should have a great rotation. Ross, Fields, Bargs is a nice 8 man rotation. We need a better back up PG. I think we could cash in Anderson for someone. I like Lucas, but maybe he can come in as that instant offence like Anderson does. It would be awesome to get someone like Ridnour, or Hinrich (I doubt he is available for what we are offering).