The 2015-16 season was truly remarkable for the Raptors. The franchise set a record with 56 regular season wins and fought their way to the Eastern Conference Finals where they won two dominant games against the eventual NBA Champs. This marked the third consecutive season that the Raps have set a record for franchise wins as the team continues to establish a winning culture.
Along with the team’s success this year [and despite some ridiculously cold temperatures] Toronto’s All Star Weekend was one of the best in recent memory. The dunk competition was nuts, the 3 Point Competition featured an epic battle between the Splash Brothers; even the Skills Challenge was awesome. The Skills Challenge!!?! And of course, there was the whole Kobe thing.
The All Star Weekend, 56 win season and playoff run showcased Toronto and the Raptors as one of the premiere destinations in the NBA. The team is on the verge of becoming a legit title threat and also has the facilities, fan base and willingness to spend to the cap to at least grab the attention of the elite players in the league.
This is brand new territory for the Raptors. As a fan, it’s surreal. Players – great players – want to play in Toronto. Not even five years ago, a player in DeMar DeRozan’s position is gone. It’s not even a question. Now he’s telling media he’d rather not leave to play in his hometown for the most storied franchise in the league and instead stay here and try to win with Toronto.
Bismack Biyombo had a career defining playoff run and is set to receive big offers from multiple teams. But instead of sending out a tweet asking fans where he should go next, he tells the media he’s willing to take a pay cut to stay in Toronto. What the hell is going on? Is this a dream?
One element that can’t be over looked for the Raptors appeal is the role of our Global Ambassador. Make no mistake, the Drake association is a very real advantage when it comes to attracting free agents. Friend of the Talking Raptors podcast, James Keast recently interviewed Matt Bonner and asked him about the biggest difference between now and when he was on the team. The Red Rocket said that now, no matter where they play, every player in the league under the age of 30 marks their Raptors game on the calendar because there’s a chance Drake could see them.
This offseason the Raptors are driving into new territory and perhaps the best part of all is that the guy behind the wheel is one of the greatest GM’s in Pro Sports. Any man that can show up and unload an Andrea Bargnani contract AND secure a first round pick in the deal, is on another level.
With the stars aligning there’s more than enough reason for Raptor fans to dream big this offseason. Because we can. For the first time in 21 years we honestly can. The sky is the limit.
My dream is to sign DeRozan and Kevin Durant. In order for this to work DeMar will need to leave some money on the table which, based on his overall approach to his career thus far, doesn’t seem that unrealistic. Terrence Ross recently broke up with Amber Rose so mentally he’s as good as done. As Blake pointed out in a past mailbag, trading him and the number 9 pick later in the summer for an expiring contract can free up some decent cap space. Unfortunately there won’t be enough room to keep Bizmack but that’s ok because JV is gonna be a beast. Plus, now we’ve got Kevin Durant! The cap space is going to be the key issue this offseason but Masai has worked magic in the past, no reason to think he can’t again.
We reached out to some other fans and friends to get their dream scenarios. Here’s what we got:
William Lou – Raptors Republic
The dream offseason begins with Kevin and ends with Durant. That’s the only scenario in which the Raptors can overtake the Cleveland Cavaliers this summer.
Here’s an alternative: Trade Jonas Valanciunas and their surplus picks to Sacramento for DeMarcus Cousins. Then let DeMar DeRozan walk and sign Nic Batum. That gives the Raptors an unstoppable force in the paint surrounded by a host of 3-point shooters. Don’t tell me it’s a dream – we know Boogie loves Toronto and doesn’t mind the snow.
James Keast – Editor in Chief, Exclaim!
For the first time in our 20-plus-years, the Raptors are no longer sitting at the post-season kids table. The economics of the league have changed — the big city/small market dichotomy has all but vanished — but that’s not why the Raps are playing hardball now. Messiah Ujiri, with a nation and a team just six wins from a title behind him, doesn’t have to explain Toronto’s or Canada’s advantages to free agents. Al Horford knows what’s up — he’s heard from DeMarre what it’s like to play to full houses, he’s seen LeBron’s post-game-six commentary about Toronto fans being unlike anything the King has ever seen. Horford knows that Bismackdown Biyombo will never have a better NBA year, even though he’ll be significantly richer somewhere else next year. DeMar knows that an extra couple million can’t buy a championship contender. And that’s why Al Horford will be our new power forward next year, why DeMar will return for under the max, and why another hard-working backup centre seeking opportunity will win the country’s heart. Because Toronto has arrived: the King knows it, the league knows it, and Ujiri’s gonna take advantage of it.
Ben Miner – Comedian/Canada Laughs/Master Chef Canada
Here’s what happens in my dream scenario Raptors off-season:
DeMar walks
Durant signs
Manu signs
Raptors trade their first round picks and Terrence Ross to Chicago for Jimmy Butler
Cory Joseph (who I really don’t want to go) and a future pick to Philly for Nerlens Noel
Vince Carter comes back to Toronto
New raps starting 5:
1-Lowry
2-Butler
3-Durant
4-Carroll
5-JV
The backups are now Manu, Powell, Patterson, Carter, Noel, Delon Wright and Bébé. Hate seeing Biz go but I just can’t see him staying when he can get 20 mil elsewhere. Love him on the Raps though and really hope they can keep him.
Ben Fox – Producer/Musician
[Full disclosure I’m not even entertaining scenarios involving Durant, for my own sake]. Ok so we have talent, youth, depth, draft picks, free agents who want to stay… The franchise is in amazing shape! In an a dream world, we re-sign both Demar and Biz, with both guys taking a slight hometown discount. We then send Terrence, 2Pat and the #9 pick to OKC for Serge Ibaka, and pick up a bargain-bin veteran Scola-replacement. Terrence’s minutes go to Norm and he torches the league en route to winning 6th Man Of The Year in unanimous voting.
Anthony Doyle – Raptors Republic
I think at this point I’m in favor of somewhat staying the course. If a home run is out there for Durant, or Millsap, we should definitely at least try to make it happen, but otherwise drafting for value at the 9th pick, and giving Patrick Patterson the starting role at the 4 isn’t a bad backup plan. Patterson does a lot of what you need beside Lowry, DeMar and JV, and this keeps our long-term window open.
Aaron Hodges – Sirius XM/The Off Balance 3 Podcast
As a relatively new fan of the Raptors (I disowned the Knicks and found a new home. Long story) I think I can look at the team objectively without the years of baggage that cloud the emotions of die-hard fans. Part of what was attractive to me about the team is that they seemed to like each other and to be playing with a common purpose. That’s why they had a successful season and probably exceeded most people’s expectations. So the #1 priority in free agency should be to keep the band together. Swing for the fences with Kevin Durant, because you have to, but make sure DeMar Derozan and Bizmack Biyombo know that they’re top priority immediately after Durant makes his decision. Either way, those two appear to be willing to take a hometown discount to stick around, and if Durant is on board the team becomes an instant contender.
Assuming Durant doesn’t come to Toronto, there are still a few players available that could fit in nicely with the squad. I like Kent Bazemore a lot! He could easily be a 17-8-5 player and gives the team another athletic scorer that can guard multiple positions. Think Demarre Carrol with more scoring ability. He should be very high on the Raptors wish list.
Now, let’s assume Biyombo jets for more money than the Raptors are comfortable paying him. I think Timofey Mozgov would be an affordable, quality, backup centre for JV. He fell out of Cleveland’s rotation especially after Tyron Lue took the head coaching position, but he can still be a big goon to clog up the lane.
Assuming Biyombo stays, the Raptors should sign Bazemore, then immediately pivot to Matthew Dellavedova. Somebody’s gonna have to throw Bizmack a bountiful amount of lobs. Why not reach for the stars?
Monty Scott – Comedian/Voice of Talking Raptors
The Raptors sign free agent Kevin Durant and re-sign DeMar DeRozan.
Yes this will take a Dead Zone level sleep, but hey, it happened to Christopher Walken. Maybe I need a newer movie reference, was Will Smiths kid knocked into a coma in the new Karate Kid?
Zarar Siddiqi – Retired taxidermist, online priest for hire, shit magician
Blake Murphy signs a long-term contract with RR the same week we flip Terrence Ross, whoever we draft, and Bebe Noguiera’s potential for Derrick Favors. DeMar DeRozan makes a summer-time improvement that’s actually noticeable – you know, maybe finally get that three-pointer baked enough where teams don’t avoid you on the perimeter like a leper. We make another Biyombo-type signing where everybody goes ‘meh’ only for them to explode. My money’s on Jared Dudley. The Raptors introduce a black jersey style like what the Cavs wore in Game 7. Norman Powell wins the Summer League MVP and becomes the bargain of the league making $1M/yr for the next three years. I finally learn to tie my shoes properly.
