Raptors Free Agency Primer: Cap sheet, assets, exceptions, and more | Raptors Republic
The key points you need to know:
- There is a ton of money chasing a weaker free agent class, creating a great deal of uncertainty and, surely, contracts that will eventually make us gasp. It may not be the worst year to be sitting out free agency.
- The Raptors stand to have a little bit of salary cap space, if they want it, but may be better off staying above the cap and using exceptions. That’s tough to figure without knowing how this insane market will play out.
- The Raptors can get creative by trading players away, so any dream scenario can be on the table, because it’s more fun, anyway.
- DeRozan is likely to stay, but him taking a discount doesn’t impact the situation of Biyombo, because DeRozan’s cap hold is so small already.
- Biyombo is probably gone but the Raptors can get funky if keeping him is a top priority for them.
- I have absolutely no idea what direction Ujiri may go in.
NBA free agency primer: The biggest need and key targets for all 30 teams | CBSSports.com
Free agent they should target: Trevor Booker . This isn’t a sexy pick for the Raptors but they need some power forward depth. Booker has occasional 3-point range to the corners and is a solid hustle, energy guy off the bench.
Free Association: Does Wiggins owe it to Canada Basketball to help them qualify? | Sportsnet.ca
Does DeMar DeRozan’s lack of free agency meetings mean he’s going to sign a maximum contract with the Toronto Raptors?
Does the drafting of Jakob Poeltl mean Jonas Valanciunas is expendable or Bismack Biyombo will not be re-signed?
JD Bunkis offers up some low cost options for the Raptors in free agency?
Kevin Durant, DeMar DeRozan, Nicolas Batum: Best free-agent fits | ESPN
DeMar DeRozan recorded 438 direct isolations last season, second-most in the league behind James Harden. (An isolation is a play on which a player shoots, is fouled, turns the ball over or passes to a shooter.)
With Kobe Bryant’s retirement, the Los Angeles Lakers will lose a player who recorded 333 direct isolations (sixth-most in the league) and scored 0.68 points per direct isolation, which was tied for second-worst in the NBA among players with at least 100 direct isos (behind Lakers teammate Jordan Clarkson).
DeRozan scored 0.92 point per direct iso, which is better than Harden and James among players with a similar volume of such plays.
NBA Free Agency Preview: Top five shooting guards | ProBasketballTalk
1) DeMar DeRozan. The Toronto Raptors has said he wants to stay in Toronto and is only going to meet with the Raptors. The only way another team gets a shot at him is if the Raptors low ball him in negotiations, and that’s not going to happen. DeRozan can get to the rim with the best of them and was an All-Star last season scoring 23.5 points per game. However, his lack of a three-point shot hurts him in the playoffs and against good defensive teams, it would make it difficult for him to be a No. 1 option anywhere.
Five NBA Free-Agency Story Lines to Watch | The Ringer
Once Durant is off the board, the top remaining unrestricted free agents — Al Horford, Nicolas Batum, Mike Conley Jr., DeMar DeRozan — should follow quickly behind him. All four have proven themselves at the highest levels of the game, and they all have the rare luxury of being almost completely in control of where they want to play next season. They don’t have to wait on teams. Teams have to wait on them. The biggest carrot incumbent teams have in retaining the services of their star player is being able to offer a fifth year on a max contract, which could be worth north of $30 million.
But is that enough incentive for stars not to look around, especially given how much money they can make over four years with other teams? All four of the second-tier free agents will be on playoff teams if they stay, but there’s no guarantee the Hawks (Horford), the Hornets (Batum), the Grizzlies (Conley), or the Raptors (DeRozan) will ever contend for a title with their current core in place.
Terrence Ross’ 3/31m contract is a good contract. | Reddit
His contract is
2016 10m
2017 10.5m
2018 10.5m
When you change it to % of the cap it becomes
2016 10.64%
2017 9.55%
2018 9.55%
Now if we parlay that to the past 3 years his contract from 2013-2015 (this year) would be;
2013 6.245m
2014 6.020m
2015 6.682m
For a Total of 3/18.947m
The numbers make it seem like it’s a terrible contract but when adjusted for % of the cap it doesn’t look bad at all
The NBA’s Most Valuable Teams 2016 | Forbes
Current value: $980 million
Revenue: $163 million
Operating income: $24 million
https://www.instagram.com/p/BHNjJ8Dh4Uv/
2016 NBA Draft Prospects Who Ended Up on the Wrong Team | Bleacher Report
It’s tough to argue with drafting the best player available, but in this case the best player available won’t have much of a chance to maximize his potential.
Poeltl actually reminds me of a poor man’s Jonas Valanciunas—only the real one is already on Toronto’s roster and under contract until 2020 (player option 2019-20).
The Raptors essentially used a top-10 pick on a backup who offers similar services as their current starting anchor. Poeltl and Valanciunas—neither of whom stretches the floor—won’t be able to play together.
Domantas Sabonis, who outplayed Poeltl when they met in the NCAA tournament, seemed like the better fit and potentially the more promising prospect. Arguably the top rebounder in the draft, he’d have given the Raptors a more NBA-ready big capable of playing either the 4 or 5, given his ability to step out and knock down jumpers.
