Masai Ujiri’s Free Agency Patience Comes with Its Own Hidden Risk | VICE Sports
That Biyombo is now gone should be instructive to Ujiri and Raptors fans alike. It is not necessarily a bad thing, as it is tough to imagine a world where paying him and Jonas Valanciunas north of $15 million annually would be an efficient use of resources. It does, however, naturally limit the amount of cohesion the Raptors can have from year to year.
This is where Ujiri must do some daunting calculus, marrying basic risk-reward navigation with the team’s long-term objectives. Yes, it must be frustrating that Ujiri could not tack on another year or two on Biyombo’s contract to maintain club control, even if it would have resulted in a higher annual salary (Biyombo had a player option on his contract that he could have opted into this summer, assuming that he hated his agent). Now, Casey has to hope Valanciunas is ready for full-time centre duties on the defensive end, while praying some combination of Sullinger, Lucas Nogueira and maybe Jakob Poeltl can replace Biyombo’s overall production, if not its specific composition. (The Raptors will simply not be able to replace Biyombo’s rim protection and shot blocking.)
On the other hand, Ujiri is likely thrilled he did not do something foolhardy like guarantee Scola or Anthony Bennett a second year. The same fiscal conservatism that cost the Raptors Biyombo—without a multi-year deal, the Raptors did not own his early-Bird Rights, which meant a solid season would virtually guarantee his stay in Toronto was brief—has also kept the Raptors’ cap sheet fairly clean.
The contracts for DeMarre Carroll (age, health), DeMar DeRozan ($!!!) and Terrence Ross (Terrence Ross) may not work out in the end, but the team’s long-term commitments are all to players whom the Raptors are still very much glad to have around.
Raptors: DeMarre Carroll Takes Right Approach to Jae Crowder Dig | Tip of the Tower
Overall, the Raptors will not be so quick to dismiss the Celtics. After all, this is a team coming off a 48-win campaign themselves, and definitely headed in the right direction.
However, Carroll says they’ll leave the speaking to their divisional rivals: “We’ll let our game do the talking.
“We’ll let Jae Crowder get in the media and do all his talking. We’ll just fly under the radar and do what we’re supposed to do, and that’s to hopefully one day bring a championship to Toronto.”
DeMar DeRozan’s Sick Move | USA vs China | July 24, 2016 | 2016 USA Basketball Showcase – YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0rKd8W7kY8
Toronto Raptors: Was Mike Krzyzewski Right to Call out Kyle Lowry? | Tip of the Tower
Aschburner reported that at one point, the 69-year old Krzyzewski grabbed Lowry and said: “Would you take one shot at least? You talk about changing your role from a team that you play on (in the NBA) to this team.”
Admittedly, the first instinct is to question the Chicago, Illinois native’s need to call out Lowry. You could argue that taking shots is the least of his issues.
Consider that during the regular season, the 2006 first round draft pick averaged 21.2 points per game, on more than 15 attempts per contest. If anything, it’s his assists average which could stand to improve.
However, the reality is we’re dealing with one of the most decorated coaches in basketball history. Krzyzewski’s resume includes four Gold medals as Team USA head coach, along with five NCAA championships in charge of Duke.
As such, if the former Army player has some advice for his players, you have to believe he knows what he’s talking about. Expect to see Lowry improve on the three shots he attempted against Argentina, when he plays China on Sunday.
Kyle and DeMar photobombing fans – YouTube
ⓂarcusD on Twitter: “https://t.co/y23GyaLCXD”
https://twitter.com/_MarcusD_/status/757381129305460740?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Raptors Republic on Instagram: “If you a real #raptors fan, who dis? #wethenorth #raptorstrivia”
The Toronto Raptors might have struck gold with Jarrod Uthoff | Rollin in the Rye
With the ability to hit the 3-ball, shooting 39.2% from distance last season, Uthoff would be able to spread the floor for penetrators like DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry. He’s also more than capable of putting the ball on the floor himself, so don’t be surprised if we see a couple poster dunks this season.
Just like with any college senior going to the NBA, it’ll take some time to adjust to the professional game. If it takes Uthoff longer than expected, there’s always the 905; the Raptors’ D-League team.
Uthoff wouldn’t be the first Raptor player to do so, with many of Masai Ujiri’s picks spending time with the 905. The latest surprise was Norman Powell, a 4-year product out of UCLA, who blossomed at the end of the year after starting the season playing 8 games for the D-League affiliate.
There is a single thing we know Powell and Uthoff do share, it’s hard work ethic. With their versatile skill sets and defensive mentality, they would make a scary duo around the wing, and even scarier one when you mix in Delon Wright, Pascal Siakam, and Jakob Poeltl.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BIO21VgAeee/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BIOw1IeANeP/
Terrence Ross on Instagram: “⏫⏫⏫”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BIPIho-DGCS/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BIQbF7sDaQX/
Norman Powell on Instagram: “Wedding Season. @nickkazemi”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BIQ42oJAbzS/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BIRJh8-gQ6J/
Lakers News: DeMar DeRozan On Why He Did Not Sign | LA Sports Media
“When you have an opportunity to go home, that’s something that certainly would cross your mind. But it wasn’t anything,” DeRozan told Southern California News Group. “After I finish playing, I’m pretty sure I’ll live in L.A. But I just wanted to do something special and leave a legacy of my own in Toronto.”
DeMar DeRozan Shares Why He Didn’t Want To Join The Lakers | Lakers Nation
The idea of DeRozan wanting to build something special where he was drafted is admirable. The Raptors have improved greatly from DeRozan’s rookie season, and just made the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time. DeRozan wanting to build on that makes complete sense.
DeRozan’s reasoning also serves as a reminder that sometimes players have their reasons for not joining the Lakers that have nothing to do with something the Lakers have done wrong. It has become normal for many to bash the Lakers and use things like this to show how far they have fallen, but in this case, the Lakers probably wouldn’t have had much of a chance even if they were a playoff team.
“In Masai we trust” – Raptors moves this past year | Raptors Rapture
So if you buy my scoring, Masai gets one “F”, and every other mark is satisfactory or better – a lot better. Actually the “F” was earned by Bennett; Masai merely cost his employer, MLSE, some money. I think they will survive.
Our trust in Masai has been rewarded.
Did I miss anything? Send me any Raptors-related article/video to rapsfan@raptorsrepublic.com
