Weekend Open Thread

After a busy week of press conferences, scenario analysis, opinion shouting, and more, we’re taking the weekend off. There might be some stuff you haven’t caught up on, so I’m posting it all again below.

I can’t promise I’ll get through all of the comments, but if there are any specific questions/angles/scenarios you want to see covered in the coming weeks, drop a note there @ me on Twitter and we’ll try to do our best.

Also, feel free to just discuss/debate whatever. There’s a ton to talk about. Have a great weekend, everyone.

News

• Locker clean-out
  • DeMar DeRozan
  • Kyle Lowry
  • Dwane Casey, P.J. Tucker, Serge Ibaka
  • Masai Ujiri
    • Videos, more videos
• Kyle Lowry declines his player option

Podcasts

• 2016-17 player grades (Will and Joe)
• Offseason preview (Blake and Will)

Columns

• The value in the Raptors having tried again this year, even if they ultimately failed
  • Is being good good enough? (Cam)
  • What we learned in the process (Alex)
  • Why this era matters (Matt)
  • 10 things you should do now that the Raptors are out (Katie)
• What the right path is from here is a matter of perspective
  • Guaranteeing contracts of Powell and VanVleet are easy decisions, at least
  • The case against Serge Ibaka (Atique)
  • The case for Patrick Patterson (Louis)
• Does a “culture reset” necessitate a coaching change?
  • An inability to get the most out of role players is a big flaw (Anthony)
• Roundtables
  • Season review
  • Offseason preview

Outside Writing

• At Vice Sports:
  • Another defeat at the hands of LeBron sends Raptors into a difficult offseason
  • Raptors face a franchise-defining decision with Kyle Lowry
  • If the Raptors tear it all down, here’s what it could look like
• At The Athletic (get 20% off with this link)
  • Potential landing spots if Kyle Lowry does, in fact, leave
  • The Raptors’ cap situation and why retaining everyone (or adding pieces) is difficult
    • Possible ways to shed salary if needed
• Zach Lowe on the Raptors is always good
• The Great William Lou’s Game 4 scener should have been read by now, but just in case