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Post by haisan on Dec 30, 2023 13:04:38 GMT -5
And not to be snide… but we’re ditching Flynn and Achiuwa!!!! The long mediocre nightmare is over!!
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Post by haisan on Dec 31, 2023 20:42:42 GMT -5
Well, this is depressing…
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Post by freewheel on Dec 31, 2023 21:07:26 GMT -5
I need to see these new guys in action. Until then Im not sure what to say about the deal.
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Post by scully19 on Jan 1, 2024 15:30:06 GMT -5
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Post by Pseudonym on Jan 1, 2024 16:33:12 GMT -5
The good thing about the trade, and out of all their post-championship moves, is definitely structurally one of their better ones - back in the long, long ago when the FO made sensible decisions even if they didn't work out. Examples are signing Carroll and the trade for GTJ. While Carroll was trash (and I didn't like the signing at the time) and GTJ has been a disappointment overall, the logic and calculated risks in the moves checks out. For contrast, trading for Yak made no sense either way. However, there should be hope that the improved spacing will make Yak more impactful and return to last year's level. OG's trade sets the floor for Siakam: 2 prospects and a pick. The prospects are more of a sure thing than the mystery box of FRPs, which will not be that high; I'd rather have this package than the picks offered from those rumoured teams. IQ has a ton of untapped potential and so does Barrett. The difference between Good Barrett and Bad Barrett seems smaller than good/bad GTJ. You'd hope the change in scenery and increased spot up 3s. 35% vs 20% on pullups, and hopefully being a clear 3rd option on the floor. GTJ is at 42.9% on catch and shoots and 27.1% on pullup 3s. I'd actually start GTJ instead, for the spacing approaching the level of an actual NBA offense and see if Siakam and Barnes can truly start to cook together. However, the main thing Barrett has going for him is that he is actually an NBA player you can leave on the floor. Precious and Flynn could both feasibly be out of the league next year, so that's a massive win in of itself. Compared to those two, Barrett on a bad night is still a massive upgrade. Masai is still Masai, I'll imagine he'll let the dust settle before he moves Siakam. And that, again, actually makes sense now. But that same floor: 2 prospects and a pick. If these new players work out, who else would fit the team? I think trading Yak is low key a possiblity too. Memphis could get desperate enough to bite. OKC could also use him.
Oh, two other low key things from the trade: MUCH better FT percentages and better rebounding. The former has cost the team at least 3 games, I'd say.
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Post by sutureself on Jan 1, 2024 16:34:09 GMT -5
It's interesting to note that Quickley + Barrett will probably make more than it would've taken to resign OG so this seems less like selling for a rebuild and more like trying to buy in on IQ's potential to be a longterm solution at guard. That's the tricky part, he could be anything from Tyrese Maxey (best case scenario) to Gary Trent Jr. 2.0.
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Post by Pseudonym on Jan 1, 2024 16:49:42 GMT -5
It's interesting to note that Quickley + Barrett will probably make more than it would've taken to resign OG so this seems less like selling for a rebuild and more like trying to buy in on IQ's potential to be a longterm solution at guard. That's the tricky part, he could be anything from Tyrese Maxey (best case scenario) to Gary Trent Jr. 2.0. He had very good stats as a starter with the Knicks. There were two tweets that are supposed to be embed, but thanks to Elon's changes and my lack of knowledge, I can't embed. One was IQ's stats when Brunson was out and he was starting, which was something like 23/5/5 on 61% true shooting. The other was him being in the top 20 for+/-. A prime breakout candidate worth the risk.
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Post by scully19 on Jan 1, 2024 17:39:18 GMT -5
It's interesting to note that Quickley + Barrett will probably make more than it would've taken to resign OG so this seems less like selling for a rebuild and more like trying to buy in on IQ's potential to be a longterm solution at guard. That's the tricky part, he could be anything from Tyrese Maxey (best case scenario) to Gary Trent Jr. 2.0. He had very good stats as a starter with the Knicks. There were two tweets that are supposed to be embed, but thanks to Elon's changes and my lack of knowledge, I can't embed. One was IQ's stats when Brunson was out and he was starting, which was something like 23/5/5 on 61% true shooting. The other was him being in the top 20 for+/-. A prime breakout candidate worth the risk. change the x.com to Twitter.com and you're good.
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Post by Pseudonym on Jan 1, 2024 18:03:57 GMT -5
He had very good stats as a starter with the Knicks. There were two tweets that are supposed to be embed, but thanks to Elon's changes and my lack of knowledge, I can't embed. One was IQ's stats when Brunson was out and he was starting, which was something like 23/5/5 on 61% true shooting. The other was him being in the top 20 for+/-. A prime breakout candidate worth the risk. change the x.com to Twitter.com and you're good. I did that and it still wasn't working. There should be 3 visible in this very post.
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Post by scully19 on Jan 1, 2024 18:31:15 GMT -5
I see 3.
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Post by haisan on Jan 1, 2024 18:32:09 GMT -5
All three tweets are visible to me.
I find when I post tweets here, they sometimes take a moment to show up. But they do show up.
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Post by scully19 on Jan 3, 2024 18:41:19 GMT -5
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Post by Pseudonym on Jan 5, 2024 16:16:18 GMT -5
This is some wild shit. Mans basically slid into Shams DMs after a bad loss (what a shot by Jokic!). Moody is disgruntled too.
So Ima ask: Moody × Kuminga × picks for Siakam? I'd also happily take CP3. The idea of the Point God mentoring IQ is something I'm wholly behind.
Koloko comes back/Murray pans out and Toronto would suddenly be a deep and versatile roster with clear upside.
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Post by freewheel on Jan 5, 2024 17:08:41 GMT -5
Its not bad but I'm kinda out when it comes to forwards. Now if they are taking Porter/Young/Mcdaniels off our hands too then maybe there is reason to talk. Its tough because you don't want a whole bunch of young players coming up for new contracts at the same time. It makes it difficult to know who to pay and who to pass on. Best case would be to get some young players/picks and a big expiring contract. Charlotte has Gordon Hayward expiring at 31 mill. Detroit could do something around Joe Harris, Indiana with Buddy Hield. I don't want any of these players, I want their teams future picks and those contacts to expire.
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Post by haisan on Jan 5, 2024 20:58:33 GMT -5
So Ima ask: Moody × Kuminga × picks for Siakam? I'd also happily take CP3. The idea of the Point God mentoring IQ is something I'm wholly behind. Koloko comes back/Murray pans out and Toronto would suddenly be a deep and versatile roster with clear upside. November Siakam? Yes, I’d like that trade. But the Siakam of the last few weeks? He’s been playing a lot better.
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Post by Pseudonym on Jan 6, 2024 11:09:28 GMT -5
CP3 just broke his left hand. Price gone up - yesterday's price is NOT today's price.
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Post by sutureself on Jan 8, 2024 14:22:52 GMT -5
Fun video analyzing the ways Raptors are playing better since the trade. I don't want to overreact to small sample size but there's so many fun highlights in just a four game stretch, great energy and ball movement:
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Post by Pseudonym on Jan 8, 2024 17:49:41 GMT -5
RJ being left handed helps balance out the roster even more. His rim pressure is great and the spots he likes on the floor are all his.
If I were a GM or high up in a front office, I'd look more closely at a players shot charts. Exactly WHERE do they like the ball? Part of the perceived problem with Siakam and Scottie is that they seem to like it in the same spots.
Build a team ideally with a group that attacks from all over the floor. That is what appears to have happened so far. For instance, Siakam has gotten to taking far more corner 3s since he doesn't have to carry so much anymore.
Also, it seems that the team has an actual bench now? Schroder, GTJ, Boucher, Porter, (sometimes) OPJ & Young NOT playing the 5... you can do a lot worse. I wasn't expecting anything from McDaniels, yet he has still disappointed me.
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Post by scully19 on Jan 8, 2024 20:06:09 GMT -5
Adding koloko if that ever happens will really finish off that bench as well. Might be a pipe dream at this point but at least he's still trying so it's not zero percent chance.
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Post by freewheel on Jan 8, 2024 22:57:59 GMT -5
Where's Gradey? Forgotten already?
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Post by haisan on Jan 8, 2024 23:11:43 GMT -5
Where's Gradey? Forgotten already? He had another bad shooting night in the G League last night — 2-10 from 3 and 5-16 overall.
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Post by scully19 on Jan 9, 2024 15:41:33 GMT -5
Speaking of needing backup C minutes:
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Post by Pseudonym on Jan 9, 2024 16:02:22 GMT -5
It'll be interesting to see what Darko does. There is now enough talent to handle this. Before the trade, this would have plummeted the team to Spurs-like ineptitude. In fact, the returns of Scottie as a small ball 5 have been pretty fruitful for his career.
Assuming Yak returns on the 26th against the Clippers, the Jazz and Boston games between that time are where the team is likely screwed.
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Post by haisan on Jan 10, 2024 0:07:27 GMT -5
Hey, Gradey finally had a decent G-League game: 19 points on 12 shots, with 2-3 from the 3.
Freeman-Liberty with a big 40 points, though!
And, of course, the Raptors 905 lose...
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Post by haisan on Jan 12, 2024 16:23:28 GMT -5
Hey, Raptors’ efficiency ranking really moving around on the ole’ Goldsberry graph:
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Post by Pseudonym on Jan 12, 2024 17:11:23 GMT -5
Toronto has become a crappy defensive team with blistering offense? We are truly in a new era.
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Post by scully19 on Jan 12, 2024 17:30:17 GMT -5
A much more fun to watch era, offense is just more fun to watch. No way around it.
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Post by zugzwang on Jan 12, 2024 18:22:04 GMT -5
In years past, I would have regurgitated the conventional wisdom that strong offence with no defence is a proven formula for failure come playoff time. But with today's NBA I'm not so sure that's true quite the same way anymore.
We'll learn what it really means, if the Raps ever see any playoffs.
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Post by Pseudonym on Jan 12, 2024 20:58:12 GMT -5
A much more fun to watch era, offense is just more fun to watch. No way around it. The meta-game has switched to bucket getting unambiguously. Prior to the trade watching other teams made me upset - the gap in offensive skill and production was just staggering. On that note, I think RJ needs to stay at the 2 long term. He feasts on other guards. Until, or if, he becomes a truly good shooter, playing him at the 3 isn't really viable long term. I think that is a large part of why he didn't really work out in NY. There is also an rather disproportionate amount of left handed players on that roster. RJ now has that all to himself for the most part, amplifying the roster balancing the trade already brought.
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Post by freewheel on Jan 12, 2024 22:13:09 GMT -5
People don't want to see the similarities to Derozan but he had the same path. He played a lot of SF and looked bad. When they finally settled on Derozan as a full time SG he had found his game. Big shooting guards even when they are a sketchy shooter is better than an undersized forward.
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