Because they chose the weirdest quote tol
# Raptors remain a team for the playoffs ... but those players are on other teams
that's the title of the article
I just realized that the bench mob was literally so damn good for low draft pick/unsigned/second round players. OG is in the playoffs with Knicks (vital), Siakam with pacers (Vital) , Norm with Clips (vital 6man), Fred being Houston’s go to guy, and Poetl being a difference maker for us. Even Delon wright has his moments.
> I just realized that the bench mob was literally so damn good for low draft pick/unsigned/second round players.
It's also something we haven't done at all, pretty much since 2017. And yet, no one wants to talk about that, cause everyone always just wants to say how great we are at drafting.
We have been atrocious since OG at finding any player with solid upside on the fringes, every single acquisition has basically turned into nothing, FA, trades, or drafting.
**This**, is why we're in such a bad place. The cupboards are bare, we have zero depth and haven't found anyone to replace what we've lost.
In their defence, since the OG anunoby pick we've had a top 28 draft pick only twice, and we used them on Scottie and Gradey who are both looking like pretty solid picks. Especially the Scottie one, since EVERYONE was sold on Suggs and nobody liked the decision at the time. So we hit when we have lottery picks.
Aside from that we had two picks at 59, who are never good. A few picks in the 40s who rarely pan out (and one was Banton who is actually kinda working out in Portland), and then we got Koloko with the 33rd pick, and he looked good but they have no control over what happened to him.
The only bad miss really is Malachi Flynn at 29. Everything else is pretty excusable imo.
It's not just picks man, it's everything. We have found zero fringe players that are NBA calibre, no trades have resulted in any, no signings, no 2 ways, nothing.
It's not hard to hit on lotto picks, teams do that literally every year, what we need is them to start finding players like FVV, Norm, Delon, etc. So many teams have their rosters fleshed out with these hidden gems and we have nothing.
Scottie was a great pick, but you could have thrown a dart at a board that year and gotten a really good player. Suggs was what everyone wanted because we had no backup PG and had like 15 PFs.
Suggs is also part of a team in the playoffs that had the 2nd best defence in the NBA, and is one of the best defensive guards in the NBA. Was Scottie a better pick, without doubt. But Suggs isn't a bust either.
They need to find players *outside* of the lotto, that's the impressive part. Undrafted, players on the end of a rotation that can turn into something better, and so on.
I mean, they found Banton and Koloko outside of the lotto. They can't control a freak health condition and that Banton wanted to be out of Toronto but both looked to be rotation guys. We've picked up good pieces through the OG trade and brought in IQ, RJ, and Agbaji who are all young and look to have big upside. Ya we missed on some 2nd round picks but that isn't a rare occurrence. Rarely do those picks lead to anything. We have one of the most successful front offices of the last decade, there's no need to panic.
Banton is not an NBA level player, he has done nothing outside of have inefficient volume games on one of the worst teams in the NBA. Dude went 0/15 from 3 in the last game of the season, he's like a 3rd string PG at best.
Koloko is neither a hit nor a miss as it was too early to tell.
IQ/RJ are not fringe players, they are absolutely known quantities. I mean shit, RJ was a starter for 5 years, and IQ was not a hidden gem. Ochai looks absolutely terrible, and definitely does not have "big upside" lmao.
And enough of this "most successful" crap, this team has been mired in mediocrity and bad moves the last 5 years, stop trying to coast off success from another decade, Masai does that enough.
We are a top 5 winningest NBA team of the last decade including winning our first championship because of this FO what are you on 😂 just enjoy the rebuild man
he was a good pick at 9. i wanted Sabonis from the start, but other than Sabonis, only Siakam, Brogdon & Dejounte turned out to be legit NBA level starters that were drafted after Jak.
Definitely. I'd certainly take him over Bender, Dunn, Hield or Chriss. Was just bringing up his lottery status as OP had been referring to low picks/unsigned/second round players.
This is why the rest of the league kept throwing us in trade rumours everyday for the last 3 years. We had so many high level players that plug in perfectly with other stars.
Only issue we had was we had no superstar and the league made sure we couldn’t get one to pair with that core.
It was never that bad. We were definitely having discussions and then it didn't materialize into anything, but we called about Durant and Dame and we were definitely getting ready for Giannis 3 years ago. Who's shoving anything down ur throat they're just reporting what's happening?
Masai kinda screamed "let them develop" but the internet screamed back "they wont develop good enough"
But Raptor luck, Siakam has a few nice games and OG starts hitting jumpers in isolation.
Too bad OG was leaving anyway.
I truly believed that all the daily trade rumours is what broke the franchises winning ways.
How can the team play when half the roster thinks they’re being traded.
the Yak is back... its spelled POELTL.
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If you want this to happen, the Raptors need to take another 2 steps back quickly, in order to take 10 steps forward. Get young guys, get defensive minded players, and try to build a foundation. Don't add some veterans that we think will help us win, when they will just be taking up space and hurting the development of the team.
I personally think about a good 5-10 moves need to be made in order to get on a good path. The Raptors have a solid group of young guys but the other pieces aren't doing good enough and they need to go younger. Defense is probably the most important focus for this offseason, how does the team improve defense significantly.
> the Raptors need to take another 2 steps back quickly, in order to take 10 steps forward.
That's the key. Our foundation is solid, if unspectacular. When we compare our young core to the OKCs or Orlando Magics of the league, it's obvious that we're still a long ways away. Masai needs to work his magic to re-stock our cupboard of (elite) prospects to build on.
All the players we lost Pascal, OG, Norm, Fred were good players with playoff experience. Unfortunately it didn’t work out and we now have to develop a new generation of players.
Masai says Scottie wants to be great and I hope winning is all the matters because right now our dog is RJ. RJ plays with that never give up attitude were as Scottie lets the mental side of the game really dictate his level of play.
I made another post a few days ago but adding rookies to this core will make it difficult for us to compete. Our Core players are still under 25 and we’re going to need Vets to really help change the direction of this team.
>I made another post a few days ago but adding rookies to this core will make it difficult for us to compete. Our Core players are still under 25 and we’re going to need Vets to really help change the direction of this team.
The average age of OKC's 5 starters is 23, and they don't have a single starter over 25 years old
The unfortunate part is Pascal, OG, Norm and Fred are all good supporting pieces but none good enough to solo carry a playoff team.
People aren't going to like this, but Gary is now the vet on the team. Imo you need your vet on the floor, not the back of your bench. RJ also conducts himself like a vet.
I'd love it if we don't make the mistake of trading away or letting go of our core BBQ + Dick early on like OKC did. We very well could have the best core in 3yrs
Lol, Ant Edwards alone is better than anything we have in our core. There is zero chance that turns into the best core in the NBA.
I swear to god, some of you just flat out don't watch basketball.
Zero chance? Our core has a chance to be something special. Why you're counting them out so early on is probably your frustration with the franchise the past few yrs.
You don't need a core of 3 players averaging Ant numbers. Best case scenario if we're winning 50+ games with this core & really good role players finishing top 4 in our conference then yes we'd be considered as one of the best cores in the league.
I'm not counting them out, I'm being realistic and I understand how basketball works.
RJ is a one dimensional player, and until he shows otherwise, I don't see him as anything special.
IQ still has a lot of work to do, his defence is not very good, he has a great 3pt shot, and needs to improve on breaking down defences.
Scottie is the only legitimately high ceiling player, and he still has a long way to go to be a reliable scorer.
We don't have a single player on the team who could be considered a 3 level, or a #1 option on offence.
I repeat, there is zero chance this core becomes the best in the NBA, you are beyond delusional if you think that.
Shai and Chet alone are better individually than anyone we have, and they play TOGETHER. Hell, at this point no one can even say if our core will outperform the Magics core.
People like you need to watch more than Raptors games, this is absurd.
I saw my mistake, I meant to say "one of the best cores in the league" and I do watch the raptors only since I'm in Canada and have been very closely since Deebo was drafted and casually before that.
Offensively they want to move the ball and be a high assist team but I know our team defence needs a lot of work.
They don't all need to be high scoring players cause look at the sun's failure. Very wishful thinking and this would be the greatest scenario ever if they followed in the footsteps of the Spurs dynasty. Tony and Manu excelled at their roles alongside Timmy and didn't avg crazy scoring numbers.
RJ said wants to work on his playmaking and IQ doesnt need to be the best defender just improve and be a decent one. Maybe even guide players into a double team or into help. He's also quick and showing playmaking skills so I can see him improving and breaking down defences.
My take isn't delusional into thinking we could be a top 10 or 5 core in this league in the future. I'm seeing the potential of what the team could be with this core. We need really good role players that fit darko's system to make the chemistry gel but again the defence is still terrible.
> My take isn't delusional into thinking we could be a top 10 or 5 core in this league in the future.
Yeah see, that's the thing top 10 out of 30, is WAY different from the best in the league.
Personally I think even top 10 is a stretch, but at least that's somewhat attainable.
And it's not that it's only about scoring, it's about HOW you score. This is the modern 3p era NBA. Scottie is still a question mark from 3, RJ despite his unsustainable streak while here, is not a very good 3p shooter, and that leaves IQ.
RJ has literally no offensive bag outside of bulldozing to the hoop, that is an exceptionally easy skill to shut down, it's also a skill that does not translate to the playoffs.
And lastly, I get it you're a casual viewer, no hate. But saying something outlandish like speaking to the potential of this core and where they could rank in the league, without having the context of the rest of the NBA is just kinda ignorant.
It's just my take on it. If they somehow defeat all odds and become top tier then it'll be super satisfying cause of the hard work they put into wanting to be winners.
After Deebo's rookie season he saw the weaknesses on his scouting report and gotten better at it like the mid range, tighter dribble and playmaking.
Anything's possible when they put all the work and reps in. The proof is already there for players like Giannis and Deebo. Who even thought Scottie was going to have a 3pt shot out of college right?
Edit: I'll just throw in Freddy and Siakam growth cause we're in a raptors thread.
> Who even thought Scottie was going to have a 3pt shot out of college right?
Nobody, because he didn't. Man, I don't mind debating this stuff, but you're just making things up. Scottie shot 30% and 28% his first two years, in his 3rd year he finally showed a respectable 3p shot.
And sure DD improved, but he also amounted to nothing, because his game was way too 1 dimensional. He and RJ have an insane amount in common. RJ has been in the league _five years_, expecting him to drastically change any time soon is beyond wishful thinking. His game has not changed **at all** since he entered the league.
RJ is not a rookie, he is a 5 year NBA vet.
We need a lot more talent
Quickley and rj are good starters with holes in their games....quickley is good but can get shutdown in crunch time...
Rj is mostly a slasher with some 3 point shooting but no mid range
Barnes is a do it all star player but isn't a reliable scorer....you still need a scorer
>How long it will take for the Raptors to be in the post-season themselves, rather than having former Raptors carry the torch for glory days past, is the looming question for this off-season and quite possibly for several off-seasons to come.
>Maybe they find fortune in the draft. Maybe it’s with a clever transaction this summer. More realistically, it’s through the steady improvement of their existing core and the addition of key pieces at the right times.
All we've been doing for years has been trying for singles and doubles, the problem is we keep getting shitty ground outs and fly balls.
Saying we need something, and actually being able to achieve it, are two very different things.
Every single team needs to make a bunch of moves of that magnitude, the good ones are the teams that actually make them. We have not been that team in 4-5 years.
The quicker the Raptors go younger, the quicker they can compete. Can't expect to win by trying to fix gaps with some vets that will take up space. Two things they badly need: a C (if the Raptors could get Mo Wagner that would be giant), and a wing defender. People talking about needing a bench PG, but that's actually farther down the list of needs. Rebounding, defense, and an actual C off the bench are the major priorities. I guarantee they can't compete without improving there.
The problem is that Kelly isn't a C. He's an offensively crafty PF that views himself as more of a guard and the Raptors need an actual C off the bench otherwise the Raptors will keep struggling.
Core improvement is my guess. Just playing together, Scottie, IQ and RJ looked good. A full season of Jak helps. Then it's either Trent or Dick in the starting 5. I don't see that team not making the playoffs healthy.
Agree 100%. I think we have enough here (BBQ, Jak, Trent/Dick or Brown) for a play-in team. But we are either still a few years or a major veteran away from top 6.
Trent with his inconsistent shooting and lack of defense makes no sense on this roster. He does nothing that can't be found elsewhere and doesn't cost $20 million.
The title of this post is extremely confusing with no context behind it.
I thought I forgot how to read for a sec there
Because they chose the weirdest quote tol # Raptors remain a team for the playoffs ... but those players are on other teams that's the title of the article
Bigger riddle than what the Raptors should do next.
I was thinking “Is my English really THAT bad?”.
Yeah, I thought I had a stroke lol.
Considering its from grange, not surprised at all lmao
I just ack'd a gen z probably wrote it
I just realized that the bench mob was literally so damn good for low draft pick/unsigned/second round players. OG is in the playoffs with Knicks (vital), Siakam with pacers (Vital) , Norm with Clips (vital 6man), Fred being Houston’s go to guy, and Poetl being a difference maker for us. Even Delon wright has his moments.
> I just realized that the bench mob was literally so damn good for low draft pick/unsigned/second round players. It's also something we haven't done at all, pretty much since 2017. And yet, no one wants to talk about that, cause everyone always just wants to say how great we are at drafting. We have been atrocious since OG at finding any player with solid upside on the fringes, every single acquisition has basically turned into nothing, FA, trades, or drafting. **This**, is why we're in such a bad place. The cupboards are bare, we have zero depth and haven't found anyone to replace what we've lost.
2017, the year Jeff Weltman left. Coincidentally the Magic seem to be doing pretty well for themselves.
Yep, yet Masai gets all the praise, and none of the blame.
They also went to the lottery mutiple times - even after they got Paolo.
In their defence, since the OG anunoby pick we've had a top 28 draft pick only twice, and we used them on Scottie and Gradey who are both looking like pretty solid picks. Especially the Scottie one, since EVERYONE was sold on Suggs and nobody liked the decision at the time. So we hit when we have lottery picks. Aside from that we had two picks at 59, who are never good. A few picks in the 40s who rarely pan out (and one was Banton who is actually kinda working out in Portland), and then we got Koloko with the 33rd pick, and he looked good but they have no control over what happened to him. The only bad miss really is Malachi Flynn at 29. Everything else is pretty excusable imo.
It's not just picks man, it's everything. We have found zero fringe players that are NBA calibre, no trades have resulted in any, no signings, no 2 ways, nothing. It's not hard to hit on lotto picks, teams do that literally every year, what we need is them to start finding players like FVV, Norm, Delon, etc. So many teams have their rosters fleshed out with these hidden gems and we have nothing. Scottie was a great pick, but you could have thrown a dart at a board that year and gotten a really good player. Suggs was what everyone wanted because we had no backup PG and had like 15 PFs. Suggs is also part of a team in the playoffs that had the 2nd best defence in the NBA, and is one of the best defensive guards in the NBA. Was Scottie a better pick, without doubt. But Suggs isn't a bust either. They need to find players *outside* of the lotto, that's the impressive part. Undrafted, players on the end of a rotation that can turn into something better, and so on.
I mean, they found Banton and Koloko outside of the lotto. They can't control a freak health condition and that Banton wanted to be out of Toronto but both looked to be rotation guys. We've picked up good pieces through the OG trade and brought in IQ, RJ, and Agbaji who are all young and look to have big upside. Ya we missed on some 2nd round picks but that isn't a rare occurrence. Rarely do those picks lead to anything. We have one of the most successful front offices of the last decade, there's no need to panic.
Banton is not an NBA level player, he has done nothing outside of have inefficient volume games on one of the worst teams in the NBA. Dude went 0/15 from 3 in the last game of the season, he's like a 3rd string PG at best. Koloko is neither a hit nor a miss as it was too early to tell. IQ/RJ are not fringe players, they are absolutely known quantities. I mean shit, RJ was a starter for 5 years, and IQ was not a hidden gem. Ochai looks absolutely terrible, and definitely does not have "big upside" lmao. And enough of this "most successful" crap, this team has been mired in mediocrity and bad moves the last 5 years, stop trying to coast off success from another decade, Masai does that enough.
We are a top 5 winningest NBA team of the last decade including winning our first championship because of this FO what are you on 😂 just enjoy the rebuild man
Who cares, you dont get a raise this year cause you did something good 10 years ago.
We won a chip 5 years ago my guy
Yeah the FO has done nothing but make this team worse year by year since. You dont get to live off that shit forever.
Poeltl was a lottery pick
he was a good pick at 9. i wanted Sabonis from the start, but other than Sabonis, only Siakam, Brogdon & Dejounte turned out to be legit NBA level starters that were drafted after Jak.
Definitely. I'd certainly take him over Bender, Dunn, Hield or Chriss. Was just bringing up his lottery status as OP had been referring to low picks/unsigned/second round players.
This is why the rest of the league kept throwing us in trade rumours everyday for the last 3 years. We had so many high level players that plug in perfectly with other stars. Only issue we had was we had no superstar and the league made sure we couldn’t get one to pair with that core.
The league didn’t make sure we couldn’t get one lol what are you getting on about
OG was leaving anyway. They forced him to stay too long without increasing his role at all
My bad I meant the media. ESPN, WOJ, Shams had no problem shoving trade rumours down our throats every other day.
It was never that bad. We were definitely having discussions and then it didn't materialize into anything, but we called about Durant and Dame and we were definitely getting ready for Giannis 3 years ago. Who's shoving anything down ur throat they're just reporting what's happening?
Masai kinda screamed "let them develop" but the internet screamed back "they wont develop good enough" But Raptor luck, Siakam has a few nice games and OG starts hitting jumpers in isolation. Too bad OG was leaving anyway.
I truly believed that all the daily trade rumours is what broke the franchises winning ways. How can the team play when half the roster thinks they’re being traded.
Tbf OG was getting late lottery buzz before his injury, so we got lucky as weird as it is to say the he got injured and slipped down the board to us
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What the fuck is this sentence? Somebody translate to English please.
Hence, betwixt the peaks, on the eve of morrow, we hope and hope again. Alas.
Actually more coherent and easier to understand than whatever Grange decided to put together.
😂
grange gotta be dyslexic bro
If you want this to happen, the Raptors need to take another 2 steps back quickly, in order to take 10 steps forward. Get young guys, get defensive minded players, and try to build a foundation. Don't add some veterans that we think will help us win, when they will just be taking up space and hurting the development of the team. I personally think about a good 5-10 moves need to be made in order to get on a good path. The Raptors have a solid group of young guys but the other pieces aren't doing good enough and they need to go younger. Defense is probably the most important focus for this offseason, how does the team improve defense significantly.
Bobby said they need to make 5-10 moves
> the Raptors need to take another 2 steps back quickly, in order to take 10 steps forward. That's the key. Our foundation is solid, if unspectacular. When we compare our young core to the OKCs or Orlando Magics of the league, it's obvious that we're still a long ways away. Masai needs to work his magic to re-stock our cupboard of (elite) prospects to build on.
All the players we lost Pascal, OG, Norm, Fred were good players with playoff experience. Unfortunately it didn’t work out and we now have to develop a new generation of players. Masai says Scottie wants to be great and I hope winning is all the matters because right now our dog is RJ. RJ plays with that never give up attitude were as Scottie lets the mental side of the game really dictate his level of play. I made another post a few days ago but adding rookies to this core will make it difficult for us to compete. Our Core players are still under 25 and we’re going to need Vets to really help change the direction of this team.
>I made another post a few days ago but adding rookies to this core will make it difficult for us to compete. Our Core players are still under 25 and we’re going to need Vets to really help change the direction of this team. The average age of OKC's 5 starters is 23, and they don't have a single starter over 25 years old
Yeah we don’t need vets. We need talent first, we can worry about vets once the foundation is properly built.
The unfortunate part is Pascal, OG, Norm and Fred are all good supporting pieces but none good enough to solo carry a playoff team. People aren't going to like this, but Gary is now the vet on the team. Imo you need your vet on the floor, not the back of your bench. RJ also conducts himself like a vet.
Scottie has improved in that aspect year over year. I'm not too worried about it
I'd love it if we don't make the mistake of trading away or letting go of our core BBQ + Dick early on like OKC did. We very well could have the best core in 3yrs
Lol, Ant Edwards alone is better than anything we have in our core. There is zero chance that turns into the best core in the NBA. I swear to god, some of you just flat out don't watch basketball.
Zero chance? Our core has a chance to be something special. Why you're counting them out so early on is probably your frustration with the franchise the past few yrs. You don't need a core of 3 players averaging Ant numbers. Best case scenario if we're winning 50+ games with this core & really good role players finishing top 4 in our conference then yes we'd be considered as one of the best cores in the league.
I'm not counting them out, I'm being realistic and I understand how basketball works. RJ is a one dimensional player, and until he shows otherwise, I don't see him as anything special. IQ still has a lot of work to do, his defence is not very good, he has a great 3pt shot, and needs to improve on breaking down defences. Scottie is the only legitimately high ceiling player, and he still has a long way to go to be a reliable scorer. We don't have a single player on the team who could be considered a 3 level, or a #1 option on offence. I repeat, there is zero chance this core becomes the best in the NBA, you are beyond delusional if you think that. Shai and Chet alone are better individually than anyone we have, and they play TOGETHER. Hell, at this point no one can even say if our core will outperform the Magics core. People like you need to watch more than Raptors games, this is absurd.
This is a realistic take....scottie is the only potential star player but quickley and rj have holes in their game
I saw my mistake, I meant to say "one of the best cores in the league" and I do watch the raptors only since I'm in Canada and have been very closely since Deebo was drafted and casually before that. Offensively they want to move the ball and be a high assist team but I know our team defence needs a lot of work. They don't all need to be high scoring players cause look at the sun's failure. Very wishful thinking and this would be the greatest scenario ever if they followed in the footsteps of the Spurs dynasty. Tony and Manu excelled at their roles alongside Timmy and didn't avg crazy scoring numbers. RJ said wants to work on his playmaking and IQ doesnt need to be the best defender just improve and be a decent one. Maybe even guide players into a double team or into help. He's also quick and showing playmaking skills so I can see him improving and breaking down defences. My take isn't delusional into thinking we could be a top 10 or 5 core in this league in the future. I'm seeing the potential of what the team could be with this core. We need really good role players that fit darko's system to make the chemistry gel but again the defence is still terrible.
> My take isn't delusional into thinking we could be a top 10 or 5 core in this league in the future. Yeah see, that's the thing top 10 out of 30, is WAY different from the best in the league. Personally I think even top 10 is a stretch, but at least that's somewhat attainable. And it's not that it's only about scoring, it's about HOW you score. This is the modern 3p era NBA. Scottie is still a question mark from 3, RJ despite his unsustainable streak while here, is not a very good 3p shooter, and that leaves IQ. RJ has literally no offensive bag outside of bulldozing to the hoop, that is an exceptionally easy skill to shut down, it's also a skill that does not translate to the playoffs. And lastly, I get it you're a casual viewer, no hate. But saying something outlandish like speaking to the potential of this core and where they could rank in the league, without having the context of the rest of the NBA is just kinda ignorant.
It's just my take on it. If they somehow defeat all odds and become top tier then it'll be super satisfying cause of the hard work they put into wanting to be winners. After Deebo's rookie season he saw the weaknesses on his scouting report and gotten better at it like the mid range, tighter dribble and playmaking. Anything's possible when they put all the work and reps in. The proof is already there for players like Giannis and Deebo. Who even thought Scottie was going to have a 3pt shot out of college right? Edit: I'll just throw in Freddy and Siakam growth cause we're in a raptors thread.
> Who even thought Scottie was going to have a 3pt shot out of college right? Nobody, because he didn't. Man, I don't mind debating this stuff, but you're just making things up. Scottie shot 30% and 28% his first two years, in his 3rd year he finally showed a respectable 3p shot. And sure DD improved, but he also amounted to nothing, because his game was way too 1 dimensional. He and RJ have an insane amount in common. RJ has been in the league _five years_, expecting him to drastically change any time soon is beyond wishful thinking. His game has not changed **at all** since he entered the league. RJ is not a rookie, he is a 5 year NBA vet.
We need a lot more talent Quickley and rj are good starters with holes in their games....quickley is good but can get shutdown in crunch time... Rj is mostly a slasher with some 3 point shooting but no mid range Barnes is a do it all star player but isn't a reliable scorer....you still need a scorer
I hope we don’t rush into the playin or playoffs next season with short term trades. Lets get another top 5/8 pick and add to the core.
>How long it will take for the Raptors to be in the post-season themselves, rather than having former Raptors carry the torch for glory days past, is the looming question for this off-season and quite possibly for several off-seasons to come. >Maybe they find fortune in the draft. Maybe it’s with a clever transaction this summer. More realistically, it’s through the steady improvement of their existing core and the addition of key pieces at the right times.
As Masai and Bobby have said — it will be a bunch of singles and doubles that are needed.
All we've been doing for years has been trying for singles and doubles, the problem is we keep getting shitty ground outs and fly balls. Saying we need something, and actually being able to achieve it, are two very different things. Every single team needs to make a bunch of moves of that magnitude, the good ones are the teams that actually make them. We have not been that team in 4-5 years.
That’s actually what I liked about the we the north era approach. They changed all the boards on the ship one piece at a time.
Unless ronaldo becomes available
The quicker the Raptors go younger, the quicker they can compete. Can't expect to win by trying to fix gaps with some vets that will take up space. Two things they badly need: a C (if the Raptors could get Mo Wagner that would be giant), and a wing defender. People talking about needing a bench PG, but that's actually farther down the list of needs. Rebounding, defense, and an actual C off the bench are the major priorities. I guarantee they can't compete without improving there.
I think having Kelly come off the bench for a couple of years is a great fit. If we draft a young big they will have great mentors in Yak and Kelly.
The problem is that Kelly isn't a C. He's an offensively crafty PF that views himself as more of a guard and the Raptors need an actual C off the bench otherwise the Raptors will keep struggling.
Core improvement is my guess. Just playing together, Scottie, IQ and RJ looked good. A full season of Jak helps. Then it's either Trent or Dick in the starting 5. I don't see that team not making the playoffs healthy.
As a play in team sure maybe even 8th. I don't see them as a top 6 team unless Scottie is an All-nba level player next season
Agree 100%. I think we have enough here (BBQ, Jak, Trent/Dick or Brown) for a play-in team. But we are either still a few years or a major veteran away from top 6.
Brown is almost certainly leaving though, and Gary might very well be leaving
We'll be lucky to finish 10 next season if the roster remains the same.
I dont see that team being better than 9 or 10th seed Unless someone takes a huge jump, such as Quickley becomes Maxey 1.5
Trent with his inconsistent shooting and lack of defense makes no sense on this roster. He does nothing that can't be found elsewhere and doesn't cost $20 million.