2019-2020 Toronto Raptors Thread: “Hail to the Champions! In Masai We Believe”

[Heroic Shrimp]

I don't begrudge Kawhi for leaving Toronto, but if he had stayed, both he and the Raptors would be in the Conference Finals, and now neither are.

[Nik]

I don't begrudge Kawhi for leaving Toronto, but if he had stayed, both he and the Raptors would be in the Conference Finals, and now neither are.

I think the interesting question though is that if the story is true that Kawhi would have come back if the Raps had made a trade for Paul George that was Siakam + Van Vleet + a ton of picks was it a mistake not to?

That George trade looks terrible for the Clippers right now but Siakam didn't look much better in the playoffs and maybe the Raps missed an opportunity there.

[L K]

I don't begrudge Kawhi for leaving Toronto, but if he had stayed, both he and the Raptors would be in the Conference Finals, and now neither are.

I think the interesting question though is that if the story is true that Kawhi would have come back if the Raps had made a trade for Paul George that was Siakam + Van Vleet + a ton of picks was it a mistake not to?

That George trade looks terrible for the Clippers right now but Siakam didn't look much better in the playoffs and maybe the Raps missed an opportunity there.

That's honestly Masai's best move in not trying to make that trade happen.

For all of Siakam's struggles this year, we can hope that he goes to work hard in the offseason and builds off the learning experience.  Kawhi/PG could easily walk in a season if you make that move because I don't think you get a long-term deal out of him in that scenario and then we are left with a long rebuild.

I don't think enough is being said about Kawhi putting up 10 points in this loss too.  It wasn't just PG sucking, Kawhi was just downright bad. 

Also it was nice of Patrick Beverly to pull another dirty stunt at the end of the game again.  I don't understand why he isn't getting rung up for these plays.

[Nik]

That's honestly Masai's best move in not trying to make that trade happen.

For all of Siakam's struggles this year, we can hope that he goes to work hard in the offseason and builds off the learning experience.  Kawhi/PG could easily walk in a season if you make that move because I don't think you get a long-term deal out of him in that scenario and then we are left with a long rebuild.

I hear what you're saying and maybe even on-balance agree but I'm not sure the alternative is a lot better. They may not be able to afford Van Vleet anyway and Ibaka and Gasol are probably at the tail end of their time as big contributors. Lowry, though he's coming off what might be his best ever season, is 34.

So yeah, if a rebuild is inevitable you obviously want to do it with Siakam and those picks but at the expense of maybe another 1 or 2 finals appearances?

Like I said, you're probably right if we're looking at this rationally but I got a little goofy off of that title last year and taking another couple shots of it might have been worth the pain.

[L K]

That's honestly Masai's best move in not trying to make that trade happen.

For all of Siakam's struggles this year, we can hope that he goes to work hard in the offseason and builds off the learning experience.  Kawhi/PG could easily walk in a season if you make that move because I don't think you get a long-term deal out of him in that scenario and then we are left with a long rebuild.

I hear what you're saying and maybe even on-balance agree but I'm not sure the alternative is a lot better. They may not be able to afford Van Vleet anyway and Ibaka and Gasol are probably at the tail end of their time as big contributors. Lowry, though he's coming off what might be his best ever season, is 34.

So yeah, if a rebuild is inevitable you obviously want to do it with Siakam and those picks but at the expense of maybe another 1 or 2 finals appearances?

Like I said, you're probably right if we're looking at this rationally but I got a little goofy off of that title last year and taking another couple shots of it might have been worth the pain.

Although we were still a Siakam having an indoor court in his house away from reaching the ECF again this year.  The team obviously is better with Kawhi and certainly comes out of the East with him on the roster though so I do get your sentiment.  I'm still hopeful that Masai has a trick up his sleeve for next offseason and breaks the trend of the Raptors not being able to sign a big free agent.

[L K]

Leave to Steve Simmons to ask as stupid "but what about black on black crime" question to Masai during the year end presser today.  Why MLSE still gives him a press badge is beyond me.

[princedpw]

Leave to Steve Simmons to ask as stupid "but what about black on black crime" question to Masai during the year end presser today.  Why MLSE still gives him a press badge is beyond me.

Are you serious? What was the question?

[Nik]

Love a "but what about Black on Black crime?" question disguised in "should the Raptors not also focus on gun-violence in our city?"

— Kayla Grey (@Kayla_Grey) September 17, 2020

[Guilt Trip]

Simmons is such a tool.

[herman]

Leafs GM isn't getting asked questions like this. You're not slick. https://t.co/OxWIPYmRj8 pic.twitter.com/hJdyQ8EOFY

— William Lou (@william_lou) September 17, 2020

kayla's follow up question: pic.twitter.com/6KNY2XrxgN

— William Lou (@william_lou) September 17, 2020

[L K]

The roster changes start.

Marc Gasol is returning to Spain to finish out his career.

[Heroic Shrimp]

The roster changes start.

Marc Gasol is returning to Spain to finish out his career.

I know some others have tweeted this already, but four different sources on both sides of Atlantic have told me that earlier reports of Marc Gasol returning to play for Barcelona are premature, citing chances he has still to continue in the NBA.

— Michael Grange (@michaelgrange) October 1, 2020

[Frank E]

Did Karim Mane not get drafted?

[L K]

At least on Raptors coach tested positive.  Most of them are quarantined and Siakam is going to miss games now due to contact tracking

[L K]

Raptors coming to an end of an era.  Might be the last game of Lowry’s Raptor career.

Neat for the Raptors doing an all female broadcast crew