blow this pile of shit up

[Beebo]

If we keep Lou then Vasquez has to leave. Both those guys play a similar role off the bench and it would be redundant to have them both.

I don't understand why the coaching staff made Vasquez into such a chucker. Didn't he lead the league in assists one year when he was in New Orleans?

[Himan12]

Do not want lou at all. He just chucks and cant defend at all. The only players I would keep for sure would be derozan, val, lowry, patterson and amir. A serious retool is needed.

[Jballer]

Holy over-reaction batman!

Where were all these posts in November ??? Where was all this wisdom when they were 21 - 5 ??

LMAO.

This team is average.

The over under preseason was 47 in a weak eastern conference.

In the past two seasons they have won nearly 100 games in the regular season and 3 wins 8 losses in the post season.

They have respectable core players in Lowry / Derozan who are "perhaps" All Star caliber with some deficiencies. They have a deep (reasonably) bench with a number of solid rotation players and a couple of good prospects (Bruno / Noreiga).

They have an experienced NBA coach who has approximately 3 years experience and a nearly 500 record with at least one championship under his belt as an assistant coach.

They have approximately $17 million of available cap space BEFORE the cap is readjusted upwards for the TV deal.

They have 3 draft picks in next 2 years and will host the all star game highlighting the quality of living in Toronto.

You know what ??? Nothing is bad. Its all promising for the future.

Lord knows I might have been Mr Negative after drafting Bruno but there are so many opportunities for this franchise for the next 5 years we never had before.

1) Improve the quality of coaching through growth and or hiring additional experience to supplement Casey

2) Get better players with the cap flexability

3) Draft and keep the next 3 first rounders. 1 ~ at least will turn out to be a quality player.

4) Get Bruno's development on track. Buy a D league franchise with Minnesota and get our guys minutes.

5) With the young "position deep" average roster we have now... and cap space... take a run at a really high impact player. See if we can get a legitimate 100% All Star to join while keeping our draft picks. If you get close to being a legitimate threat for the big prize then go out and spend over the cap / tax threshold and get the 2nd all-star you need to make a run for the ring.

[A.M.G.]

Lowry is clearly playing hurt, anyone who can't see that is..... questionable.

So is Derrick Rose, how's that going?

[Legends66NBA7]

So is Derrick Rose, how's that going?

He doesn't look hurt, whatsoever. Also, Chicago has a much better team/coach covering for Rose (he wasn't even the 2nd best player on Chicago this year, maybe not even 3rd best) and are playing a weaker opponent currently.

[SESSEL15]

Recent report by Marc Stein summarized:

1. Raptors likely to keep Casey, who will entering the 2nd year of his 3 year contract.

2. Lowry, Derozan and Valanciunas likely to stay.

3. Significant changes to team roster expected.

[Sakkreth]

Recent report by Marc Stein summarized:

1. Raptors likely to keep Casey, who will entering the 2nd year of his 3 year contract.

2. Lowry, Derozan and Valanciunas likely to stay.

3. Significant changes to team roster expected.

Points 2 and 3 is good, Casey staying is not.

[Legends66NBA7]

Points 2 and 3 is good, Casey staying is not.

At least Casey's 3rd year is a team option. I figured there was a chance of bringing him back, but I don't understand bringing JV back if thats the case unless he's going to play more. It's clear he doesn't fit the current system and that's a fault on Casey and the coaching staff for making him top heavy and slow, not the pick n roll player he was when he entered the league.

The 3rd point will intrigue me the most. With the 3 core players seemingly the only guys confirmed to return, this is going go be a major retool. I for one am looking forward to the busy off season.

[Jballer]

Point 3 is mis-direction.

It says nothing. What exactly is "major" ?

I mean we already know:

1) Amir is due. May or may not be back. Certainly not as a starter.

2) Cedric is gone

3) Landry is gone

4) Tyler is due and likely gone.

5) Lou is due. May or may not come back.

5 of 15 total players not resigned = 33% turnover.

3 of 15 not resigned is 20% turnover both of which amount to major change.

All of that constitutes "major" change in someones perspective.

No matter what the "hue and cry says"

1) Casey will be back to win or leave

2) Lowry / Derozan will be the cornerstones.

3) JV is still too valuable as a big man in a 3 point league to give up on.

4) Bruno / Noreiga will still be here hopefully in more targeted development.

---

Major change to me would suggest:

a) that Tross will be moved and
b) > 1 veteran Free Agent of "all-star caliber" are attracted to to this team

I am not frankly hopeful this is the case.

But I would have wanted to see this type of move "regardless" of whether the Raptors had won the first round, lost the first round, or as the case was get swept in the first round.

[RAPSCANWIN]

Holy over-reaction batman!

Totally agree

49 wins isn't a fluke, we have a good team. But its been obvious to most fans what our flaws we're, and they came back to bite us in the Playoffs. A good backup Center, and upgrade at SF and some Veteran leadership.

I like Dwayne Casey as a coach and hope he stays. The Raps have always had a problem hiring "A" list coachs outside of Lenny. So, im thinking Casey is as good as it can get for us.

[Sakkreth]

Because we got swept like that attracting good FA will be even harder.

[Legends66NBA7]

This particular FA class isn't that strong, but there are some role players that intrigue me. I don't know if Toronto will give out a max to any of them, but I definitely want upgrades at SF and PF. The rest of the positions are fine at the moment.

[Prodigy]

Where were all these posts in November ??? Where was all this wisdom when they were 21 - 5 ??

LMAO.

This team is average.

The over under preseason was 47 in a weak eastern conference.

In the past two seasons they have won nearly 100 games in the regular season and 3 wins 8 losses in the post season.

They have respectable core players in Lowry / Derozan who are "perhaps" All Star caliber with some deficiencies. They have a deep (reasonably) bench with a number of solid rotation players and a couple of good prospects (Bruno / Noreiga).

They have an experienced NBA coach who has approximately 3 years experience and a nearly 500 record with at least one championship under his belt as an assistant coach.

They have approximately $17 million of available cap space BEFORE the cap is readjusted upwards for the TV deal.

They have 3 draft picks in next 2 years and will host the all star game highlighting the quality of living in Toronto.

You know what ??? Nothing is bad. Its all promising for the future.

Lord knows I might have been Mr Negative after drafting Bruno but there are so many opportunities for this franchise for the next 5 years we never had before.

1) Improve the quality of coaching through growth and or hiring additional experience to supplement Casey

2) Get better players with the cap flexability

3) Draft and keep the next 3 first rounders. 1 ~ at least will turn out to be a quality player.

4) Get Bruno's development on track. Buy a D league franchise with Minnesota and get our guys minutes.

5) With the young "position deep" average roster we have now... and cap space... take a run at a really high impact player. See if we can get a legitimate 100% All Star to join while keeping our draft picks. If you get close to being a legitimate threat for the big prize then go out and spend over the cap / tax threshold and get the 2nd all-star you need to make a run for the ring.

If I recall correctly people were cautiously optimistic heading into the new year and that was when we actually played defense and had heart. Pretty sure most people who saw the Raps in 2015 knew that this team was going absolutely no where.

I don't understand your points because they are flawed. You want to change Casey's coaching staff to better cover his flaws when he does absolutely nothing for the team. What does he bring to the raptors? What is our identity? His offense is a straight up copy of Scott Brook's offense without the personnel. His defense is nonexistent. None of our younger players have developed to the level that we would want them to.

You propose that we upgrade our coaching staff, sign good players, and draft quality players from the draft but none of those will be a reality with the system that we have in place.

[Jballer]

Because we got swept like that attracting good FA will be even harder.

$$$$$$

Depends I think on above ?

[Jballer]

You propose that we upgrade our coaching staff, sign good players, and draft quality players from the draft but none of those will be a reality with the system that we have in place.

---

Why is upgrading our (1) coaching staff, (2) signing good players and (3)draft all impossible with the system we have in place ??

Did I miss the news conference??

(1) Coaching staff
If DCasey and Masai can find an additional d-fence specialist coach, agree, and add him to the staff then do it. No limit on number of coaches or assistants in NBA rules that I know of. No salary cap on special consultants (i.e WayneE few years back). Casey seems to be open to evaluation & self evaluation... at least publicly. Hire a guy to bring a few new thoughts to the management table. Even if he is a special consultant and not a bench coach you can improve.

(2) FA
Umm we have cap space with players leaving. Further we have more money up to the luxury tax. Further we could actually pay into the luxury tax though I doubt MLSE will do this. So again what prevents us from signing Milsap or Monroe or some other ideal player ? Nothing. If we offer enough money they will come.

I doubt Masai will sign a big "bad" Melo type deal ; I don't think there are FA demanding to play in TO... but there is talent to be had.

I don't rule out Euroballers either. Jorge Garabosa came to TO 5 years ago and made an important impact for a couple seasons. I am sure there the right pieces between NBA FA, and Euroball.

(3) Draft
Well we have roughly 20/5/20 1st rounders in the next 2 years. Either we expect excellence from our scouts or we package them for the best "cant miss guy we can find".

Given that we have 3 years left on Lowry / 2 years left on Derozan / Patterson ~ and QOffers due on Val (and maybe Tross) ~ I would assume we need to stock the barrel eventually.

I guess I do not understand why you find this Raptors franchise "trapped" in mediocrity when :

~ 90 + wins over 2 seasons
~ 2 playoff appearances albeit only 3 wins
~ Cap room
~ Under the Luxury so no cumulative penalties
~ contracts tiered to come due next year, season after, season after, season after unlike i.e. the Lakers who picked a "blow it up date"

None of this guarantees a championship. You have to survive injuries etc. You need some breaks. They players actually have to shoot and play d...

But i.e. the Celtics, 76ers, Lakers, Magic look in a lot worse shape in my opinion unless they magically rob other teams in one sided transactions.