jncuse
I brought the Cocaine to the White House
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2012
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Tough to see Raptors lose Ibaka, especially to the Clippers, but they were not going to offer him any more than one year, or any type of player option. And they were not going to offer that to any big on the market. So the fall from an Ibaka/Gasol Centre Pairing, to whatever we get will be substantial.
However, this was always meant to be a transition year for the Raptors. The only way they could have changed their path and run it all back, was if Siakam continued to progress from 2019 Finals and 2019/20 Early Season Play and developed into a real star -- but he stagnated and played poorly.
Keep max FA space for 2021, and build along 3 solid starters that are all less than 27 (Siakam, FVV, Anunoby). Terrance Davis would have been part of the core as a cheap piece, but he is an idiot.
The next moves will be interesting:
- Will Lowry get traded for future assets before the deadline? I can see him being one of the more attractive pieces available this year for teams trying to go over the top... that being said with a $30 million expiring and the Raptors having no interest in losing cap space for 2021 fits will be tough to find.
- I think Powell is as good as gone. He will certainly net some sort of outside of lotto first.
- Then there is the situation of Terrance Davis who was a top 8 rookie last year. Unfortunately, he has been an idiot this offseason. I can't see the Raptors keeping a girlfriend assaulter around. His market is probably no more than a second rounder unless they surprisingly keep him.
As for Ibaka - he is clearly looking for a championship ring and trusts Kawhi in that regard. He will help the Clips more than Harrell and provides some good leadership. As I mentioned before the Clippers need some leaders who can accept Kawhi's off court issues and get the team to focus on Kawhi's on court leadership. They did not have that last year and there was turmoil. Ibaka should help with that.
But Ibaka also refused to commit to the Clippers for more than a year. He certainly trusts Kawhi on the court, but he knows he is a snake off it. He knows that if things go awry for the Clips again, Kawhi is likely as good as gone this offseason.
However, this was always meant to be a transition year for the Raptors. The only way they could have changed their path and run it all back, was if Siakam continued to progress from 2019 Finals and 2019/20 Early Season Play and developed into a real star -- but he stagnated and played poorly.
Keep max FA space for 2021, and build along 3 solid starters that are all less than 27 (Siakam, FVV, Anunoby). Terrance Davis would have been part of the core as a cheap piece, but he is an idiot.
The next moves will be interesting:
- Will Lowry get traded for future assets before the deadline? I can see him being one of the more attractive pieces available this year for teams trying to go over the top... that being said with a $30 million expiring and the Raptors having no interest in losing cap space for 2021 fits will be tough to find.
- I think Powell is as good as gone. He will certainly net some sort of outside of lotto first.
- Then there is the situation of Terrance Davis who was a top 8 rookie last year. Unfortunately, he has been an idiot this offseason. I can't see the Raptors keeping a girlfriend assaulter around. His market is probably no more than a second rounder unless they surprisingly keep him.
As for Ibaka - he is clearly looking for a championship ring and trusts Kawhi in that regard. He will help the Clips more than Harrell and provides some good leadership. As I mentioned before the Clippers need some leaders who can accept Kawhi's off court issues and get the team to focus on Kawhi's on court leadership. They did not have that last year and there was turmoil. Ibaka should help with that.
But Ibaka also refused to commit to the Clippers for more than a year. He certainly trusts Kawhi on the court, but he knows he is a snake off it. He knows that if things go awry for the Clips again, Kawhi is likely as good as gone this offseason.