Before the next, "We gotta get *insert near max salary here*" thread, ask yourself: What would I be willing to sacrifice from this current team to get *insert player*?
The Raptors, like every other NBA team, operate under a Collective Bargaining Agreement which limits or restricts how players can be added to the roster due to salary as well as retaining current players who may or may not be up for contract renewal.
Here is current Raptor payroll commitments: http://www.basketballinsiders.com/to...s-team-salary/
Notice Raptors have $39M in guaranteed money. This money does not mean the players are on the roster. $39M means no: Lowry, Amir, Hansbrough, Salmons, Daye, Buycks, Stone, Vasquez, or Patterson. This leaves the Raptors with a roster of 6 players: DeRozan, Ross, Novak, JV, Hayes, and Fields.
Assuming you keep Amir and Hansbrough that takes you to $43.3M.
Then what about Vasquez or Patterson? Maybe you're at $50M now?
What about the first round draft pick salary cap hold? $51.3M.
Then there is the elephant in the room - Lowry..... *poof* no more cap space.
So what are you willing to sacrifice from this current team to get a $10+M per year player?
..... core guys?
..... depth?
..... draft picks?
..... any combination of the above?
But what about sign and trades? Good point. If the Raptors can sign and trade for *insert guy here* then, yeah, they can keep their Bird Rights and ability to resign Lowry, Vasquez, and Patterson, keep 1st round pick, pick up options on Amir/Hansbrough. However, what are the Raptors going to trade? Ujiri and Leiweke have made it clear no young guys or picks are available. Is Detroit going to take Fields and Hayes for Monroe? What about Cleveland with Deng?
I think it is a near certainty, barring some unforeseen miracle where Ujiri unloads Hayes, Fields, and Novak for expirings at the deadline, that the Raptors are not going to be *insert player name* -type free agent wooers. If you disagree you need to ask yourself what would you be willing to give up to make that happen? Would it make the Raptors a better team? Would signing Deng or Monroe make a huge difference if Lowry is gone?
Patience is crucial right now for the Raptors if the goal is to keep moving along with the current core. The opportunity for a big free agent acquisition along the lines of *insert player name here* will only present itself next summer (2015) with this current core remaining in tact.
Things can always change (especially with the trade deadline looming) but the calls for signing bigger name players right now for near max money is premature and destined to lead the Raptors right back down the path they just spent the previous 7 years traveling down, in my opinion.
The Raptors, like every other NBA team, operate under a Collective Bargaining Agreement which limits or restricts how players can be added to the roster due to salary as well as retaining current players who may or may not be up for contract renewal.
Here is current Raptor payroll commitments: http://www.basketballinsiders.com/to...s-team-salary/
Notice Raptors have $39M in guaranteed money. This money does not mean the players are on the roster. $39M means no: Lowry, Amir, Hansbrough, Salmons, Daye, Buycks, Stone, Vasquez, or Patterson. This leaves the Raptors with a roster of 6 players: DeRozan, Ross, Novak, JV, Hayes, and Fields.
Assuming you keep Amir and Hansbrough that takes you to $43.3M.
Then what about Vasquez or Patterson? Maybe you're at $50M now?
What about the first round draft pick salary cap hold? $51.3M.
Then there is the elephant in the room - Lowry..... *poof* no more cap space.
So what are you willing to sacrifice from this current team to get a $10+M per year player?
..... core guys?
..... depth?
..... draft picks?
..... any combination of the above?
But what about sign and trades? Good point. If the Raptors can sign and trade for *insert guy here* then, yeah, they can keep their Bird Rights and ability to resign Lowry, Vasquez, and Patterson, keep 1st round pick, pick up options on Amir/Hansbrough. However, what are the Raptors going to trade? Ujiri and Leiweke have made it clear no young guys or picks are available. Is Detroit going to take Fields and Hayes for Monroe? What about Cleveland with Deng?
I think it is a near certainty, barring some unforeseen miracle where Ujiri unloads Hayes, Fields, and Novak for expirings at the deadline, that the Raptors are not going to be *insert player name* -type free agent wooers. If you disagree you need to ask yourself what would you be willing to give up to make that happen? Would it make the Raptors a better team? Would signing Deng or Monroe make a huge difference if Lowry is gone?
Patience is crucial right now for the Raptors if the goal is to keep moving along with the current core. The opportunity for a big free agent acquisition along the lines of *insert player name here* will only present itself next summer (2015) with this current core remaining in tact.
Things can always change (especially with the trade deadline looming) but the calls for signing bigger name players right now for near max money is premature and destined to lead the Raptors right back down the path they just spent the previous 7 years traveling down, in my opinion.
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