enlightenment wrote:
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This is the Final Outcome:
Pg: S.Nash, D.Lillard
Sg: D.Derozan, J. Bayless
Sf: N.Batum, J.Johnson
Pf: A.Bargnani, A.Johnson
C: J.Valancuinas, A.Gray
This really is broken down into 4 moves:
Draft, Free Agency, Sign & Trade, Re-sign
Draft: Damian Lillard at 8th pick. Easy enough, most mocks predict Lillard will drop to 8th, and recent reports read of strong workouts and strong impressions on most teams. Based on principle of best available, Lillard will probably be our safest choice, and would probably move Jared Bayless to the back up SG spot, where he can come on as a 6th man and become a spark to the team (he has a decent 3pt shot). It would create a dynamic where Bayless is playing for a contract, and Lillard is playing to prove his potential, both have pressure to compete.
Free Agency: Sign Steve Nash 5-8mil for 3 years. All indications have pointed to Steve Nash making a 3 team short list, one of which includes Toronto. I see Toronto as the most likely for obvious reasons, most outstanding of which is his new appointed role as GM of the Canadian national team. Steve Nash is a real vet, and will help make everyone's transition to the raptors easier. I am dreaming of Steve Nash PnR with Jonas!
Sign & Trade: Nicholas Batum from the Portland Trailblazers. Before I get into the details, this is the only part of my process to build the team above that may not pan out, everything else is a really safe bet. Knowing Colangelo though, he is not afraid to go after the more creative of trades.
Portland Signs Batum to an 8-10 Million Dollar deal and immediately trades for:
-Jose Calderon - 9mil
-Ed Davis - 2mil
-2nd Round Pick #37
Toronto gets:
-Nicholas Batum - 8-10mil
There may also be a possible Trade Exception.
Rationale: Portland has lost its biggest salary eaters this season and are officially rebuilding. This means that they would love to have Ed Davis, cheap, young, and full of potential as well as a strong vet like Calderon, who they can easily eat the contract of for the next season, but will also gain a 9 mil expiring contract! His experience is needed on a team short of it, and he will help the rebuilding process by playing smart point and passing the way he does to develop Aldridge, Ed Davis, Luke Babbit, and Elliot Williams (possibly).
Toronto gains an increasingly versatile budding star. At the age of 23, he fits the mold of EXACTLY what the Raptors need. He is long and athletic, at 6'8'' he blocks with the best of them, plays defense in a way that would make Casey proud, has a smooth and polished but not spectacular offensive game. But who needs spectacular? His consistency at such a young age is refreshing and shows maturity. He has the potential to lead the raptors culture change by leading through example.
Re-Sign: Aaron Gray 2.5mil. Proved he is a solid Centre, and would do well with some consistent backup duties.
Overall Salary looks like:
Steve Nash (5-8mil for 3 years)
Bargnani 10 mil
Amir 6 mil
Bayless 4 mil
Demar 3 mil
Aaron 2.5 mil
James 2.8 mil
Batum 8-10 mil
Jonas Valancuinas 3.5 mil
Lillard 2.5 mil
Second round pick #56 <1 mil
48.3 - 53.3 mil in 11 players
Cap Room: 12 - 7 mil
Enough Cap Room to fill out roster, possibly keep Linas Kleiza, or other potential pick ups. This leaves us with enough financial flexibility to deepen our roster, and afford contract extensions next season!
Overall Case:
The Raptors Have to avoid being in the middle of the pack for years to come. This is the season with two fresh new rookies, one highly coveted and hyped up center of the future type, and Damian Lillard who is a steady pick at number 8. The signing of Batum is our answer at SF for multiple years to come, due to his proven potential at the young age of 23. Steve Nash will balance out the two rookies with his veteran experience at running the helm of the ship, will be very important for the successful development of our young ones. Bayless will be given another season before he is due for a contract to see what he is made of. If he comes in next season the same way we saw him through specific spurts the last 2 seasons, he has the potential to be a really good 6th man coming off the bench. I kept Amir Johnson instead of Ed Davis simply for Realistic matters, I wouldve rathered the developing Davis but so does Portland, anyways Johnson would be too expensive to sell to a rebuilding team. At the end of what may seem like a lot, we still maintain a lot of financial flexibility, and this team has the potential to become something really special. I see a great mix of shooting, defense, competence at ever position (no more Butlers in our starting lineup!), athleticism, and even character in this young lineup that can do nothing but continue to improve.
Pg: S.Nash, D.Lillard
Sg: D.Derozan, J. Bayless
Sf: N.Batum, J.Johnson
Pf: A.Bargnani, A.Johnson
C: J.Valancuinas, A.Gray
This really is broken down into 4 moves:
Draft, Free Agency, Sign & Trade, Re-sign
Draft: Damian Lillard at 8th pick. Easy enough, most mocks predict Lillard will drop to 8th, and recent reports read of strong workouts and strong impressions on most teams. Based on principle of best available, Lillard will probably be our safest choice, and would probably move Jared Bayless to the back up SG spot, where he can come on as a 6th man and become a spark to the team (he has a decent 3pt shot). It would create a dynamic where Bayless is playing for a contract, and Lillard is playing to prove his potential, both have pressure to compete.
Free Agency: Sign Steve Nash 5-8mil for 3 years. All indications have pointed to Steve Nash making a 3 team short list, one of which includes Toronto. I see Toronto as the most likely for obvious reasons, most outstanding of which is his new appointed role as GM of the Canadian national team. Steve Nash is a real vet, and will help make everyone's transition to the raptors easier. I am dreaming of Steve Nash PnR with Jonas!
Sign & Trade: Nicholas Batum from the Portland Trailblazers. Before I get into the details, this is the only part of my process to build the team above that may not pan out, everything else is a really safe bet. Knowing Colangelo though, he is not afraid to go after the more creative of trades.
Portland Signs Batum to an 8-10 Million Dollar deal and immediately trades for:
-Jose Calderon - 9mil
-Ed Davis - 2mil
-2nd Round Pick #37
Toronto gets:
-Nicholas Batum - 8-10mil
There may also be a possible Trade Exception.
Rationale: Portland has lost its biggest salary eaters this season and are officially rebuilding. This means that they would love to have Ed Davis, cheap, young, and full of potential as well as a strong vet like Calderon, who they can easily eat the contract of for the next season, but will also gain a 9 mil expiring contract! His experience is needed on a team short of it, and he will help the rebuilding process by playing smart point and passing the way he does to develop Aldridge, Ed Davis, Luke Babbit, and Elliot Williams (possibly).
Toronto gains an increasingly versatile budding star. At the age of 23, he fits the mold of EXACTLY what the Raptors need. He is long and athletic, at 6'8'' he blocks with the best of them, plays defense in a way that would make Casey proud, has a smooth and polished but not spectacular offensive game. But who needs spectacular? His consistency at such a young age is refreshing and shows maturity. He has the potential to lead the raptors culture change by leading through example.
Re-Sign: Aaron Gray 2.5mil. Proved he is a solid Centre, and would do well with some consistent backup duties.
Overall Salary looks like:
Steve Nash (5-8mil for 3 years)
Bargnani 10 mil
Amir 6 mil
Bayless 4 mil
Demar 3 mil
Aaron 2.5 mil
James 2.8 mil
Batum 8-10 mil
Jonas Valancuinas 3.5 mil
Lillard 2.5 mil
Second round pick #56 <1 mil
48.3 - 53.3 mil in 11 players
Cap Room: 12 - 7 mil
Enough Cap Room to fill out roster, possibly keep Linas Kleiza, or other potential pick ups. This leaves us with enough financial flexibility to deepen our roster, and afford contract extensions next season!
Overall Case:
The Raptors Have to avoid being in the middle of the pack for years to come. This is the season with two fresh new rookies, one highly coveted and hyped up center of the future type, and Damian Lillard who is a steady pick at number 8. The signing of Batum is our answer at SF for multiple years to come, due to his proven potential at the young age of 23. Steve Nash will balance out the two rookies with his veteran experience at running the helm of the ship, will be very important for the successful development of our young ones. Bayless will be given another season before he is due for a contract to see what he is made of. If he comes in next season the same way we saw him through specific spurts the last 2 seasons, he has the potential to be a really good 6th man coming off the bench. I kept Amir Johnson instead of Ed Davis simply for Realistic matters, I wouldve rathered the developing Davis but so does Portland, anyways Johnson would be too expensive to sell to a rebuilding team. At the end of what may seem like a lot, we still maintain a lot of financial flexibility, and this team has the potential to become something really special. I see a great mix of shooting, defense, competence at ever position (no more Butlers in our starting lineup!), athleticism, and even character in this young lineup that can do nothing but continue to improve.
Going this route leaves the Raptors with only minimum contracts and the $2.5M top up exception.
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