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ESPN Insider Projection: 37-45, 7th East, 2nd Atlantic

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  • #16
    I have to admit, I agree with ESPN that the Raptors will get 7th, but it won't be with a sub-.500 record! The East didn't get worse over the summer - there are some wild cards out there - the brittle Knicks, will the Cavs have a healthy Bynum & Varejao, etc... but 37 wins isn't landing in 7th.

    "7. Toronto Raptors – 34-48 last season, projected 44-38

    The Raptors have brought back the core of last season’s roster that played .500 ball after the Rudy Gay trade and have upgraded the Andrea Bargnani anchor that had been holding them back last year with three-point shooting specialist Steve Novak and the physical play of Tyler Hansbrough."

    Predicting the NBA East and West Standings - Pro Bball Report

    Ujiri has said he was running with Lowry & Gay to see where it goes and the Raptors new GM just tells it like it is. You don't have to read between the lines with this guy. If the Raptors are playing well, both of these players will be with the team at the end of the year - if not, he expects they'll be gone or leave on their own. There won't be a trade to tank the season - unless the season was tanking beforehand already. (ESPN doesn't exactly show up at the press conferences and scrums to listen to Ujiri talk and Ujiri is worth listening to)
    The best Raptors discussion board is at Raptors Republic.

    Stephen Brotherston, Pro Bball Report

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    • #17
      brothersteve wrote: View Post
      I have to admit, I agree with ESPN that the Raptors will get 7th, but it won't be with a sub-.500 record! The East didn't get worse over the summer - there are some wild cards out there - the brittle Knicks, will the Cavs have a healthy Bynum & Varejao, etc... but 37 wins isn't landing in 7th.

      "7. Toronto Raptors – 34-48 last season, projected 44-38

      The Raptors have brought back the core of last season’s roster that played .500 ball after the Rudy Gay trade and have upgraded the Andrea Bargnani anchor that had been holding them back last year with three-point shooting specialist Steve Novak and the physical play of Tyler Hansbrough."

      Predicting the NBA East and West Standings - Pro Bball Report

      Ujiri has said he was running with Lowry & Gay to see where it goes and the Raptors new GM just tells it like it is. You don't have to read between the lines with this guy. If the Raptors are playing well, both of these players will be with the team at the end of the year - if not, he expects they'll be gone or leave on their own. There won't be a trade to tank the season - unless the season was tanking beforehand already. (ESPN doesn't exactly show up at the press conferences and scrums to listen to Ujiri talk and Ujiri is worth listening to)
      Exactly.

      He was asked specifically about tanking by a fan last night and his reply was, "We'll take it as it comes."

      He was asked how do the Raptors go about bringing in free agents and his reply was, "We have to put the right basketball players and the right talent on the court."

      Both Masai and Leiweke are talking about championships. It is probably because I'm a bitter, jaded Raptor fan (I joke - ever so slightly) and I am not in the 'circle' of the league, but outside of a few role players and a blossoming JV, I don't see the right basketball players or talent currently on the floor in Toronto to build when you consider the CBA. Leiweke said they are prepared to be tax payers but even with that desire you still need to send salary out to take more back and after that it is just exceptions (mini-MLE for taxpayers at just $3M) and minimum contracts. If the desire is to be a tax payer and compete at all costs, it makes sense to get your talent through the draft and then extend them when the time comes with no worries of breaking up a team a la OKC/Harden.

      One thing that gives me great hope if the plan is to build while competing is the draft history of the Bucks while Weltman was there and of Masai's two picks in Denver (10-22 draft picks).

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