Everything Off Season

[TheWaterboy]

I have this scary thought that popped into my head this morning. George can't be traded for a year, but now is locked up for 4 more years. Giannis enters free agency. Takes a meeting with LAC because his girlfriend is from there, they are contenders (have Kawhi), etc. LAC pitches a S&T with Milwaukee where George goes there, and LAC gets Giannis.

Milwaukee does that to get an all-star in return for Giannis but also is locked up for 4 years (they are not a free agent destination).

Serge comes back (has a player option).

Lowry enters free agency too, and goes to LA to play with Kawhi/Serge and Giannis, and to win another chip.

So Balmer steals Kawhi, then Serge, then Giannis and Kyle from Masai in back to back to back seasons.
if

I don't see Kawhi being happy on the Clippers with Paul George leaving even with Giannis coming back. Remember that Paul George was his choice to bring to the Clippers.

I also don't think Kyle signs for MLE money. Kyle is still a 20-to-25 mil a year player, and signing for the MLE is leaving a lot of money on the table. And signing for the MLE (or with another exception) is the only way a Clippers signing of Kyle would work.

(I'm also trying to remember whether it would be the Bucks or the Clippers that would be hard-capped due to this sign and trade; I think it might actually be the Clippers, in which case the MLE is out the window and we would be talking taking the Vet minimum instead, if this scenario is even possible.)

[planetmars]

Worst nightmare, I don't see Giannis teaming up to form a super team, he's not that type of guy.

[planetmars]

I don't see Kawhi being happy on the Clippers with Paul George leaving even with Giannis coming back. Remember that Paul George was his choice to bring to the Clippers.

I also don't think Kyle signs for MLE money. Kyle is still a 20-to-25 mil a year player, and signing for the MLE is leaving a lot of money on the table. And signing for the MLE (or with another exception) is the only way a Clippers signing of Kyle would work.

(I'm also trying to remember whether it would be the Bucks or the Clippers that would be hard-capped due to this sign and trade; I think it might actually be the Clippers, in which case the MLE is out the window and we would be talking taking the Vet minimum instead, if this scenario is even possible.)

Kawhi wanted to play with a star.. he had called KD, Butler, Beal and George about moving to LA with him. George was the only option it seemed.. but he just wanted to pair up with someone to get to LA and leave Toronto.

With regards to Kyle.. I am with you on his new contract. But do we really know if he would be willing to take a lot less just to win another ring? He'd have Kawhi and Serge in LA. And the Raptors might toy with him if they pursue other free agents. If we use the cap space to sign someone, we pretty much lose Kyle too. Since the only thing we could offer him is the room Mid-Level (which is about $5M).

I believe both teams would be hard capped. But the Clippers would make about $4M less since Giannis starts at $35M and George will make $39M.

[planetmars]

Anyway, sorry to ruin everyone's morning with my hot take lol. I'll put my optimistic hat back on. We have Masai. I have faith in him.

[Rudy Bargnani]

Anyway, sorry to ruin everyone's morning with my hot take lol. I'll put my optimistic hat back on. We have Masai. I have faith in him.

There is something about being a raps fan for a long time...despite the championship and all the recent success we are still conditioned to expect heartache. Lol.

[GOLDBLUM]

I have this scary thought that popped into my head this morning. George can't be traded for a year, but now is locked up for 4 more years. Giannis enters free agency. Takes a meeting with LAC because his girlfriend is from there, they are contenders (have Kawhi), etc. LAC pitches a S&T with Milwaukee where George goes there, and LAC gets Giannis.

Milwaukee does that to get an all-star in return for Giannis but also is locked up for 4 years (they are not a free agent destination).

Serge comes back (has a player option).

Lowry enters free agency too, and goes to LA to play with Kawhi/Serge and Giannis, and to win another chip.

So Balmer steals Kawhi, then Serge, then Giannis and Kyle from Masai in back to back to back seasons.

goddamnit pm

This makes so much sense. More sense than anything I’ve ever heard of or thought of on the matter. I can see it now, step by step by step.

Thanks for ruining the next year for me so succinctly.



(Where’s Dan at?? Tell me why this can’t and won’t happen. ..... I won’t believe it unless it comes from Dan. DAAAAANNNNNNN!!!!!! lol)

[GOLDBLUM]

Giannis, Kawhi and Lowry would be such a beautiful big 3.


it was supposed to happen here.



this son of a bish

[LJ2]

If you had a choice between Kawhi and Giannis, which would it be? Both have their pros and cons, but I think Kawhi as he has proven he can be great at the highest level.

[The Great One]

If you had a choice between Kawhi and Giannis, which would it be? Both have their pros and cons, but I think Kawhi as he has proven he can be great at the highest level.

I'd take Kawhi over Giannis in a heartbeat.

[The Great One]

NBA is back tonight!

[GOLDBLUM]

Anyway, sorry to ruin everyone's morning with my hot take lol. I'll put my optimistic hat back on. We have Masai. I have faith in him.

In my continuing downward spiral, since you’ve poisoned my mind, pm...

This also makes so much sense if we assume that the Clips once again fail to get over the hump this year and dethrone Lebron...

If the Clips were already unbeatable, Giannis, in joining them, would come off as the KD figure, which he’s already said in the past that he has no respect for. (Though I still wouldn’t put that decision past him.)

... this way however, if the Clips underachieve, just lacking one last piece that could put them over the top ... GA comes in to be just that piece, and secures the legacy that he’s actually hoping to achieve, and does it (sort of) his way.

Meanwhile, Paul George, who could perhaps already be on the verge of a downward slope, just secured nearly a quarter of a billion dollars, and rides off as a Buck into the sunset.

As far as I can see it, the only way we can stop this inevitability is for our squad to completely and utterly coalesce this year, and for Pascal to show he’s the superior superstar with which to team up, over one, Kawhi Leonard.

That shouldn’t be too difficult...

annnnywayyyyy

BASKETBALL TONIGHT

RAPTORS RETURN TOMORROW

[GOLDBLUM]

In all seriousness... And aside from doomsday thinking, I’m truly super excited for this upcoming season and for the return of Raptors basketball, and I really hope that this year can be enjoyed in its fullness for its own merits (merits which I expect to be thrilling and plentiful), and not to spend all year expressly living down the road to free agency in 2021. I think it’ll REALLY suck for the players if that’s all that’s being spoken about in the media narrative, and all that’s hanging over the team’s and franchise’s heads. Not to mention if it’s all that we can think and talk about on these boards.

I’ve been a faithful fan for so many years past. Nothing’s gonna stop me from enjoying the present. (And yes, from looking forward to whatever the future may hold.)

[slaw]

If you had a choice between Kawhi and Giannis, which would it be? Both have their pros and cons, but I think Kawhi as he has proven he can be great at the highest level.

Kawhi's chronic leg injury plays a big factor here. Watching him completely fall apart in second halves of that Nuggets series feels like an omen of things to come. He's a great player but whether he can make it through 4 playoff rounds at a high level is now a question mark. Can't shake the feeling that Toronto got the most out of Kawhi he was capable of - that was his peak and it's all downhill from there.

Giannis is just entering his prime.

[SkywalkerAC]

Man I love this Raptors roster. So many options for Nurse.

[golden]

goddamnit pm

This makes so much sense. More sense than anything I’ve ever heard of or thought of on the matter. I can see it now, step by step by step.

Thanks for ruining the next year for me so succinctly.



(Where’s Dan at?? Tell me why this can’t and won’t happen. ..... I won’t believe it unless it comes from Dan. DAAAAANNNNNNN!!!!!! lol)

If Giannis leaves, why would the Bucks take on the albatross salary of PG - an injury prone player on the wrong side of 30? Especially when they'd also want to be in tank mode and re-loading with picks. Problem is, OKC has all of the Clippers picks. Clippers would need to find a 3rd team with picks who believes that PG puts them over the top or makes them relevant (hello, Knicks).