Everything 2021-22 Free Agency / Off-Season

[TrueTorontoFan]

I've seen Dragic and Boucher being thrown around, thats the most I'd give up for Simmons.

ditto

[Hotshot]

Keeping an eye on free agency summer 2025 👀

[A.I]

again you only trade for him if you arent giving up scottie, siakam, og.


I wouldn't trade FVV personally and I don't think the raptors do either because it would put a lot of trent's shoulders which I think would be a BAD move. I would only do it if its Trent and Dragic for example. You would also need to have a LONG conversation with him.

I've seen Dragic and Boucher being thrown around, thats the most I'd give up for Simmons.

[TrueTorontoFan]

Maybe, it would depend on what they had to give up to get Simmons. At the very least one of Siakam, OG or FVV. And the presence in the locker room, blah.

again you only trade for him if you arent giving up scottie, siakam, og.


I wouldn't trade FVV personally and I don't think the raptors do either because it would put a lot of trent's shoulders which I think would be a BAD move. I would only do it if its Trent and Dragic for example. You would also need to have a LONG conversation with him.

[LJ2]

it would be a good team

Maybe, it would depend on what they had to give up to get Simmons. At the very least one of Siakam, OG or FVV. And the presence in the locker room, blah.

[TrueTorontoFan]

That's cool but who puts the ball on the basket on that lineup my man? We need a scorer more than yet another defence-first guy . Opposing defences would ignore/sag off Simmons on the perimeter so they could pack and the paint, double Siakam and clog the lane for Scottie. Our half court-defence would be reduced to Fred shots from the logo and the occasional OG corner 3.

Simmons also doesn't accept playing the 5. It's been tried. He wants to be a non-shooting point guard. In 2022. I'd get him as a buy-low asset that could be flipped later for more value, otherwise I'd pass.

Siakam, and OG and FVV in that line up should cause enough offensive pressure. Again in my proposed scenario you aren't giving up any of your top line talent so flipping him if it doesn't work is possible in that scenario.


It would require simmons to catch the ball on dribble hand offs and going downhill that is his best attacking feature.


The issue I have with simmons is not so much his 3point shot, instead its the fact that he can't shoot free throws. If that is the case he will become a problem and will be effectively played off the floor regardless of defence. Since he is your primary ball handler he will become an easy target for hack a shaq. In my proposed scenario you would sit his ass down and say look you are going to nurses shooting camp and then from there you make him into a 25-30% shooter. If he ends up playing at even THAT level its good. Him, Siakam, and Barnes provides enough playmaking and passing to find good openings. He would also have to be ok with a spread out offense. He can't be the #1 guy on offense. But you can run an offense through him if that makes sense.

[TrueTorontoFan]

It would be hilarious to play a line up where everyone was that tall and long. We might be the most boring tam to watch on offence though LOL

it would be a good team

[LJ2]

It would be hilarious to play a line up where everyone was that tall and long. We might be the most boring tam to watch on offence though LOL

[inthepaint]

I have changed my opinion on Simmons. Still don't think he is a number one guy but he is talented and he could potentially work on this team. You would have to keep Scottie, OG, Fred, Pascal. Everyone else can be on the table and future assets.


If you had a line up of Simmons at the 5, with Scottie, Siakam, Fred, OG. it would be a ridiculous line up defensively.

That's cool but who puts the ball on the basket on that lineup my man? We need a scorer more than yet another defence-first guy . Opposing defences would ignore/sag off Simmons on the perimeter so they could pack and the paint, double Siakam and clog the lane for Scottie. Our half court-defence would be reduced to Fred shots from the logo and the occasional OG corner 3.

Simmons also doesn't accept playing the 5. It's been tried. He wants to be a non-shooting point guard. In 2022. I'd get him as a buy-low asset that could be flipped later for more value, otherwise I'd pass.

[inthepaint]

Which doesn't happen unless the other guys are drawing attention. Serge is/was a good player but no Alpha Dog the way it is generally used. He's a good 3rd or 4th banana.

Exactly, and every team needs guys like that. Someone to be a pressure release when your main core guys are game planned against. Norm was another one fitting that description and got us out of the woods many times. Superstars alone with no supporting depth don't win anything.

The other thing is, playoff games in the nba level are very nuanced/complex with a lot of adjustments and counter-adjustments that often go under the radar. Especially games 5-6-7 where teams have played each other consecutively multiple times. You're not gonna get 4 or 5 starters all putting up 11 shots each on 60% efficiency with good defence and rebounding to boot. If you do it's a blowout, and that's pretty rare in game 7's. The opposing defence is gonna take something away.

That said, as long as your main guys continue to put pressure on it and space it (while also taking care of their own defence like our main guys did), good role players will find more space and take advantage offensively. Until there's an opponent adjustment to close that door, which may in turn open another one, and so on.

Ultimately though, 2-way teams with good depth that exert a collective pressure on offence - meaning not passing up open shots, putting pressure on the rim etc (like the Raps that year), are very, very difficult to be beaten on a 7-game series. Especially with a superior coach, homecourt advantage, and tons of combined, deep playoff experience like that team.

[TrueTorontoFan]

I have changed my opinion on Simmons. Still don't think he is a number one guy but he is talented and he could potentially work on this team. You would have to keep Scottie, OG, Fred, Pascal. Everyone else can be on the table and future assets.


If you had a line up of Simmons at the 5, with Scottie, Siakam, Fred, OG. it would be a ridiculous line up defensively.

[GOLDBLUM]

Which doesn't happen unless the other guys are drawing attention. Serge is/was a good player but no Alpha Dog the way it is generally used. He's a good 3rd or 4th banana.

Thank god Serge was on that day. When he splashed the shot right in Ben’s grill…. One of my favourite moments from the run.

[Puffer]

...and 1 guy off the bench with less attention from the opposing D, surprising everyone with a good scoring punch (Serge).

Which doesn't happen unless the other guys are drawing attention. Serge is/was a good player but no Alpha Dog the way it is generally used. He's a good 3rd or 4th banana.

[inthepaint]

Serge had 17 points on only 10 shots. Not 17 shots. lol. That's one of the main reasons why we won that game. Memories indeed getting foggy.

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401129105

Yes, you're correct, typo on my end, only 10 shots taken for a very efficient 17pts. If anything though, that reinforces the point that the other guys weren't afraid to shoot or anything, Lowry put up 13 shots, Siakam 11, even old Gasol put up 8 (all similar to Serge's FGA's) - it's just that none of them on that particular game had Serge's efficiency. That happens sometimes when players are heavily game planned against (like Siakam and Lowry were on that one). They still locked down defensively, grabbed boards, did playmaking, and took their shots.

The only duds on that game (the whole series actually) were Fred & Green. In the end, that was a pretty textbook game-7 win: 1 superstar doing his thing (Kawhi); 2 or 3 other starters heavily game-planned against but still putting up shots, defending and doing all the other necessary stuff (Siakam, Lowry, Gasol); and 1 guy off the bench with less attention from the opposing D, surprising everyone with a good scoring punch (Serge).

[Puffer]

I guess asking, "Can we get him for free" is expressing interest.