Raptors 2021-2022 Preseason + Training Camp

[grindhouse]

We have banton we don’t need Simmons in my opinion

[TrueTorontoFan]

Could use more defence? If there is anything this team has an abundance of, I would say its defence. And are we really lacking playmakers? I mean, no one jumps off the page in that regard, but between fred, barnes, dragic and pascal there is enough to work with, especially considering barnes is a rookie and we still have others like flynn and banton, young and eager to learn. Plus I think OG will prove to be adequate given his role, as will precious. And both of them will likely get better. We may lack a true floor general like lowry is and was for this team, but we have no black holes and it seems like, regardless of who's on the floor, everyone is willing and able to move the ball.

Ultimately, i don't think simmons solves any of our problems, only exacerbates them. And he also seems very immature, egotistical, and acts like a diva with a poor work ethic. No way I would trade boucher and trent + picks for him. I'm not sure I'd make that trade even if we were the ones receiving the picks. Simmons is a bum as far as I'm concerned.

Simmons does not have the maturity to help us with our problems and offensively doesn't have enough without the shooting to truly help us.

[JawsGT]

My take is that he's a really good defensive player and can quarter back a team on offense. We are lacking playmakers (well we have Scottie, but he needs time), and we could use more defense. The price tag is the important part of course.

If the pieces would be some combination of Dragic/Boucher/Trent with zero to only heavily protected picks going back, then I'd make the deal. And try to raise his trade value.

I do not trade Pascal, Scottie, Fred, Achiuawa or OG for him. And would not include a non-protected FRP. Everything left is just some poop really, and I doubt Philly would take it anyway. A team like Minny, Sacramento or San Antonio could offer a lot more.

Could use more defence? If there is anything this team has an abundance of, I would say its defence. And are we really lacking playmakers? I mean, no one jumps off the page in that regard, but between fred, barnes, dragic and pascal there is enough to work with, especially considering barnes is a rookie and we still have others like flynn and banton, young and eager to learn. Plus I think OG will prove to be adequate given his role, as will precious. And both of them will likely get better. We may lack a true floor general like lowry is and was for this team, but we have no black holes and it seems like, regardless of who's on the floor, everyone is willing and able to move the ball.

Ultimately, i don't think simmons solves any of our problems, only exacerbates them. And he also seems very immature, egotistical, and acts like a diva with a poor work ethic. No way I would trade boucher and trent + picks for him. I'm not sure I'd make that trade even if we were the ones receiving the picks. Simmons is a bum as far as I'm concerned.

[Shredder]

I don't think they have "too many weapons" at all. I think they're roster is pretty fugly. 34 year old Danny Green? Seth Curry?

Looking at rosters league wide the other day I thought they easily had one of the worst outside of their big guys. It's really Joel and Tobias and drops off mightily from there. They sorely lack something if they don't get some value from Ben.

I hope they crash and burn.

The salary cap is tight. To think that they are not playing with 30mil of said cap, it would take a very savvy FO to put a competitive team on the floor.

Not saying Philly is not competitive, but they would be more competitive if they were able to use the 30mil tied up currently on more useful players.

[GOLDBLUM]

The only time the pressure should mount for Philly is if they start off the season poorly. But they have too many weapons and should be a team operating above .500 even if Ben isn't playing.

I don't think they have "too many weapons" at all. I think they're roster is pretty fugly. 34 year old Danny Green? Seth Curry?

Looking at rosters league wide the other day I thought they easily had one of the worst outside of their big guys. It's really Joel and Tobias and drops off mightily from there. They sorely lack something if they don't get some value from Ben.

I hope they crash and burn.

[golden]

I cant believe some of you guys would actually trade for simmons....crazy.

Yeah, the juice ain't worth the squeeze.

[planetmars]

I cant believe some of you guys would actually trade for simmons....crazy.

My take is that he's a really good defensive player and can quarter back a team on offense. We are lacking playmakers (well we have Scottie, but he needs time), and we could use more defense. The price tag is the important part of course.

If the pieces would be some combination of Dragic/Boucher/Trent with zero to only heavily protected picks going back, then I'd make the deal. And try to raise his trade value.

I do not trade Pascal, Scottie, Fred, Achiuawa or OG for him. And would not include a non-protected FRP. Everything left is just some poop really, and I doubt Philly would take it anyway. A team like Minny, Sacramento or San Antonio could offer a lot more.

[planetmars]

Again they should have traded him previously. And if reports of him for CJ are true that would have worked and they could have just gotten as many assets as possible. They aren't getting Lillard that's just dumb. They also aren't going to get Beal.

Yup.. the Brogdon and picks rumour would have been ideal. Now Brogdon got an extension and can't be traded. Morey played this too safely. But I like that the power is back with the team here. If they can hang on to this. Just keep forcing Simmons to pay fines for not showing up to practice/games/etc. And then wait it out until more guys are available to be traded.

The only time the pressure should mount for Philly is if they start off the season poorly. But they have too many weapons and should be a team operating above .500 even if Ben isn't playing.

[JawsGT]

I cant believe some of you guys would actually trade for simmons....crazy.

[TrueTorontoFan]

Ben's name came up a lot during the Harden sweepstakes. That's probably when Ben had started mentally checking out. The playoff reactions were just the cherry on the top.

Again they should have traded him previously. And if reports of him for CJ are true that would have worked and they could have just gotten as many assets as possible. They aren't getting Lillard that's just dumb. They also aren't going to get Beal.

[JawsGT]

This is the correct take. Nobody has handled it well. Simmons is immature, Morey is a stubborn fool for the trade demand show he made all summer, and embiid as usual is just a loudmouth who doesn't care about his quotes going all over the internet.

You gotta think moreys trade demands were him trying to smooth things over. Make unrealistic demands to suggest the franchise still holds Ben in high regard. At least, thats my guess, cause even Morey cant actually think ben is worth an all star and 3-4 1st rounders.

[planetmars]

He really wasn't... and it got blown out of proportion for sure by the media. He is being a bit sensitive. There were multiple issues down the stretch.

Ben's name came up a lot during the Harden sweepstakes. That's probably when Ben had started mentally checking out. The playoff reactions were just the cherry on the top.

[TrueTorontoFan]

I watched that Doc Rivers post-game interview recently. He wasn't really all that damning. He quickly made a negative into a positive as well about Ben. Talked about his defense and how he was able to make life difficult for Trae. I think that got blown out of proportion.

Embiid as well talked about his own turnover that cost them the game.

At the end of the day Simmons is acting like a baby. But I hope the 76ers don't cave. Like seeing teams get their mojo back, even if it is Morey and the 76ers.

He really wasn't... and it got blown out of proportion for sure by the media. He is being a bit sensitive. There were multiple issues down the stretch.

[TrueTorontoFan]

This is the correct take. Nobody has handled it well. Simmons is immature, Morey is a stubborn fool for the trade demand show he made all summer, and embiid as usual is just a loudmouth who doesn't care about his quotes going all over the internet.

and everything you outlined is why I think kyrie would be a bad fit for them from the sixers stand point.


But looking at the situation... yeah its not a good look for anyone. I don't think anyone can fairly take sides. Ben has a point from his end. This hasn't worked. They outlined that it can't work and yet he is still expected to contribute to this situation. On the flip side they the only way he can realistically be traded any faster is by going and showing up and playing well. He has tanked his value so much and he is largely an unknown. He isn't like Harden coming off two MVP campaigns. He is an unproven player with hype surrounding him. He may be great. He may be good, he may be OK. We just don't know. That is also part of the reason why him on the raptors would be interesting as an experiment but I wouldn't suggest trading Siakam for him. That would be... silly.

Mentally Ben seems to have a few issues that he needs to work out. That isn't exactly the easiest thing to do.

[planetmars]

I watched that Doc Rivers post-game interview recently. He wasn't really all that damning. He quickly made a negative into a positive as well about Ben. Talked about his defense and how he was able to make life difficult for Trae. I think that got blown out of proportion.

Embiid as well talked about his own turnover that cost them the game.

At the end of the day Simmons is acting like a baby. But I hope the 76ers don't cave. Like seeing teams get their mojo back, even if it is Morey and the 76ers.