Looking Ahead: 2016 Free Agency

[planetmars]

Here's my main question about Demar's upcoming free agency: Does Masai have to re-sign him? The raptors are finally being taken seriously as a franchise and outside of Toronto I think DD is viewed as a max guy. Does it hurt the team's image if they let the only "superstar/max player" who wants to stay in Toronto (so DD says) leave? I can see Kenny and Chuck talking shit on NBA on TNT already. Not to mention Lowry and DD have become very close. Do the Raps get the same effort from KL of Demar is gone?

With that question being posed I'll say this for my own perspective: I think the real reason Lowry + Bench crushes all other lineups is because they subtracted Demar. I truly think this franchise is better without him.

Winning trumps everything. If the Raptors minus DD win (get to 50+ wins, and second/third round appearances in the playoffs), then nobody will say boo about DD not being around. It's a tough call for Masai but if he's analytically minded then he may have to make that call. It worked out when they shipped out Rudy and he was more of a friend to Kyle than DD is. Rudy is Kyle's son's godfather.

[DanH]

Here's my main question about Demar's upcoming free agency: Does Masai have to re-sign him? The raptors are finally being taken seriously as a franchise and outside of Toronto I think DD is viewed as a max guy. Does it hurt the team's image if they let the only "superstar/max player" who wants to stay in Toronto (so DD says) leave? I can see Kenny and Chuck talking shit on NBA on TNT already. Not to mention Lowry and DD have become very close. Do the Raps get the same effort from KL of Demar is gone?

With that question being posed I'll say this for my own perspective: I think the real reason Lowry + Bench crushes all other lineups is because they subtracted Demar. I truly think this franchise is better without him.

Kyle plus bench had a plus-16 net rating on the year.

DeMar plus bench had a plus-14 net rating on the year.

[Barolt]

Kyle plus bench had a plus-16 net rating on the year.

DeMar plus bench had a plus-14 net rating on the year.

To add to this, Lowry/DeMar/Ross/Patterson/JV had a +30.2 net rating as well.

[BrydenB]

To add to this, Lowry/DeMar/Ross/Patterson/JV had a +30.2 net rating as well.

Interesting... I guess my hypothesis is still that DD's production can be replicated at a fraction of the cost. Or at least the money he's asking for can be spent in a better way at a position of greater need.

[Barolt]

Interesting... I guess my hypothesis is still that DD's production can be replicated at a fraction of the cost. Or at least the money he's asking for can be spent in a better way at a position of greater need.

I don't completely disagree. I've argued myself there's a case for not re-signing him for the max. I don't think it's as guaranteed that his max contract can be traded later if needed.

[Bonus Jonas]

I have a feeling he resigns at lower than the max.

[Just Is]

I have a feeling he resigns at lower than the max.

He'd be crazy to not take the max if it's offered especially given that there is a LOT of money going around this off-season and not a lot of people to spend it on.

Unless the only team offering it is of the Lakers variety.

[Barolt]

He'd be crazy to not take the max if it's offered especially given that there is a LOT of money going around this off-season and not a lot of people to spend it on.

Unless the only team offering it is of the Lakers variety.

Not sure why so many are discounting the Lakers. Randle, Clarkson and Russell are talented, Jeanie Buss coming back to run the team, possible top 3 pick this year and $70 million in cap space. There is a real possibility that they're a contender coming into next season. The Lakers have done things like this before.

[blackjitsu]

Not sure why so many are discounting the Lakers. Randle, Clarkson and Russell are talented, Jeanie Buss coming back to run the team, possible top 3 pick this year and $70 million in cap space. There is a real possibility that they're a contender coming into next season. The Lakers have done things like this before.

Why do people discount the LAkers? If they improve by 10 games next year they will still be 20 games away from a playoff spot. Thanks to the Nick Young video leaking they've ostracized one of their young players. There's no leadership in the locker room. Byron Scott is an awful head coach.

We're talking about the peak of Demar's career. Does he really want to spend his best seasons out of the playoffs, so that he can become a poor man's Kobe?

[Bonus Jonas]

He'd be crazy to not take the max if it's offered especially given that there is a LOT of money going around this off-season and not a lot of people to spend it on.

Unless the only team offering it is of the Lakers variety.

Gut feeling tells me he'll take a slight home town discount to get the fifth year

His max is ~25M right? Wouldn't be too shocked if Masai convinced him to go for 5years/110M

[Chr1s1anL]

Why do people discount the LAkers? If they improve by 10 games next year they will still be 20 games away from a playoff spot. Thanks to the Nick Young video leaking they've ostracized one of their young players. There's no leadership in the locker room. Byron Scott is an awful head coach.

We're talking about the peak of Demar's career. Does he really want to spend his best seasons out of the playoffs, so that he can become a poor man's Kobe?

Very good point.

[Chr1s1anL]

Gut feeling tells me he'll take a slight home town discount to get the fifth year

His max is ~25M right? Wouldn't be too shocked if Masai convinced him to go for 5years/110M

I wouldn't be surprised. He signed a 9.5 mil deal while all his peers were geting 12 mil.

[ball4life]

I wouldn't be surprised. He signed a 9.5 mil deal while all his peers were geting 12 mil.

Which of his "peers"(Rick Ross voice) are you talking about?

[OldSkoolCool]

I wouldn't be surprised. He signed a 9.5 mil deal while all his peers were geting 12 mil.

At that time the 9.5 was an overpay of about 3 mil...

Dude sees green for sure. As should every pro player except when chasing a ring

[Chr1s1anL]

Which of his "peers"(Rick Ross voice) are you talking about?

Brandon Jennings, Ty Lawson, Steph(couldn't stay on the court) etc.