Zach lowe did a full on raptors column today- how do they get from "good" to "great"

[Uncle_Si]

Figured it out. We need KD to not resign in OKC. Then Masai can work his magic to acquire Serge Ibaka. Some picks, Ross, Bebe, PPat? I don't care. Whatever combination it is.

Lowry
DeRozan
Carroll
Ibaka
JV

Championship.

And if you wanted a terrifying defensive line up

CoJo
Lowry
Carroll
Ibaka
Biyombo

That's ridiculous...

[S.R.]

This has nothing to do with liking/not liking Gasol, who has been an All-NBA centre, but the article suggests it would take JV plus multiple pieces to get him. If at some point the Raps do go all-in on a win-now trade, I think the target has to be better than this year's Marc Gasol.

Celtics were a great example - cashed in to put KG/Ray/Pierce together and we're clearly and immediately a contender. But if, like the Raptors, your current team is winning and you're considering shipping key pieces + prospects out for a new player, you have to be sure. I'm not sure Marc Gasol even gets this team to the ECF, depending on match-up.

[A.I]

This has nothing to do with liking/not liking Gasol, who has been an All-NBA centre, but the article suggests it would take JV plus multiple pieces to get him. If at some point the Raps do go all-in on a win-now trade, I think the target has to be better than this year's Marc Gasol.

Celtics were a great example - cashed in to put KG/Ray/Pierce together and we're clearly and immediately a contender. But if, like the Raptors, your current team is winning and you're considering shipping key pieces + prospects out for a new player, you have to be sure. I'm not sure Marc Gasol even gets this team to the ECF, depending on match-up.

KG/Pierce/Allen are all Hall of Famers though, definitely are better than Lowry/DD/Gasol. Also Doc Rivers and we have Casey.
And no Gasol won't be enough. No point going all in unless you are 100% certain you can get past the Cavs and possibly challenge whoever makes the Finals from the West. Even if the Raptors get to the Finals with Gasol, we're definitely going to get steamrolled by the Warriors or Spurs.

[Primer]

I really don't think Durant is going to leave OKC. Billy Donovan has that team playing great and they're loaded with talent. Our best chance was Donovan flopping as a coach but that hasn't happened. I expect Durant to sign a huge 5 year deal with OKC. Durant would be pretty fucking stupid to think he has a better chance at winning a title by coming here or going to Washington.

[JWash]

I really don't think Durant is going to leave OKC. Billy Donovan has that team playing great and they're loaded with talent. Our best chance was Donovan flopping as a coach but that hasn't happened. I expect Durant to sign a huge 5 year deal with OKC. Durant would be pretty fucking stupid to think he has a better chance at winning a title by coming here or going to Washington.

Imo Durant would have a better chance of winning here than in OKC. Not necessarily because we're better but because you just have to beat LeBron. In the West you have to go through a gauntlet. Like this year the way things are shaping up he's going to have to get through the Spurs and Warriors (who both have all-time great SRS right now) just to get a SHOT at LBJ in the finals.

Among the teams that could feasibly acquire Durant in the offseason, I actually think we're the best fit for him. Obviously there's a significant amount of bias in there, not going to deny that but that's how I feel.

Doesn't hurt that he was a Raptors fan, seems to love Drake and love the city of Toronto too.

[Primer]

Imo Durant would have a better chance of winning here than in OKC. Not necessarily because we're better but because you just have to beat LeBron. In the West you have to go through a gauntlet. Like this year the way things are shaping up he's going to have to get through the Spurs and Warriors (who both have all-time great SRS right now) just to get a SHOT at LBJ in the finals.

Among the teams that could feasibly acquire Durant in the offseason, I actually think we're the best fit for him. Obviously there's a significant amount of bias in there, not going to deny that but that's how I feel.

Doesn't hurt that he was a Raptors fan, seems to love Drake and love the city of Toronto too.

OKC is so much more talented than our squad, and has a better coach. I still like his chances a lot more on OKC than on our squad. Spurs also have a lot of old dudes on their squad about ready to retire, so OKC could slip into the #2 spot next season pretty easily.

The East has a lot of up and coming teams and is much better than the West as a whole this season, I don't think he'd have a much easier time getting to the Finals in the East than he would in the West.

[Just Is]

I really don't think Durant is going to leave OKC. Billy Donovan has that team playing great and they're loaded with talent. Our best chance was Donovan flopping as a coach but that hasn't happened. I expect Durant to sign a huge 5 year deal with OKC. Durant would be pretty fucking stupid to think he has a better chance at winning a title by coming here or going to Washington.

He's most likely doing a 1+1 then signing that big contract with OKC.

[Primer]

He's most likely doing a 1+1 then signing that big contract with OKC.

Could see that too, far more likely than him leaving all that talent behind to come play with us or Washington.

[Just Is]

Could see that too, far more likely than him leaving all that talent behind to come play with us or Washington.

There were only two chances for Durant to leave: the coach flopping and the ownership being cheap next year (as Westbrooke and Ibaka contracts are up and I can see both getting Max offers). The first didn't happen; the second might still happen which is why I said the 1+1.

The guy I think we might have a real chance of nabbing is Ibaka.