How should Raps roster be constructed to beat CAVS next season?

[lewro]

He's also got a black belt so he can call Bron a bitch and back it up. Sign partynextdoor as assistant global ambassador.

[92TillInfinity]

I think they end up keeping JJ. And if they can't pull off a trade for a big upgrade right away, I'd bet they give him the max they can (6-8M per year) but get some non-guaranteed years in return, so he can be a trade chip at the next draft. Having both him and Ross and prospects available as salary ballast means you can easily take back 20-25M+ contracts.

Fully agree with this. Based on articles I've read, and the scenes I see on Open Gym, JJ has been a really good influence on the young guys on the team (Bruno, Bebe, Norm, Delon). I think he's finally realized he can impact this team without being "utilized" on the court. Additionally, he's pretty unique in terms of size and footwork. As mentioned by DanH, he's great salary ballast if we need it, and he provides great depth at wing and PF, should something go wrong mid-season or we need someone to battle with the Joe Johnsons/Justice Winslows/LeBrons/Stanley Johnson/Carmelo type guys in the league.

[DanH]

I have been thinking that if the Raps are looking to dethrone Cleveland, shouldn't they be looking to re-sign or replace JJ? They're going to be a team without a big wing defender again. Who do you go to after Carroll when defending LBJ?

I think they end up keeping JJ. And if they can't pull off a trade for a big upgrade right away, I'd bet they give him the max they can (6-8M per year) but get some non-guaranteed years in return, so he can be a trade chip at the next draft. Having both him and Ross and prospects available as salary ballast means you can easily take back 20-25M+ contracts.

[S.R.]

I have been thinking that if the Raps are looking to dethrone Cleveland, shouldn't they be looking to re-sign or replace JJ? They're going to be a team without a big wing defender again. Who do you go to after Carroll when defending LBJ?

[LJ2]

1. Keep in mind that Carroll had a slough of injuries during the playoffs. History suggests that he can play much better defense on LBJ.

2. I thought JJ played solid defense on LeBron when given the opportunity. Additionally, he was hitting threes when he was out there. Not sure why he didn't get more time when he appeared to be the only guy capable of slowing down LeBron's freight-train drives to the hoop.

Yeah, I was trying to take into account Carroll's injuries, but even dating back to the playoffs against Atlanta when Carroll was there, LBJ just has too much size and strength on him.

[JimiCliff]

Sign Lebron James.

[92TillInfinity]

We don't know what the Cav's roster will look like next season. If we are constructing a team to beat the Cav's of this year then I think we need someone with better size to defend LeBron (Carroll just not big enough and JJ just not smart enough), and better outside shooting.

1. Keep in mind that Carroll had a slough of injuries during the playoffs. History suggests that he can play much better defense on LBJ.

2. I thought JJ played solid defense on LeBron when given the opportunity. Additionally, he was hitting threes when he was out there. Not sure why he didn't get more time when he appeared to be the only guy capable of slowing down LeBron's freight-train drives to the hoop.

[KeonClark]

LeBron plays PF in the playoffs.

Lebron is their best center power forward and point guard, but can't shoot. Lebron is a 4/1 playing 3, Thompson a 4 playing 5, kyrie is an undersized shooting guard.

They're a really messed up team, but any team with lbj and a couple guys who can shoot wins 60 and goes to the finals in the east

[rightsideup]

LeBron plays PF in the playoffs.

not against us

[LJ2]

We literally paid 15mil to get a big defender at SF and now you want another one?

LeBron plays PF in the playoffs.

[Bendit]

Best way to reconstruct the Raptors?

Bron Bron can opt out after the season. Masai should sign him. Matter closed.

[planetmars]

Obviously we all want a championship.. but the goal for 2016-2017 should be to repeat what we just did this year. Getting to another ECF game 6 would be a successful year for me. It's 2017-2018 where we consider taking that next leap if we can repeat it.

There is a lot of luck in the NBA. If JV was healthy and Carroll was in early 2014-2015 form maybe this team takes the Cavs?

The Cavs are beatable.. they just had a fairly easy rode to the finals. Next year doesn't need to be the same. What if they face a more hungry Detroit team in round one.. one that doesn't have those playoff jitters and they steal two or three games? What if they face Indiana and LBJ has to go through George like DD had to? What if they face Miami and both Bosh and Whiteside are healthy? What if Boston ends up with a star like Cousins, Butler or a combo or their #3 pick turns into a stud?

There are a lot of what if's.. and it's not a guarantee that the Cavs are in the finals or even in the eastern conference finals. Ultimately the Raptors shouldn't be planning to beat just one team.

The goal is to clean up the stuff that they didn't do so well in. Maybe give some more usage to JV so that DD doesn't have to do too much. Upgrade Scola and perhaps they start games well instead of having to climb back from a little bit of a hole that was created. And just hope and pray that KLOE is back healthy and as hungry as he was this past year.

[S.R.]

I wouldn't aim to beat the Cavs, their roster is flawed and Lebron's on the wrong side of 30. The Raptors managed to take 2 games against them this year with no JV, Carroll MIA, and a wonky postseason from Lowry and DD. Frankly the Raptors can be a lot better. Add a new starting 4 and they're ready to give Cleveland a 7 game series.

I don't know how the Raptors could ever keep JV on the floor against GS's small lineups, but OKC gave me a lot of hope. There's a team with two ball dominant wing players that stuck with their size and physicality on the front line and they gave GS a very good run (and would definitely be beating Clevleand right now, too).

Honestly the Raptors should keep doing what they're doing. Find a starting 4, keep developing and integrating JV, and who knows when that put-you-over-the-top transaction becomes a possibility (if it ever does), but the Raptors have the value contracts and young assets needed if another 'Melo, Paul, Gasol, or Harden-type becomes available in the next season or two. Can't predict that, but MU's pretty well positioned for it.

[Gambino]

The reality is, we're a good, maybe very good team right now. But we aren't a great team.

And it's easier to go from being bad to good than it is to go from good to great.

Everybody knows this already, we're trying to figure out how to achieve that last step not lamenting the fact that we haven't done so yet.

[Barolt]

I don't know man. It took 15 years to get a "good team" again. LOL

But we've never had a great team. At any time in the NBA there are ~5-10 good teams, and ~2-4 great teams.

What I was trying to say is that the next move is the hardest one to make. It's easy to come up with ideas that might make us better, it's much harder to measure the cost in terms of chemistry, and other intangibles, areas where we were very strong this year.