Everything 2018 Off Season

[Primer]

Internally, many in the Raptors organization believed that if seeding played out differently they could/would have beaten any other, non-Cavs East team in the playoffs the last 2 years. Granted Celts/Sixers will improve, but this is their chance to prove it. LeBron excuse is gone

— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) July 2, 2018

Well this is a pretty big indicator that we continue to set the bar too low. I guess we can expect more of the same for the next year or two. I wonder what it will take for the media/fans to start questioning Masai's strategy.

I feel like we're the favorites in the East right now, why should we be upset over where Masai's strategy got us?

[Ebonhawke]

I feel like we're the favorites in the East right now, why should we be upset over where Masai's strategy got us?

Boston and Philadelphia will be touted as the favourites to come out of the East. The arguments will be that Boston will have Kyrie/Heyward back in the lineup, Philly will have a full year of Embiid, a more-seasoned Ben Simmons, Markelle Fultz may be a contributor, etc etc

Raptors have to demonstrate that the bench lineup can actually be as dominant in the playoffs as it was in the regular season, and that the starters aren't as inconsistent in the playoffs than they have been in the past *cough*Serge*cough*

[Demographic Shift]

well...we have a path to the finals now.

Although Boston and Philly will both be a lot better even if they do nothing

I get Boston could be better....They get a very good wing in Hayward back but run the possibility they let Smart go. Unlikely. So the band that won 50 plus games could be back intact with a named rostered player coming in off IR. They will be better.

But at this writing..how the hell is Philly better? They lost have lost 2 of their 3 outside shooters and along with that some semblance of veteran leadership. Still time to make a pitch for Leonard...but until that happens or they sign Reddick...they are flat to down a bit. No?

[DogeLover1234]

LeBron is in a completely different level of athlete than those 2 though. I think Jordan was 35-36 when he retired in 98. And i think he led the league in scoring that year, he was still an elite elite player back then. If Jordan can still be an elite player at 36 why can't LeBron?

Just used his peers to give some context. Jordan is a really weird comp for longevity considering he took a year for baseball and retired for a couple years. LeBron has already played more minutes than MJ. Im not even saying that he wont be good, just that his contract may not look good when he is 37. Still a good get for the Lakers, i mean the guy is the best in the league and maybe the best ever.

Unrelated, not entirely sure i agree with the general sentiment here that Phily got worse so far. Sure they missed out on LeBron, but that was never really on the table. Plus the scary part about them has always been their youth, they dodnt lose anyone important. More scared of them next year than Boston tbh.

Not convinced LeBron to the Lakers means Masai stands pat. Thought has been for a while that LeBron would go to LA and rumors have been that Raps have been open to deals. Probably means any move has to be advantageous, but my theory is that Masai would want a good young core in that summer of 2020 to attract high end talent that year or the next.

[Blacklash2k4]

I get Boston could be better....They get a very good wing in Hayward back but run the possibility they let Smart go.
The band that won 50 plus games could be back intact with a named rostered player coming in off IR.

But at this writing..how the hell is Philly better? They lost have lost 2 of their 3 outside shooters and along with that some semblance of veteran leadership. Still time to make a pitch for Leonard...but until that happens or they sign Reddick...they are flat to down a bit. No?

I actually have to agree with this. Belinelli and Ilyasova were pretty fundamental parts of their team.

[Rudy Bargnani]

Internally, many in the Raptors organization believed that if seeding played out differently they could/would have beaten any other, non-Cavs East team in the playoffs the last 2 years. Granted Celts/Sixers will improve, but this is their chance to prove it. LeBron excuse is gone

— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) July 2, 2018

Well this is a pretty big indicator that we continue to set the bar too low. I guess we can expect more of the same for the next year or two. I wonder what it will take for the media/fans to start questioning Masai's strategy.

Dude the quote says the raps think they would have beat non cavs teams. That’s it.

[Blacklash2k4]

Just used his peers to give some context. Jordan is a really weird comp for longevity considering he took a year for baseball and retired for a couple years. LeBron has already played more minutes than MJ. Im not even saying that he wont be good, just that his contract may not look good when he is 37. Still a good get for the Lakers, i mean the guy is the best in the league and maybe the best ever.

Unrelated, not entirely sure i agree with the general sentiment here that Phily got worse so far. Sure they missed out on LeBron, but that was never really on the table. Plus the scary part about them has always been their youth, they dodnt lose anyone important. More scared of them next year than Boston tbh.

Not convinced LeBron to the Lakers means Masai stands pat. Thought has been for a while that LeBron would go to LA and rumors have been that Raps have been open to deals. Probably means any move has to be advantageous, but my theory is that Masai would want a good young core in that summer of 2020 to attract high end talent that year or the next.

yeah but one could argue that LeBron has enjoyed a lot more sport science technological advancements than Jordan did during his 30s.

[Blacklash2k4]

Elfrid Payton has agreed to a deal with the Pelicans, league sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 2, 2018

LOL just to keep the FA signing news rolling

[Blacklash2k4]

Free agent center JaVale McGee and Los Angeles Lakers have reached an agreement on a deal, league sources tell ESPN.

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 2, 2018

LOLOLOL THE LAKERS GET EVEN MORE JOKES! JAVALLE MCGEE TO SIGN WITH THE LAKERS!

So we will have LeBron, Stephenson, Ball and McGee all on the same team!

[S.R.]

Free agent center JaVale McGee and Los Angeles Lakers have reached an agreement on a deal, league sources tell ESPN.

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 2, 2018

LOLOLOL THE LAKERS GET EVEN MORE JOKES! JAVALLE MCGEE TO SIGN WITH THE LAKERS!

So we will have LeBron, Stephenson, Ball and McGee all on the same team!

It's gonna be chaos.

[DanH]

The Lakers are trying their best to lose this off-season in spite of signing LeBron freaking James. That's impressive.

[Blacklash2k4]

Lakers are gonna be Shaqtin a Fool gold lol

[golden]

So where's Boogie going? All the money's drying up quickly. lol. Do the Pels even want him back?

[DogeLover1234]

yeah but one could argue that LeBron has enjoyed a lot more sport science technological advancements than Jordan did during his 30s.

I agree, I also dont think Jordan is a good comp though. There is literally no comp for LeBron.

[007]

LeBron, Lance, Javale, KCP and the Ball family all in LA together ahahahahahahagahaahahaha