Everything Derozan

[DanH]

I have no doubt the team could still win 50 games without DeMar.

We will get nowhere in the playoffs still though. Without high-end, superstar talent, we are not ever going to win shit.

Rebuild, tank and go get some. Any other move barring trading for one is a terrible fucking idea.

This team can't tank. They have too much quality depth. The young pieces that give us hope for the future would limit this team's floor at like 35 wins. Never mind that they likely can't get off Lowry or Ibaka's deals without trading picks, which kind of defeats the point.

If there is a rebuild decision point, it comes at earliest next summer, not this summer. Next summer Ibaka and Lowry may have value, potentially in a deal to absorb a bad contract and get picks in the process.

For now, you see what you can do over the next year while maintaining flexibility and seeing what you have in the rest of your pieces. That, in my mind, means moving DeMar (who is most likely on the team to get you a lotto pick in return) and getting a new coach. Unless you double down on this core and bring them all back. I'm leaning to the former.

[Shaolin Fantastic]

We have a pretty huge sample of DeMar sitting and the team being just fine, even without Lowry out there, unlike prior years when Lowry had to carry the offence when DeMar was on the bench or out.

I have no doubt the team could still win 50 games without DeMar.

We will get nowhere in the playoffs still though. Without high-end, superstar talent, we are not ever going to win shit.

Rebuild, tank and go get some. Any other move barring trading for one is a terrible fucking idea.

[DanH]

I gotta disagree with that or at least get a better idea of what sort of player you think would fit well to replace him. Having too many role players sort of makes you one dimensional doesn't it? Who do you go to when shots aren't falling? What reason does the defence have for not sticking to those role players like glue?

We have a pretty huge sample of DeMar sitting and the team being just fine, even without Lowry out there, unlike prior years when Lowry had to carry the offence when DeMar was on the bench or out.

[LJ2]

What do you do when you have to bench your leading scorer in playoff games?

Hopefully your a leading scorer that doesn't need benching.

[S.R.]

I gotta disagree with that or at least get a better idea of what sort of player you think would fit well to replace him. Having too many role players sort of makes you one dimensional doesn't it? Who do you go to when shots aren't falling? What reason does the defence have for not sticking to those role players like glue?

What do you do when you have to bench your leading scorer in playoff games?

[LJ2]

This year's offence works fine without a high usage option. Last year, I'd have been very concerned. Heck, that's why I was so on board with re-signing DeMar when he was a FA. He was necessary to the old system. Not so in this one.

I gotta disagree with that or at least get a better idea of what sort of player you think would fit well to replace him. Having too many role players sort of makes you one dimensional doesn't it? Who do you go to when shots aren't falling? What reason does the defence have for not sticking to those role players like glue?

[DanH]

I agree. I was responding to a comment that was made where someone was saying you could trade Demar and it doesn't mean major changes to the team (though I may have interpreted the posters quote incorrectly). I think if you trade the centre piece of the team it will require a lot of changes. If you replace him and his high usage for someone whom can't handle it then I'm not sure how you run this offence? Lowry can't do it, and now you are looking at playing through JV in the post. That's a pretty dramatic change.

This year's offence works fine without a high usage option. Last year, I'd have been very concerned. Heck, that's why I was so on board with re-signing DeMar when he was a FA. He was necessary to the old system. Not so in this one.

[LJ2]

The whole point of moving DeMar would be to not replace him with a high usage player.

You can have an imbalanced usage lineup with low-mid 20's usage rates topping each lineup. You don't need a ~30% usage guy to make the offence work.

I agree. I was responding to a comment that was made where someone was saying you could trade Demar and it doesn't mean major changes to the team (though I may have interpreted the posters quote incorrectly). I think if you trade the centre piece of the team it will require a lot of changes. If you replace him and his high usage for someone whom can't handle it then I'm not sure how you run this offence? Lowry can't do it, and now you are looking at playing through JV in the post. That's a pretty dramatic change.

[LJ2]

Quickening the offense can take multiple forms, and they aren't all just 'run fast break'. Being decisive is one way that can make JV better, and quicken the offense. You go into your sets immediately, and keep motion going off-ball as well, to create holes in the defense. The Raptors weren't good at that this year.

I think that's kind of how they want JV to get his points...indirectly. Yeah he could definitely improve his decision making, but to a point where they run the offence through him? Not putting it past him, but it's not something I would bank on either.

[DogeLover1234]

Demar knows he has to get better. He’s the hardest worker in the league. I truly believe he’s going to come back next year a better defender and a better 3 point shooter. He finally got comfortable taking 3s this year, and he was able to put more effort in on the defensive end than he has in a long time, he has to build on it. My opinion is that we try to find a taker for serge without giving up any picks, if not, roll it back with a new coach. We’ve got a bit more in the tank for this core, especially if pascal, OG, Delon and Yak get better, which they will.

I dunno, not sure I could be convinced that this team advances enough to stay ahead or keep pace with some of the other eastern conference teams. I thought this was their best chance, with an aging Cavs team, a depleted Celtics team, the 76ers a year or two removed from real contenders; the window is closing.

I think Masai should try to get try to shed some long term salary, get a couple extra picks and load up on young guys who haven't panned out.

[white men can't jump]

He is a very hard worker. Unfortunately for him, defense is more than hard work. He doesn’t have the IQ or defensive instincts to be good.

Although he rarely works hard on D.

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[A.I]

Demar knows he has to get better. He’s the hardest worker in the league. I truly believe he’s going to come back next year a better defender and a better 3 point shooter. He finally got comfortable taking 3s this year, and he was able to put more effort in on the defensive end than he has in a long time, he has to build on it. My opinion is that we try to find a taker for serge without giving up any picks, if not, roll it back with a new coach. We’ve got a bit more in the tank for this core, especially if pascal, OG, Delon and Yak get better, which they will.

He is a very hard worker. Unfortunately for him, defense is more than hard work. He doesn’t have the IQ or defensive instincts to be good.

[Barolt]

Demar knows he has to get better. He’s the hardest worker in the league. I truly believe he’s going to come back next year a better defender and a better 3 point shooter. He finally got comfortable taking 3s this year, and he was able to put more effort in on the defensive end than he he in a long time, he has to build on it. My opinion is that we try to find a taker for serge without giving up any picks, if not, roll it back with a new coach. We’ve got a bit more in the tank for this core, especially if pascal, OG, Delon and Yak get better, which they will.

DeMar is a hard worker, but I feel like the ship has sailed on his defense. It's been an issue for so many years, and every time we hear "he's going to come back a better defender", and instead he works on his offense.

I just don't see it happening.

[Maury]

Everything Demar Derozan

Demar knows he has to get better. He’s the hardest worker in the league. I truly believe he’s going to come back next year a better defender and a better 3 point shooter. He finally got comfortable taking 3s this year, and he was able to put more effort in on the defensive end than he has in a long time, he has to build on it. My opinion is that we try to find a taker for serge without giving up any picks, if not, roll it back with a new coach. We’ve got a bit more in the tank for this core, especially if pascal, OG, Delon and Yak get better, which they will.

[Nilanka]

That was Jonas' calling guard when drafted. How he's such a great PnR target.

"But fuck that, let's roll with Bebe!" - Dwane Casey (probably)