1 week ago I was still sayin Raptors should keep competitive
But, I never expect Raptors to fire Nick Nurse tbh
The championship DNA is basically fading, and I think with Nurse gone, this might be a time to blow up
Trade breakdown:
Blazers: Pascal Siakam, Precious Achiuwa
Raptors: Anfernee Simons, 5th pick
Blazers basically are gonna find any ways to trade their 5th pick. They want win now help to contend immediately beside Dame, and Siakam seem to be a great fit
Siakam will be the 2nd scoring option for this team, while also playing very good defense, sth which is needed so much for Blazers
Also getting Precious here to play some backup C if they not moving Nurk
Anf in long term don't fit Dame, he can at most be a 6th man if he stays, while Sharpe showed super solid future in the last few games of the season, he will be the real good fit SG beside Dame in the future, hving an oppotunity to upgrade in other position, I think Blazers should take it and trade Anf
Grizzlies: OG Anunoby, Otto Porter
Raptors: Luke Kennard, Ziaire Williams, 2024 MEM frp, 2025 MEM frp top 10 protected
Grizzlies can upgrade their SF position over fuckin Dillon Brooks (not saying Dillon is a bad player but then OG just does everything better than him)
And tbh Memphis stacked up so many young players, I think it's time for them to just offload a bit, and I think Ziaire makes the most sense
LaRavia will be most preferred, but bro didn't even do anything, while Ziaire at least prove he can be a gd defender
Also if putting LaRavia instead of Ziaire cap won't work
Nets: FVV ( 4 years 120M S&T)
Raptors: Spencer Dinwiddie, Joe Harris, 4 srps
Dinwiddie didnt rlly hv a good playoffs, if Brooklyn keep rely on him to try be more competitive next year, I don't think it will end well
Therefore, I think they should give up some srps tgt with Spencer and Harris to the Raptors, to clear enough cap for signing FVV to a deal
FVV have more iso ability, is an overall better PG, he can shot create for himself well, while also pass the ball just as well as Dinwiddie, defensively FVV is above average too
Hving FVV, Mikal and Clax, this Nets defense should be top 10
Clippers: Spencer Dinwiddie, Chris Boucher
Raptors: Marcus Morris SR, Robert Covington, 2028 LAC unprotected frp
Ik the fact that the frp gonna be super valuable as Clippers future is a huge unknown, but then these 2 players gonna be hugeeeeeeeeeeee for them
Spencer Dinwiddie is basically perfect for them, the playmaking, what's needed beside the core. When he got the spacing beside, he can shoot very well, when we was in the Mavs I think he was shooting 40% from 3
Boucher, I might go with a Zubac Boucher starting frontcourt ngl. Boucher got the spacing to play beside Zu, and both got the paint defense and rim protection.
A starting lineup of Dinwiddie, PG, Kawhi, Boucher, Zu, with all the shooting on the bench, as long as they healthy, this is 1st seed material
Draft:
5th pick: Jarace Walker
13th pick: Cason Wallace
FA:
Gary Trent accepting PO
Resign Poeltl 3 year 51M
Dario Saric 2 year MLE
Lineup:
PG: Anfernee Simons
SG: Gary Trent JR
SF: Scottie Barnes
PF: Jarace Walker
C: Jakob Poeltl
Bnech: Cason Wallace, Luke Kennard, Ziaire Williams, Dario Saric, Christian Koloko
Reserves: Malachi Flynn, Joe Harris, Robert Covington, Marcus Morris SR, Thad Young
Conclusion:
Out of this Raptors squad, OG must have the biggest market. To me if Raptors traded OG, just blow it up, they will have lost more competitiveness with OG gone
This is also a rare chance that Raptors can acquire another high lottery pick with Siakam. Blazers are giving another promising young guy with Simons, this is a chance Raptora don't miss on blowing up
Jarace as the future PF, fitting beside Scottie, is super super promising, as Jarace's shooting is well needed. Them being a defensive duo will also be unreal, 2 versatile defenders
While Cason adds even more defense, especially to the backcourt as ANF isnt rlly good of a defender, hvinf Cason leading the defense in the future can be very big for the team's future, it's always hard to find elite defensive PGs
All these trades also got them a lot of expiring contracts, which will result in just Anfernee Simons, Scottie Barnes, Jarace Walker, Jakob Poeltl, Cason Wallace, Ziaire Williams and Dario Saric hving contracts for next next season. Mainly young players, future core of the team
Their frp is top 6 protected to the Spurs, idk how will this team do, but letting Scottie and Simons to both lead the team for the 1st time in their career, u never know if sth special can form
PLS LIKE ⬆️ AND COMMENT 🗣️ THX A LOT, rlly did put a lot of time on this one