Toronto Raptors Dame trade ideas and rumors

You might be right - but a lot of rumors Blazers want to try to win immediately.

 

in this package I would see ayton and og as players, but possibly also as little rascal first round picks stacked on top of each other in a trench coat.

 

Huh? When? We haven't had a wing like him in... not as far as I can remember. We've complained about being so bad defensively here we are with the opportunity to get a guy who is regarded as one of the best defensive wings in the league and he's not an absolute dud like Thybulle on offense. I don't think he'll command 40m. Closer to 30. Depending on the pieces, I don't think there's anything wrong with trying to compete immediately.

 

I’m going to add to this trade. What if we traded OG to Memphis for Brandon Clarke (could probably sit out all year) and the ‘24 PHX/WAS 1st and their ‘26 unprotected 1st.

That would give us a return of Ayton, Clarke, Thad, Dick, and 4 1sts.

 

I was listening to Marang and it sounds like right now the smoke is surrounding Portland/Toronto/Phoenix and maybe a 4th team like the Pacers.

The fact that Dame's camp leaked a report today saying specifically that Dame would not be happy with Toronto is a huge sign that they're worried that's where he would be going. Which, to me, is SO hypocritical. Dude kept saying he wants to win, and the Raptors have some really nice pieces to put around him. He'd have a legit shot at competing.

 

WE haven’t had a wing like that in forever. That doesn’t mean they aren’t there.

You’re telling me there aren’t other 6’7 guys who can defend and average 16-18ppg out there?

 

Marang said he thinks it gets done this weekend.

He said that Phoenix would really love to get a point guard like TJ McConnell.

 

Where? We've been trying to get one for ages. Those types of players are a premium. They're not as easily acquired as you're suggesting. He would be a great piece to set your defensive identity. Sitting in the lottery for years upon years is far from a guarantee either. Ask Orlando, Washington, etc.

 

Woah there, buddy. I didn’t say they are easily acquired, but that there are guys of that caliber out there.

My original point being you can’t teach height, alluding to the amount of talent at PF/C in 2024. You’re right, they are a premium. Which is why, I’d rather draft that guy and have him team controlled for 7+ years.

 

There were roughly 30 players last year who averaged between 16 and 20 PPG. A bigger range than you provided. 30 players.
Jerami Grant, Mikal Bridges, RJ Barrett, Franz Wagner, Michael Porter Jr., OG, and Mathurin were the only 6'7"ish guys in the range. 2 of those guys play above average defense. Those guys don't grow on trees. They're not everywhere like you seem to think.

 

Spent 5 minutes squinting my eyes to see the Dick jokes but I'm missing it.

 

I'd be ok with overpaying on OG's new contract, because our two(hopeful) stars in Scoot and Sharpe are on rookie contracts. It's kind of like how you don't want to overpay RBs in NFL, but it's ok to do if your QB is still on his rookie deal.

 

Joe needs to swing for fence and build around Scoot and Shae. If he takes the slow brew route and wants to be irrelevant for another 4-5 years for picks, he'll lose theses guys.
Sac had to swing a couple years ago by committing to Fox with a trade for Sabonis. They knew they had to be aggressive and still are in order to keep him there.

 

Yeah I'd have probably gone younger and acquired picks as that has many advantages.

But there are different clear different advantages to trying to get OG/Ayton type starters immediately that are young but also able to win now. It's a better environment for Scoot and Sharpe to develop skills than on a 20 win team. So I'm coming around to the idea.

Just love the thought of Miami fans losing their shit. Not sure how I went from rooting for this team possibly more than any in the playoffs to now reelevating in their misery.

 

I think the more that dame's camp says stuff like that, the more it loses its power.

and they're at like round 5 of repeating it publicly at this point, and you can't really escalate 'he'd ask out at any other team' rhetorically. 'he'd stab another star player if he went there!' doesn't work.

 

Dream scenario is OG, Dick, and 3 picks.

Then find a team willing to give up 2-3 picks for OG, assuming he agrees to resign wherever he’s traded.

 

this is right. people need to stop thinking about og and ayton as final pieces and think about them as zip folders full of picks.

 

Yeah - I could see some small markets not wanting to deal with the drama of it though.

But Toronto with a title doing the same thing and Masai being super stubborn might be the perfect team to not care at all about those threats.

 

Don't let perfection be the enemy of progress. You can want anything you want, but that doesn't mean it's walking through that door. If Rupert or someone else becomes that guy, you can easily move OG for a whole host of assets.

 

I think of them as a fun group to start the season with - then assuming the losing happens we consider flipping them along with Grant, etc at the deadline.

Everyone will be very glad to move on from the Dame dark cloud era too.