Would you trade our personnel minus Harden for Raptors personnel minus Kawhi and Lin?

I think I would. Close call.

 

Because of Age I would do it easily. Trade them all just for Siakam.

 

Hindsight.

Before the playoffs, majority would have said "NO"

 

i mean, look at that team's record without kawhi this past season. meanwhile we needed harden to go wilt every nite just to stay above water

 

The Nurse Effect.

 

thinly-disguised Lin And Make @tinman 's Head Explode thread

 

I forgot that Anunoby was even on the team. He might show up in the Finals, should it extend past Monday.

 

I don't think the Raptors are overall more talented tbh, maybe their talent is just better distributed between the frontcourt and backcourt. We have literally zero skill in the frontcourt, no one can pass, put the ball on the floor, create for himself or others.

But to answer the question in the op eh, i'd probably do it just because they are in a better situation in terms of age, injuries and salary.

 

They’re absolutely better.

Siakam would have been our 2nd best player this year. Lowry was superior to Paul this year. Basil superior to Capela in the playoffs. Our bench is probably better but it’s only marginal at best.

Even if the Rockets beat the Warriors, I imagine we would have struggled to beat the Raptors or Bucks anyway.

 

We beat the warriors without harden

 

Exactly. How many were thinking this before the season, before the playoffs, or when the raptors were down 2-0 to the bucks?

 

yes, without question

Who in the Raptors rotation would u consider a liability or a scrub? Their guys are more athletic, and more skilled. The contract situation is better too. I would do it in a heartbeat. I’d rather have Lowry than CP0. I’d take Siakam over anyone on this roster not named Harden. Gasol is a skilled big that can shoot. Ibaka is athletic and can shoot as well. Green has championship experience and is a good 3&D player. Van Vleet is an excellent backup PG. It’s no coincidence Toronto managed to win 58 games with Kawhi missing 22 games for load management. They went 17-5 in games Kawhi missed. Let Harden miss 22 games. We wouldn’t even come close to making the playoffs.

 

for sure, I would. siakim is better than anyone we're trading away. Gasol and Ibaka are so much more gifted offensively than capela without giving up any defense. nurse is better than MDA because he makes adjustments, calls plays and timeouts... you know general coaching things. anunoby and Powell are better than any of our bench players. Lowry and green are equal to Paul and tucker. we lose a little going from ego to vanvleet.

 

Gordon is better than Van Fleet, Van Fleet is more comparable to Rivers...who hes much better than imo.

 

I would.

Only CP3/Rivers vs. Lowry/Van Fleet is push or advantage Rockets.

Siakam vs. Gordon is advantage Raptors.

Green vs. Tucker is advantage Raptors.

Gasol/Ibaka vs. Capela/Nene is clearly advantage Raptors this season.

Nurse vs. MDA is advantage Raptors in postseason. Adjustments have been the biggest difference.

 

Before this season and playoffs I would have said no.

But that was before I had to watch Chris Paul age and decline.

And that is what is comes down to: Chris Paul.

If CP was the CP before his decline, I would have laughed at the proposal.

Now, not anymore.

The fact of the matter is that our roster is slow and un-athletic and the age factor is compounding the problem. The Raptors roster addresses to those issues with the needed length.

But if Chris Paul had not declined, I would have still taken him over everything the Raptors roster would have offered minus Kawhi. When he is on, he is that special of a player.

 

What about this: Would you trade Harden for Kawhi in a parallel universe where Kawhi isn’t a free agent?