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Raptors to tank if they aren't competitive first 45 days

Discussion in 'NBA Dish' started by Sydeffect, Oct 30, 2013.

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Sydeffect Member

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Though they have been loath to share it around, the Raptors have already set themselves an early deadline.
According to someone involved in the process, the current group has 45 days from the start of tomorrow’s NBA season to prove that they are not only a playoff team, but a sustainable one.
Even this season’s most optimistic performance target — squeaking into the top eight in the Eastern Conference — may not be enough.
“7-Eleven,” one source said. “That’s where you get diabetes.”
If the team does not appear viable by mid-December, they will begin to dismantle it ahead of the most promising draft class in a decade.
Bottom line — no matter how many times anyone in this organization publicly scoffs at the idea of “the tank,” it may be the undeclared marching order by Christmas.
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This includes dreams of squirming underneath bottom-feeders like Philadelphia and Phoenix for the No. 1 pick.
Nobody in this organization likes to speak Andrew Wiggins’ name. League-tampering rules are one thing, but it’s gotten to the cultish point where the Kansas starlet is indicated in a conversation by a knowing nod or a “you know who I’m talking about” gesture of the hands.
Do not mistake this either — the Raptors still believe they are in the Wiggins sweepstakes if they decide to be. It won’t be easy to clear out this roster, especially if the likes of Rudy Gay come out sluggishly, but GM Masai Ujiri was brought here to accomplish difficult tasks.
If the Raptors decide they aren’t good enough, they will take every scorched-earth step to make the top pick a statistical possibility.
On the record and without any reason to yet speak otherwise, it was all optimism on the eve of the season. No hand wringing over what coach Dwane Casey called a “brutal” first two months on the schedule.
His boss was less circumspect.
“Since the first day I got (the schedule), I don’t think I’ve looked at it again,” GM Masai Ujiri laughed ruefully.
To identify the warning signs, you have to parse his comments.
Ujiri on the early going: “It’s clear that when you have a schedule like that you have to do well, at least up to a certain extent, in order to survive the season.”
He said it standing in a third-floor atrium at the ACC. Therefore, it would have been difficult for the players and coaches to hear Ujiri’s alarm ringing out on the practice court. No need to worry on that score. Within a few days, it will be getting much closer and much, much louder.
Ujiri said Tuesday he puts no evaluative stock in the pre-season. That work begins now, and will be divided into two-week increments.
The first of those is a trial by fire. Six of eight games on the road. Three in all with conference finalists from last year — champions Miami, Indiana (in Indy) and Memphis (in Tennessee).
Evaluations two and three don’t look much easier. It’s a binary decision after the third evaluation — continue on, or begin demolition.
This will put enormous pressure on Casey to shorten his bench from the get-go. Any winning iteration of this team includes an exceptionally limited roster — they can’t get much past the seventh guy and compete with good teams. One serious, early injury to a starter begins the auto-destruct countdown.
The margins have rarely been so thin for any team in this town. They like to say any season is a marathon. For the Raptors, it’s shaping up as a series of sprints to stay ahead of the buzzsaw.
“They better be 2-1 or 3-0 when Miami gets here (on Tuesday),” one veteran observer warned. That’s how micro it’s getting.
In all likelihood, the Raptors are in a five-way race for the seventh and eighth seeds in the East. They’re somewhere in the mix with Atlanta, Washington, Cleveland and Detroit. They played this same game last year and came up 10th.
Another ninth- or 10th-place finish in the East is an unmitigated disaster for this team. That will not be allowed to happen.
Given the pressure — none of it communicated to the team — how are they feeling right now?
“I think we’re capable of being pretty good,” said Gay.
That’s . . . er . . . encouraging?
Predictably, there were questions about last year’s 4-19 start. More predictably, no one down on the factory floor wanted to dwell on it.
“We definitely remember that start,” said Gay. “I remember it, and I wasn’t even here.”
Upstairs, a lot of people are recalling it, but through a very different lens. The Raptors will play their 23rd game of the coming season on Dec. 18.
By that point, 4-19 may not look like a failure. By then, it may look like a step in the new direction.
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http://www.thestar.com/sports/raptors/2013/10/30/raptors_cue_the_teardown_if_team_doesnt_take_flight_kelly.html

#1 Sydeffect, Oct 30, 2013

Raven Member

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No way that Wiggins stays in Canada.

#2 Raven, Oct 30, 2013
NotChandlerParsons Member

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“7-Eleven,” one source said. “That’s where you get diabetes.”
Click to expand...

Hahahahahaha. In the words of the immortal Clyde Drexler, "I like it."

#3 NotChandlerParsons, Oct 30, 2013
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Rockets could potentially scavenge some good pieces off of teams desperate for a top pick this year. Phoenix, Orlando, Philly, Toronto, and any team that pulls a Texans and just comes out flat.

#4 Phillyrocket, Oct 30, 2013
REEKO_HTOWN I'm Rich Biiiiaaatch!

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Raven said: ↑

No way that Wiggins stays in Canada.
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Lol. He's from Toronto.

#5 REEKO_HTOWN, Oct 30, 2013
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So they're tanking....

#6 J Sizzle, Oct 30, 2013
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So basically, it's all eyes on Rudy Gay?

#7 Fyreball, Oct 30, 2013

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that took way too long

#8 otis thorpe, Oct 30, 2013
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Toronto: About the to Prove to The World They are On Philly's Level

#9 heypartner, Oct 30, 2013
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I'd actually look to their complementary players in trades as well as Gay.

In particular Lowry. Lowry will be a VERY nice pickup for a contending team after the trade deadline as most likely a backup.

Ex: the Spurs could offer the expiring contract of Boris Diaw or Matt Bonner + min contract & draft picks for Lowry. The Raptors get worse, and get draft picks. Lowry coming off the bench for the Spurs and playing alongside Parker for stretches should scare the other contenders in the West.

Also Amir Johnson is essentially an expiring contract because he has a non-guaranteed contract for next season. He's a player that could really add front court depth to a contender.

#10 dobro1229, Oct 30, 2013
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dobro1229 said: ↑

Also Amir Johnson is essentially an expiring contract because he has a non-guaranteed contract for next season. He's a player that could really add front court depth to a contender.
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So, Motiejunas for Amir at the trade deadline?

#11 saintja2, Oct 30, 2013
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Wow. Have you ever read a more "when we don't miraculously win 70% of our first month's games (wink wink, nudge nudge, say no more say no more) we're gonna tank" article in your life?

Maybe they can unload Gay on Detroit for the expirings of Villanueva and Stuckey. The wings are the positions that Detroit doesn't look especially set (I don't count Josh Smith). I don't know if the Raptors would want to extract a player of value in exchange, given the salary dump and need to tank.

#12 ROXTXIA, Oct 30, 2013
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wow, lowry shooting jumpshots next to harden.

#13 otis thorpe, Oct 30, 2013

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sadly those 45 days may cost them Wiggins.

#14 TheRealist137, Oct 30, 2013
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saintja2 said: ↑

So, Motiejunas for Amir at the trade deadline?
Click to expand...

I just threw up on my laptop. You owe me a laptop

#15 REEKO_HTOWN, Oct 30, 2013
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"7-11, that's where you get diabetes"

lol

#16 cardpire, Oct 30, 2013
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dobro1229 said: ↑

Ex: the Spurs could offer the expiring contract of Boris Diaw or Matt Bonner + min contract & draft picks for Lowry.

Also Amir Johnson is essentially an expiring contract because he has a non-guaranteed contract for next season. He's a player that could really add front court depth to a contender.
Click to expand...

Novak and Bonner on the same squad? *Air raid sirens*

Amir Johnson is a solid player and a fan favorite in Toronto. I'd imagine they try to hold onto him,

but I guess anything is possible when you play...

#17 shastarocket, Oct 30, 2013
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I hope Silver does something about this. Especially with the anonymous GM (Philly) that said their goal was to suck.

#18 JayGoogle, Oct 30, 2013

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Time to load up on the $ line against Tor, Phi, and Phx. Its going to be a great b-ball season. Go Rockets and win by at least 5 tonight. I got the home team on a teaser.

#19 CONAN 888, Oct 30, 2013
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saintja2 said: ↑

So, Motiejunas for Amir at the trade deadline?
Click to expand...

I like DMo. But I would not hesitate to take that deal. And it wouldn't be crazy for them to offer it.

Amir Johnson is the perfect PF for us. High efficiency, low usage, plus rebounder, borderline elite defense. The consummate garbage man.

#20 StandontheLake, Oct 30, 2013

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