<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Raptors organization is split on Lin but sold on Lowry and Dragic so I think one of those guys is the next play if Nash is out, not Lin</p>— Ryan Wolstat (@WolstatSun) <a href="https://twitter.com/WolstatSun/status/220592664746266624" data-datetime="2012-07-04T18:59:24+00:00">Juli 4, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> UPDATE: 3:56 pm Raptors don't have a whole lot to offer for Lowry. You could do say Lowry for the Raptors 2013 1st and the rights to swap picks in 2014, which doesn't sound too bad, but trading a good player for a future draft pick is pretty tricky and can easily backfire, as the team you're trading the good player to will obviously get better, hurting their future draft position. Furthermore the 2013 draft (class) just might be the worst in a decade, if you believe some of the experts out there.
Even the raptors have more sense than Les, Rockets Fans & most of all Morey:grin::grin::grin::grin::grin::grin:
The Raptors had the eighth pick, and Drummond went ninth. Now, a week later, they decide they want Lowry since they're probably gonna strike out with Nash.
You're right about that. When there's not a whole lot to offer though, you can always look at draft picks and salary cap flexibility -- Raptors have both. They have tons of cap room (take back Scola?) and they don't owe any first round picks. I'm sure they want to keep DeRozan, Ross and Valanciunas, who is likely about as untouchable as they come, though the Rockets would love to get him (I think the Cavs really screwed up missing him last year). So I'd look at options relieving a salary burden or a future first rounder.
Or if we could send them Lowry and they agree to take another bad contract from a 3rd team in a 3 way trade for something else we want?
if we really can't mend the different btw lowry and machale, trading him plus a salary dump for a future 1st round is not a bad idea. the precondition is we have to have one of dragic or lin.
I like it. Nice out of the box thinking. The question of course is whether the Raptors would be willing to give up a whole lot for Lowry in the first place -- or would they rather just overpay Dragic by a little bit? I mean if you look at the Raptors roster, arguably half their team is overpaid. Also, for the Rockets what other options are out there? The Hornets, Kings, Pacers, Jazz, Lakers & Suns all could use an upgrade at PG, but some teams will go/settle for other point guards in free agency, whereas other teams don't have a whole lot to offer either. I agree with your point Clutch, that salary cap flexibility and draft picks are always nice to have, but then again I would refer to my first post, about how trading a good player for nothing but future draft picks can easily backfire and how the 2013 isn't supposed to be all that either. Personally, I would not trade Lowry for Terrence Ross, but I guess I might be in the minority there.
How good are there draft picks going to be though with Lowry, DeRozan, Ross, Bargnani and Valanciunas? In the east that may be good enough to make the playoffs. My guess would be scola and lowry for bargnani, bayless and picks.
Dumping Scola at this point is fairly pointless. His deal can be amnestied if need be (better amnesty candidate than Martin, whose contract is expiring) and there is not a burning need for extra cap space at the moment anyway. I also don't think Toronto takes on a bad contract (like Charlie V) from a 3rd team in order to get Lowry. If they are essentially going to pay Lowry's salary + Charlie V's salary for just Lowry's services, why don't they just sign Dragic to the $10M deal that he wants?
