The Athletic’s is coming soon as the off-season Raptors Beat writer Eric Colleen and senior writer John Hollinger discussed the biggest decisions the Raptors face this offseason.
More Raptors Off Season: Primer | Trade layer | Top 25 Free Agency Big Board | Changes in landscape trade | Mail bag — Part 1, part 2 | Draft goal at 33
Colleen: Hey John. Thank you for taking the time. First, there are unnecessarily aggressive and rhetorical questions. Precious Achiuwa Made you Eat your words To Kyle Lowry Is there a sign-and-trade contract from last summer? You don’t have to answer seriously. Raptors Internet fans keep receipts.
Before getting into this off-season issue, I wanted to hear some general opinions about the 2021-22 Raptors season, which ended about a month ago. What was your impression of Project 6-8? How did the playoffs unfold change the way Masai Ujiri’s apparent strategy for creating the Raptors roster changed?
Holinger: valuable! Advanced statistics still question him, but he made a lot of progress last season and has a clear path to further improvement. Indeed, this deal looks better than last summer.
When it comes to the bigger issues of the Raptors season, it should be seen as a remarkable success at most levels. Fred VanVleet Create an all-star team, Scottie Barnes Winner of the Rookie of the Year, Pascal Siakam Made everything-NBA.. The Raptors won 48 games and led Philadelphia to six games in the first round. Everyone would have taken it in the season.
Project 6-8, as you say, seems like the league is heading, but the series against the Sixers also showed some limitations of that approach. Sometimes having a real center can really help.
The rest of the big picture is whether this iteration of the Raptors has true championship fairness, and if so, what needs to happen to push them there.
Colleen: In honor of taxpayers’ mid-level exception sweepstakes (which I find more interesting than usual), I would like to focus on the two biggest decisions the Raptors have to make. This can be done in collaboration with the two best players. At least now. Both Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam will be eligible for an extension this offseason, but Siakam’s negotiation period will not begin until October.
Before getting into their particular situation, I wonder what you generally think of veteran extensions. Obviously, the longer the “bad” contract, the worse for the team, and the longer the “good” contract, the better for the team. Given the recent trade in veterans, do you think you’re wrong on the part of the deal, or do you think you’re “maintaining flexibility”?
Holinger: In the case of Toronto, you would choose to trade with VanVleet, who can opt out and become a free agent, especially in 2023. This is what the Raptors saidBird rights trap“zone. A player leaving as a free agent cannot easily be replaced by another player as there is no cap space left to sign an equivalent player. (Theoretically, Toronto could sign a big deal to replace VanVleet in 2023, Gary Trent Jr. Also, walking, the Raptors will not add any other salary from now on until then). Therefore, retaining player rights is almost always the way to go.
In the case of Siakam, the debate is a bit more muddy because of his age, the higher initial contract, and the fact that he has already signed by 2024.
Colleen: VanVleet is a more interesting case for me, just for the reason you laid it out. He is a cultural touchstone of the franchise and a natural heir to Kyle Lowry, but also shows signs of decline as the season progresses. Also, a pretty big game, John!, Except for the last nine games of the 2019 title run! — His playoffs haven’t been great.
He can either opt out of the player option in 2023-24 and sign a four-year extension, or opt in and then sign in for another three years. The first way would make him a little more money, but either way he sees a deal starting at about 20 percent of the cap. How do you see this from the Raptors’ point of view?
Holinger: He was 28 years old and formed an all-star team. Such players are expensive. The Raptors need to be a little worried about trapping him until his mid-thirties, but raising his cap can remove some puncture wounds within a few years. The big picture is that if VanVleet becomes a free agent next summer, another thirsty team could offer him crazy money. If you fix him at a perfectly reasonable annual salary of $ 25 million, that possibility goes off the table. Toronto should be very happy to do this.
Colleen: Or what advice do you have if you are a VanVleet agent? And, at least for now, how much are the many teams that were able to have a cap room of over $ 25 million in 2023-24 working on things?We are all VanVleet I like to bet on myself.
Holinger: Alas, this is probably why I think this will last longer. Remember that VanVleet can make an 11-hour extension at any time before next year’s free agent by opting in to his contract in June and building an extension from that number. Therefore, from his point of view, the only reason to agree to the deal now is the safety of landing the bag. As you pointed out, depending on the supply and demand situation of the free agent market one year later, next summer can be quite large, even if it is not a particularly good year.
Colleen: Our companion Danny Leroux is just Expansion or trading scenario Various teams are facing. If the Raptors couldn’t reach an agreement with him, how aggressively would you shop for VanVleet around the league? How do you see his current trade value?
Holinger: Kyle Lowry was the latest example of the Raptors gaining some value from leaving a free agent. If the Raptors had some signs that Fred was going to walk after that year, yes, yes, I think it’s natural for them to shop and determine his trade value. increase. If they knew he would re-contract with them next summer, I think he could get two first round picks, or one and a prospect from the team.
That said, if the Raptors think he’s trying to get a bigger bag, but aren’t particularly worried about him as a risk of flight, they might be able to play this more comfortably. Hmm. I think that’s a more likely scenario. In that case, Toronto’s stance must be in line with the policy of keeping ears open, without being forced to take any action, unless someone offends them with a crazy offer. think.
Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet. (Douglas P. Defelice / Getty Images)
Colleen: For me, the case of Siakam is not so interesting. As of October 1, the Raptors can offer Siakam a three-year extension worth up to $ 129 million. Unlike VanVleet, Siakam does not have a 2023-24 player option. He’s having a great season, just after some poor people’s play, if explained. We’ve seen how extension talk, which can play slowly, worsens the relationship between the team and the players. Is there any benefit to trying to get Siakam’s signature with an extension slightly below his maximum, or are these discussions going on?
Holinger: The extension with Siakam begins at $ 40 million a year and will not begin until his 30-year-old season. This is a pretty dangerous deal from a Toronto perspective, even if raising the cap could protect them from the worst. ..
That said, I think there’s a bit of controversy to take care of him for now. This means that he should sign a five-year contract at the age of 28, rather than doing the same when he is 30. Siakam’s contract Even after he signs it, it will remain tradable unless he begins a sharp decline almost immediately.
My biggest argument against doing that is Scottie Barnes. He will be the biggest deal (if not Supermax) from 2024-25. So the Raptors have to think seriously about who else they want to pay. They are Siakam, VanVleet, Trent, OG Anunoby It makes sense for them, but it’s a very expensive quintet and has no center yet.Historically, the Raptors spend a little tax on the right team, but they’re not going to sign up for anything Hair clippers When Warriors We are dealing with a 9-digit tax bill.
As a result, I think flexibility is the go-to word here. Toronto still has two years to extend Siakam’s contract, and even if he hits an unlimited free agent in 2024, it would be an advantage.
Colleen: Mid-level exceptions other than taxpayers are usually this off-season, as there are very few “sexy” teams with caprooms this summer and many of the best free agents are very polarized. For teams looking to contend, they feel they could be a more meaningful spending tool. Some questions:
- Do you think Chris Boucher Also Thaddeus Young Do you conduct a complete MLE?
- Do you have a favorite target that could fall into that range?
- Multiple in such deals if you are the Raptors and need to take into account some or all potential extensions / raises of VanVleet, Siakam, Trent, Anunoby, Achiuwa in the next few offseasons How modest is giving a year? Free Agent-whether your own or from outside your organization?
Holinger: Let’s work on these one by one.
For starters, especially with multi-year contracts, I think Boucher is more likely to be more interested in that price range than Young, just because of age differences. The Raptors are well below the tax system, and in theory they can use their limited bird rights to sign MLE-sized transactions, which is sufficient to use their own MLE, so keep each one. Suitable for.Sure, I don’t see I’m getting neither more From MLE.
The biggest problem with Boucher and Young in Toronto is not money, but years, so I’ll jump to third place right away. As salaries get tougher in two and three years, they want to commit another $ 7 to $ 10 million to each. They also need to think about the verbosity of having both. Don’t they want a real center at some point? It was easy to see the Raptors signing both with more initial funding than expected, but to maximize flexibility and the ability to invest either in trading with other players. , The second year is slightly guaranteed.
As for number 2, I think it’s clear that Toronto needs another real guard on the roster. This also helps prevent VanVleet from hitting the ground. Ricky Rubio When Tyus Jones It’s an ambitious goal, but I don’t think either will come here at a mid-level level as a backup.More realistically, old friends Delon Wright It’s perfect here and can be cheaper than MLE.They may also see for a long time Eric BledsoeIs almost certain to be abandoned by Portland..
Darenterie in Arizona. (Bryan Ross Muller / Icon Sports Wire via Getty Images)
Colleen: Finally, you were in the draft combine. The Raptors choose 33rd place. Is there anyone in the top 20 or so that appeals to you?
Holinger: Yes, there are some. I really like Dalen Terry in Arizona and I think he’s a perfect fit for Project 6-8, but by the time the Raptors choose he may be gone forever. More realistically, I’m a fan of Duke’s Wendell Moore and I think Backup 2 will give the Raptors a solid choice.
The two men who may fit under the “Project 6-8” flag are David Roddy, Colorado (6-5, but built like an aggressive lineman), Jay Clara, Wake Forest. I’m Justin Lewis from Marquette, Beer. I have one round of La Ravia grades, but his inventory seems to be increasing, so it could be a more hopeful idea.
Finally, the Raptors loved their international and could still use some help along the way, so I could be the French tycoon Ismael Camagate, a stash waiting to bring in until 2023. Keep an eye out for raw rim runners with sex.
(Top photo of Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam: Cole Burston / Getty Images Sports)
