“The Raptors, it seems, really fumbled the bag on this one. The word in league circles was that Masai Ujiri could have had this [Damian Lillard] deal done a week ago if the Raptors had been willing to part with OG Anunoby.” (Via @KyleNeubeck )
by The_Living_L
26 Comments
IF this is true, then I don’t know what Masai wants with this roster.
He clearly knows they’re guard depleted in terms of creation, but doesn’t want to give up any of Pascal/OG/Scottie for that guard.
You can argue that Dame isn’t that guy and I agree on that risk but what is truly that core going to do for you without more help?
I thought after the trade finally happened, we could move on….
I am not surprised by this. It’s clear that the front office overvalues OG. But losing OG was the best option.
They have to pick a direction. You can’t keep running it back with a play in roster.
The only thing I can say at this point is that I hope OG remembers this when free agency comes around.
He didn’t fumble the bag. It all came down to Lillard being adamant about not wanting to play here. Why would he give up OG for a player who did not want to be here. How is this so hard to understand? I’m sure if Lillard was more open to the possibility to playing here, Masai may have been more willing to part with Anunoby.
We’re getting two different stories but they kind of feed into each other.
We could have had him for the right price, but he really really didn’t want to come here, so that price was too high.
I don’t think not pulling the trigger is as much about keeping OG, it’s about actually having the roster you need for this to have been worth it.
How good would this team have been in the OG/Dick variant.
Not a contender. A Lillard GTJ backcourt would get absolutely cooked, you still have no shooting and your bench is…. Schoeder, Boucher…. and a bunch of nothing past that. What happens when they start out .500 after 40 games and Lillard demands a trade.
I am all for making big trades with this roster because it needs to go in one direction or the other. That doesn’t mean this was the one.
It was clear that they wanted to put together the absolute best roster they could for the next couple seasons. That means a starting lineup of Scottie/Dame/OG/Pascal/Poeltl, which actually seems like a 50+ win team to me.
My guess is that Portland was asking for the Gary package (Gary, 3 picks, Gradey, Precious) with OG subbed in for Gradey. That’s a bit too rich for my blood.
It’s OK. Someone will tell me here that I shouldn’t judge Masai because I know nothing about negotiation and I’m just an armchair GM and an idiot fan who isn’t allowed to feel blue balled yet again on a potential exciting opportunity to add a lead guard who can space the floor and give up some of our overload of similar prototype player
Honestly, don’t care if it made us a contender or not instantly. It’s Dame. For super cheap. If you want to compete, make the trade. It’s fun for us and you get a W. If you want to rebuild, don’t hold guys hostage. If you didn’t feel like you could win this year, why did we not trade for Murray when there was a chance. I honestly want someone to leak what masai’s offer was so we can either give him proper shit or lay off him.
We better keep OG through this mess
That checks out cause Portland is just looking to flip Jrue, they would be able to do the same with OG. It would be easier too since his salary is like half of Jrue’s so easier to match. Plus Portland wouldn’t have had to give up Little and Keon then most likely.
I hate to say this cause it’s not their fault (blame the front office for valuing them so highly) but OG and Scottie really need to show some serious development this year. Like fringe all star (at worst) type development. Both were kept out of trade talks for Damian fucking Lillard, they need to step up this year.
“The word in league circles”
Pro tip: If a journalist has an actual source with actual information, they will say so. When they use phrases like this, they are telling you that they don’t.
Note that the one thing that was never “the word in league circles” was that Milwaukee had even thrown their hat into the ring.
If this is true it also doesn’t mention what else would’ve needed to be included. It’s easy to say adding OG would be the difference, but did they want 3 picks, Dick, etc on top of it?
I would rather keep OG. If they couldn’t land a trade without him, that is fine.
Wait..you mean all the talk that we were offering OG was wrong?
We offered him…we could have had Dame if we offered him…what to believe? Nothing? Everything?
Its not a fumble masai knew trsding og and gary would have us struggle overall and wasnt confident in improving the team with what woukd be left. Imagine trading all or most of your assets to have 4 starters and no shooting, he knows what hes doing
If this is true then I imagine Masai is fairly confident in OG being willing to re-sign.
Sounds more and more like Darko’s offence is going to be focused around Scottie and OG and Pascal is going to be asked to fit his game around them. If all 3 buy in I can definitely see it happening. Hopefully Pascal has spent the last few months getting his 3 ball back to where it was in 2019.
Should’ve just got rid of Barnes smfh
People who think swapping Lillard for Anunoby + several depth players will catapult us in the standings are delusional
The raptors didnt fumble the bag, we almost got Dame by giving up Dick + Gary. Giving up OG would make constructing a contender much harder
Bruh 😟🔫
OG baby! Never let go of my man. Thank you Masai ❤️🙏🏻
Bruh. What. Is. The. Plan?
I think there is a concerted effort by the media to make Masai leave Toronto. Call me crazy but that’s what I see, I’m not saying her shouldn’t be criticized or questioned but if you zoom out he has done a fantastic job.
Masai is too smart to make a deal like that. Very good decision.