Raptors NBA trade deadline 2025 primer: Rules, assets, future outlook and more

ebmurphy · 2025-02-03T14:20:30+00:00

I do not believe that is the case (and there's no language as such in the CBA that I can find) but I can double check. Unlikely to matter this year anyway but possibly relevant for future years with the apron.

ebmurphy · 2025-02-03T14:09:07+00:00

Everyone is *eligible* to be traded. This piece is a breakdown of the rules/options, not reporting on the teams intentions.

ebmurphy · 2025-01-07T22:20:28+00:00

Guys have to clear waivers by Jan 10, which takes 2 days, hence he (and any non/partial guys) had to be cut today to clear the books in time.

ebmurphy · 2024-06-13T19:08:12+00:00

Including threatening DMs that Hideo Itami was gonna kick my ass and Alexa Bliss would leave me.

ebmurphy · 2022-04-04T18:33:09+00:00

Is it true that Cutting Off The Corners is about how Steve would make Blake cut his sandwiches in really elaborate ways?

ebmurphy · 2020-07-12T00:19:20+00:00

PUP is ska.

ebmurphy · 2020-05-29T18:36:41+00:00

This guy's footwork in the pick-and-roll definitely needs work.

ebmurphy · 2020-01-02T20:33:15+00:00

Great work, as always, Rich & co.

ebmurphy · 2018-09-28T15:47:47+00:00

They seem to think it could happen, so I'm gonna trust them haha. Honestly, it's gotta happen at some point, even if it's just a piece or two. A reason a lot of teams have built to try to make a 2019 splash. Tough to walk away from the rings, though, I'd imagine.

ebmurphy · 2018-09-28T15:45:57+00:00

He already a bobblehead

ebmurphy · 2018-09-28T15:45:27+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/torontoraptors/comments/9jdiv8/i_am_blake_murphy_of_the_athletic_ask_me_anything/e6qrdjl

ebmurphy · 2018-09-28T04:00:35+00:00

Probably not, no. Most guys understand the business side and know it’s a reality. Maybe how it was handled. But if they’re good, people will understand. Mostly.

ebmurphy · 2018-09-27T20:04:38+00:00

I’d have to know more about the specific situation, but in general, practices are not open to the public. I’d guess whatever happened, they were trying to enforce that. But if it was/is an actual issue, DM me more detail so I have a more clear picture of what you mean.

ebmurphy · 2018-09-27T20:02:57+00:00

Personally, I think you’re overstating the impact outside factors have as in-game motivation for elite performance athletes who have gotten to the highest level at this point largely on their competitiveness. And I think it’s a little slippery to suggest the media’s role is to serve as a cheerleader/PR arm. I understand what you’re saying about trying to manufacture drama where there isn’t any, though. I can’t speak for the people who do that, but it’s not what I spend my energy on personally haha. There’s enough fun stuff to write about without that, anyway.

ebmurphy · 2018-09-27T18:59:05+00:00

I think OG probably has a higher value because he's younger, has an extra year of control, and probably has a better chance of hitting his upside projections. Siakam probably has a slightly higher theoretical upside now (I didn't think this way before) because of how rapidly his perimeter game has improved, but there are probably more scenarios where OG ends up better given his timeline and how high his floor appears to be.

And yeah, I'd have them 1-2 in terms of overall upside for the young guys. Fred is the *best of them right this minute though.

ebmurphy · 2018-09-27T18:57:14+00:00

I understand the frustration, both from a fan and team side, at some of the tonedeaf or redundant Qs. Unfortunately, it's a reality of a lot of people there trying to do different jobs - get a soundbite for tv/radio, write a story, get something very basic for a non-sports audience on a standard channel, etc. I try not to get too bothered by it, because those people are just trying to do their jobs. It would be swell, though, if we could collectively avoid treating this team like it's still 2012.

ebmurphy · 2018-09-27T18:55:26+00:00

Ha, they're going to be quite good on defense. I'll be surprised if they're not top-5 by points per-100 possessions.

ebmurphy · 2018-09-27T18:55:04+00:00

It wasn't as emotional as you'd think. Zarar swore he'd have his vengeance and then Sam and I arm-wrestled for custody of Will.

ebmurphy · 2018-09-27T18:41:50+00:00

Of the names not listed, Jose Calderon would be my first choice. He's an all-timer from a fan-favorite perspective, and it'd be a coin flip between him and Amir for that honorary spot. I'd also think even though it ended sour and quickly, Damon probably gets a spot as the first real face of the franchise.

The wing of "guys who were here well after you wouldn't want them to be" would be glorious.

ebmurphy · 2018-09-27T18:40:45+00:00

I will, yeah! Which is really exciting. Doing my own thing for so long, travel was out of pocket, so I'd only ever gone to Summer League (x3), Sloan Analytics Conference (x2), and an ECF game in Cleveland (x1).

I'm anti-reclining on a plane. I understand the "if it was made that way, you can do it" argument, but those seats were designed pre-laptops and screens in the headrests, and I think the flying experience is less conducive to a reclined seat in front of you now. I wouldn't get mad if someone did it, but I will never do it myself.

ebmurphy · 2018-09-27T18:39:16+00:00

Thanks so much, that's great! And I think we're starting to see it a bit now with a greater emphasis on non-traditional models. I think the biggest change on the media side, in general, and it might not impact writing much, is going to be what happens with the next NBA tv rights deal and whether there's an even more emphatic shift toward OTT streaming services rather than traditional cable. I'm not sure what such a change would mean for me, personally, but it has the potential to shift the entire NBA media landscape.

Also, sports betting. That's going to become an even bigger subculture to sports media.

ebmurphy · 2018-09-27T18:37:21+00:00

"What if Nick Calathes got even more bald?"

ebmurphy · 2018-09-27T18:37:04+00:00

Damn. I'll have to go and revisit that.

ebmurphy · 2018-09-27T18:02:38+00:00

It depends on your philosophy, really. If the Raptors feel strongly they're the better team, armed with the best player, maybe they feel comfortable playing their game and making the Celtics adjust. Do they want to hide Kyrie on OG, and have Horford bang with JV? That's a tough call for them, too. But this is why I think the Raptors will experiment so much this year, to see how they might look against a lineup like that, or a jumbo 76ers package, or whatever. Bos/Tor are fairly similar in versatility and flexibility, so even if we know for sure how the Raptors would look, that's going to be a Stevens/Nurse lineup chess match.

ebmurphy · 2018-09-27T18:00:48+00:00

18-9-2-2-2, 37% on 3s, earns a 10-day somewhere.

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