In Episode 1436, Sean Woodley reacts to a very bad opening day of free agency for the Toronto Raptors, who lost Fred VanVleet to the Houston Rockets (3 years, $130 million), re-signed Jakob Poeltl (4 years, $80 million) and brought in Dennis Schroder as VanVleet’s replacement (2 years, $26 million). Off the top, Sean details why the loss of VanVleet is so damaging, and why the front office’s failure to account for the Houston Rockets godfather offer definitely suggests a misreading of the market and an overconfidence in their ability to thread a very delicate needle this offseason. That said, the notion that the Raptors screwed themselves by not dealing Fred for some bogus package at the deaadline is a little off-base. They made a reasonable gamble, and lost. But now their left to pick up the pieces. Is a Pascal Siakam trade now back on the table? Keeping Jakob Poeltl is a good move, but his fit on the team is certainly more tenuous without a shooting threat running pick and rolls alongside him, and Dennis Schroder feels like a pretty bad fit for what the Raptors badly need. Plus, some thoughts on why Scottie as the point guard makes very little sense and will bring with it a lot of offensive pain. Lastly, Sean runs through some of the silver linings of the day, including the retention of Jak, the long-term financial wiggle room the loss of Fred does create, some fun potential lineup combos that exist as the roster is constructed, and the freeing bliss of low expectations.
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27 Comments
Sean, I think your dislike of change as you've stated in past episodes has clouded your vision as to what's better for the future of this team. Rewarding mediocrity can't be a continual message. Masai has sent that clearly by not overpaying for Fred. Fred isn't even a traditional type point guard that was great at running on offence. Our offence was brutal and he or Pascal would end up often gunning at the end of the shot clock. Management should have traded him at the deadline they made a mistake then and now they are paying for it. I like the Schroder pick up and he was my selection as a backup. The next move has to be to move Pascal to getting a legit starting pg and some wings between and the 2 to 4 spots and maybe a 1st rd pick. Now you have a deeper and younger team you can develop around Scottie and OG and maybe restocked on some picks in the 2024 draft. Freddie was all about that bag…there is no loyalty in this game. He showed that he was not a leader in every other post game where he threw the young guys under the bus……As it pertains to Pascal, call his bluff and trade him. He wants to get supermax which we aren't paying him. Trade him and he'll resign with that team, He doesn't want change but if it's forced, he'll resign with that team because he wants the most money available for him and wouldn't want to move again.
The worst part is the chance for scoot is out the window now because Dame requested a trade. Would have been epic to have scottie OG scoot GTJ Jak as a starting lineup. And Simon's and Gradey coming off the bench with precious. That would have gotten me excited.
Trade pascal pls
Dennis Schroder is a first round pick. VanVleet is undrafted until Raptors gave him a chance. We were not even in the play off. What's there to worry. ?
It would have been a bad day if we lost Jak for nothing after making that midseason trade for him. Especially if he went back to the Spurs.
Lol. The team was 💩 with fred last year. Good for him getting the bag but the Raptors dodged a bullet. Lets just say im more optimistic than u
Bro I hate to say it. You’re one of these delusional guys that thinks Fred is good for the offence. He is bad for team offence. Horrible intact. The flow and motion will be WAY better this year.
Also maybe pascal to Houston pops up again. Fred tells them to make a play for pascal. And we get a deal cantered around Scottie’s best buddy Jalen green
He’s not worth the money, so get over it.
Its a good day
This a great day. Can’t wait for the fresh start and young players getting an opportunity. Plus Siakam getting more control of this offense.
The fact that we were shaping an offense with PnR with Fred and Jakob was empty calories. Teams were begging us to run it.
Looks like I'm on the opposite page than you. I'm feeling way more hope that our offence will now be unlocked now that he is gone, and with the implementation of movement basketball under the new coaching staff. I also see Scotty flourishing in this new system, not taking a step back. If Gradey Dick's shooting is as good as advertised, we would have a massive advantage in height and length in our starting lineup including him. I would at least like to see it tried out. From what I've been seeing in all the Raptors YT content, you sir are in the minority of Rap fans that believe yesterday was a "very bad day". …Quite the opposite in fact… Most of the fan base appears to be rejoicing after yesterday's announcements concerning the Raptors. In Masai we trust! Go Raps!!!
SEAN WOODLEY YOU MIGHT BE THE ONLY ONE…
…. HAVING THE BLUES OVER DICTATOR
FREEDY….
SPEED UP YOUR PODAST YOU ARE BORING…..
PUP…PUP…PUP…😅
It’s not a bad day. It was always difficult to bring him back with our current cap sheet. (OG and Siakam extension). Trade deadline was a bad day. NOT YESTERDAY. Letting him walk is a good thing. I am pumped! Go RAPS.
MARQUIS NOWELL will be a PHENOM!!! Your welcome casuals
Y’all gotta call it how it is with all the assets Masai had and the decision to work for the future and build for a young team to build around Scottie barnes so he can develop the right way while keeping someone or both Gary Trent snd Og vs keeping everybody adding Jakob poetl not to make the playoffs snd losing FVV this year possibly losing OG next year but with Masais moves he’s gonna prolly take that chance rather then trading him early and getting the best package or trading pascal who wants to stay but wants the super big bag and he’s in his prime who can also get you good assets but probably gonna pay him that max too and as long as OG and pascal are on this team Scottie won’t develop into the best version he can be while he’s young but he still is young but rather then starting it now they are just delaying it. Atleast you keep Gary Trent who’s young snd what y’all need but had to over pay for Jakob Poetl. Don’t have y’all first round pick next year unless y’all are trash and that’s not impossible but the teams not that bad. And to finish it off signing a back up pg to be your starting pg in DS. Hey Gradey dick will be a weapon but if y’all were gonna go this route keeping Fred to be a bottom seed playoff team may have been worth it but I wouldn’t have paid him either. Y’all shoulda just went on the fire sale when y’all had the chance except taking that chance to lose in the first play in game gotta blame Masai for this now no direction madness. So from becoming a well equipped team to becoming young and very good again quickly the raptors are like a dinasour with his head cut off. Btw y’all not making the playoffs this year either good thing because y’all always gave my Celtics a hard time but the issue is there is no clear direction this team has or you think they will take. Atleast y’all have a championship in the last decade (4 years ago) still not too late to make the right moves and find a direction but to maximize how good this team could be is confusing and less likely
Why do we hate someone who make the best move for family and friends. Your next move will be management. You made us winners, appreciate your professionalism while you were here. Life goes on with us or without us. Enjoy life Freddy 😅😅😅
Its a great day we didnt pay the third worst fg % player in the nba 100 plus million .🎉🎉🎉
This was most definitely a great day for the Raptors, the team dodge a $120 mil bullet, now we can play basketball the right way. Can’t wait till the season starts now. Let’s go raptors.
This is what happens when you think a team that lost to the 10th seed in the play-in AT HOME is just a coaching change from turning it all around. It was slapping them in the face all year that it’s time to start over.
Not saying make Scottie a heliocentric player because he’s not, at least not now. But every move going forward needs to be centered around getting the most out of him and his development. It’s time.
Cheer up there is so much to look forward to. Dennis was not brought in to replace Fred he clearly is going to run the second unit. The offense last year with Fred was not good. Yes he works well with Jakob pnr but that is not all there is to offense. I'm looking forward to Darko's ball movement offense and I'm sure you will be pleasantly surprised.
You need to look at Scotties highlights pnr offense with Balsa Koprivica in college. You really obviously do not believe in Scotties bb iq and abilities. Scottie bodied and scored on Lopez and Giannis , Vucevic and Sabonis. Sorry but I don't agree with your pessimism.
The Raptors won this FA season… Why? The Raptors lacked chemistry last season and played selfishly. Why? Mr Bet on Himself is jealous of Barnes. Fred created a toxic workplace culture around this team last season.
Now OG, Barnes, and Trent Jr get more opportunities and this team will be team focused. No more bet on yourself we are team first… It’s We the North. Not Fred is hogging the ball chucking up bricks and then blaming his young teammates for being the 6th worst starting shooter in the NBA.
The Raptors are paying only $2m more for OG, Trent Jr, and Barnes than the Rockets are paying Fred. The Rockets will be terrible next season and trust me Fred will be jealous of those young high draft picks in Houston too.
This summer is addition but subtraction. The majority of Raptors fans are so excited selfish Fred is gone we are celebrating with fireworks tonight.
Oh and don’t be shocked in Schroder in not the starting PG next season Scottie is. Schroder and Dowtin Jr will compete for the backup PG.
Bad day? your joking right? Lost an overpaid undersized point guard. onward.
Wtf who thinks this is a bad day?
Schroeder can still play. I’d rather him the Russell or Rozier. Fred had to go. Doesn’t matter what his production was he was becoming a cancer. The roster is not done. Sad takes.
How many games before the Rocket fans start booing FVV ?
Very awesome day you mean.