The Raptors Really Need To Get Their Priorities Straight

The Raptors Really Need To Get Their Priorities Straight

Raptor fans are adamant that the team needs to add a center in the off season and also it might need to replace yakob purle for the team’s future but in today’s video I’m going to explain to you why the problems in Toronto go well beyond the center position let’s get into it there certainly are a lot of things that need changing in Toronto based on the way this season just went down where they had a bottom six record missed out on getting any sort of Lottery luck don’t have a first round pick this season and yes even even though there are a lot of problems you know these things are going to take time you’re not able to address all of them in this current offseason but there does need to be some sort of hierarchy as to the priority on certain problems with the team and one of them is just adding in players and notably we’re questioning what position these players need to be where is the priority for the 19th overall pick in the draft the 31st overall pick in the draft and perhaps freeny what are the main things that the Raptors need to address in the offseason and according to Raptors fans yourself especially the ones that are in this current community and honestly I’ve seen it all over the place I’ve seen it in my bleach report streams I’ve seen it on Twitter but again I’ve also seen it in this community here on YouTube where the main thing that fans want to address is in the center position so much so that when I ask what the positional priority should be for the Raptors to address in the offseason a whopping 60% of Voters said that the biggest priority needs to be in the center position which is something that I definitely do not agree with and we are going to address why over the the course of the video before we go any further reminder this is amateur sports the YouTube channel dedicated to giving you Toronto Raptors content in videos like this but I also do live streams covering the latest news around the league especially about the Toronto Raptors so make sure you subscribe to the channel keep update that great content and drop a like on this video If you do enjoy along the way now I’m not suggesting that know my opinion is a be allend I would never do that I never suggest that I’m merely presenting my case here as to why you know I do think this team does need a center but maybe not in the way a lot of the people in this community think so and hopefully I’m trying to shed some light here on my side of the equation here and maybe try to get you on my side of this one because the biggest priority for me looking at this roster well it’s absolutely the backup point guard position this has been a priority that has well it’s been a priority for me but it very much has not been a priority for the Raptors for a number of years they just have not addressed a backup point guard position it’s been pretty clear that Malai Flynn is an unreliable backup point guard but he’s been pretty much that role for the last three seasons straight and when he hasn’t lived up to the billing that the Raptors have made for him suggesting that hey he’s going to be our backup point guard they have no other answer whether you know you go to a two-way player like Jeff D who runs out of Eligibility before you get to the actual postseason you lose in the playing Tournament game not sure how much you would have affected that game if he did play but that’s the point they have to SC around for certain players to fill this void here and we’re going into another season here where there’s no clear indication who that backup point guard is going to be on top of that we look at the defensive situations overall for the Raptors this is a completely changed team and one of the areas the Raptors really struggled this season like certainly there were some things on the offensive end of the court that continue to get better and better over the course of the Season that did not occur on defense and when there was a tough defensive matchup for the Raptors to handle they didn’t really have a specific player to throw on that offensive player that gave him that difficult matchup that typically had to be on the defensive end of the Court O abaji who likely won’t be a starter next season and sure it’s good to have him but the r are definitely in need of a big Wing Defender somebody who can play as the three or the four and can defend on the wing you need size there you need aism you need somebody who can defend there like I’m not calling for you know a player like OG and anobi but you know somebody on a little bit of the cheaper side easier side than done acquiring a player like that but that needs to be a bigger priority for the Raptors this season like the upcoming season it’s clear there’s no backup point guard it’s clear there’s no big wi Defender but as far as the center position is concerned raptors have centers yako purle is a great starting center on a great contract we clearly saw the effect yakob purle had on the team when he wasn’t there when he wasn’t having an effect the record the team had without yakob purle was just absolutely diabolical now his injury coincide with the Raptor tanking 100% but the team probably picks up a few more wins here or there if yakob purle is playing in some of these games and you know aside from the impact that the player has we can also discuss the contract three more years at $20 million per year is an outstanding contract for a starting center who’s a good rim protector who does his job on offense as a good screen Setter as a great pick and roll partner for players like emano quickley and whoever hopefully comes in they better bring in a backup point guard and on top of yakob pearl you also have Kelly linck who can play as a center and did so when yakob perto was injured what’s great about Kelly lck he’s faes the floor good passer especially out of the high post maybe not the most Adept Defender but also I guess a bit more versatility position where he can play as the four or the five now the Raptors need to add in another Center on top of that but it seems to me like the most filled out spot in the depth chart right now is pretty much the center position like you can look at shooting guards if Gary Trent doesn’t return like it’s just Grady dick you can look at forward it’s like Scotty Barnes RJ Barrett starting like Yeah o aaji coming off the bench we’ll see if Bruce Brown is still with a team point guard I address there’s no backup but for Center you’ve got Perle on a great contract you’ve got Kelly linck a two-year contract $12 million a year or so it was these are fine players to have in these positions but the continuous support from Raptors fans as to what position needs the most help it continues to be the center position and in fact coming for the 19th overall pick people are still adamant that Zach Edy is the right player to take with the 19th overall selection which is again another area where I have some push back on this some people also suggest that the free agent Market is where the Raptors need to pursue a center in fact they need to pursue a center specifically to replace yakob purle like somebody like Nick claxon but this doesn’t really make a whole lot of sense to me whether you’re high on Zach Ed or not I certainly am on the lower side of things with the player but even if you are high on the player you certainly need to have the realistic understanding when looking at him that this is not a player that’s going to come in and contribute you know from day one as a starter specifically like could he be coming up the bench from day one yes but you absolutely cannot Draft Zack Ed with the impression he’s going to start from day one at least I I very much I I really do not think so so if you’re bringing in Zach Edy you’re bringing a player who is likely to be your third string Center because you’re not replacing yakob Perle to bring Zach Edy into your team so Zack Ed is the third Center and and look I think Zach Ed is your third Center does make a good degree of sense having that size is having that sort of wild card specialist sort of player to throw in in specific roles in the game I like that I really do like that for Zach EDI but do I like that with the 19th overall pick likely around where he slated to be drafted based on the current mock drafts based on the current projections I’m not so sure I think there are specific players who can fit into a role better from day one have a bigger presence for the team from day one who the Raptors could look to select with 19th overall pick so 31st overall pick hey Zach e is available I’d be okay with that 19th overall pick not so much I do agree that there is a need to address the third slot in the center depth chart absolutely I agree the Raptors need to bring in size and RI protection for that spot we saw what the team looked like without yakob purle as I said so if yakob Perle goes down it can’t just be kol linic backing up the Raptors in the center position or signing a guy like like Malik Williams to the team good grief there needs to be a better presence there in the depth chart 100% does that make it the biggest priority no because that’s not a guy getting the consistent minutes that you know bigwing Defender would coming up the bench like a backup point guard would coming off the bench especially if if Gary Trent leaves the need for shooting all of a sudden increased as well beyond the need for a center on this team and if the thought process is not okay not filling out the depth if the thought process is yako purle is not the right guy for this team the Raptors need to replace yako purle the question becomes who would first of all Nick claxon is going to be a hot commodity and I find it extremely unlikely that Raptors would even be able to become a player in the nick Clacks and sweep stakes in for agency but if they were let’s say they were you have to consider what is Nick claxon going to be worth I can guarantee he’s going to be making a whole lot more than $20 million per year which is what yakob purle is making Nick claxon’s likely in the range of top of my head here I’m thinking like minimum is going to be 27 You Know M absolute basement’s got to be 25 so I’m thinking like near 30 range could even creep above that if he gets into a little bit of bidding war potentially that’s an expensive player and what does Nick Claxton bring to the team that yako purle doesn’t what would a guy like some people have their eyes on Jonas valunas what does he bring to the team that yakob Pearl doesn’t you know for Nick claxon maybe he’s a bit better as a rim protector but he’s still not tremendous in space on defense not a lot of centers are offensively he’s as bad if not worse of a free throw shooter than yakob purle is his passing is much worse than yaka Perle so you know we talk about floor spacing on the time yaka Perle doesn’t space the floor by shooting but he’s an excellent screen Setter which gives more space to the ball handler he’s an excellent passer out of the high post so you still have to defend him in those areas and you can create space and create opportunities with his passing not to mention he’s a good scorer as well on the inside like that like the right-handed push shot that floater that yaka purle has it’s almost automatic I don’t think Nick claxon brings a whole lot of a difference of a presence to this team to compared to yaka purle and Nick CLA is going to be a whole lot more expensive yes he’s he’s younger but it’s not like yakob purle is old this present point and you look at guys like Jonas valunas I I do think his floor spacing is a touch overrated you know yes he can shoot a little bit low volume but defensively he he’s a liability every year in the playoffs it comes out he can’t play he can’t hang he can’t hang in big moments because he just doesn’t have it there defensively the Raptors struggling on defense so much need to have that presence need to have that Rim protection that yako prle bring so you know is yaka Pearl the ideal fit for this team like I think every team in the NBA is Chas chasing a rim protector who can shoot threes everybody wants that there’s not a lot of them they’re very hard to get they’re very hot Commodities so considering the options that are out there is there anyone that makes sense to replace yakob purle with no financially if there’s better ones if there’s better ones financially they’re going to cost a whole lot more which is just money unnecessarily spent in my opinion or they don’t bring the level of Defense required to really fit with this current Raptor team and this Raptor project so for yakob purle I think that the Raptors are locked in on a three-year contract where look people keep talking about this time on here yakob p on a three-year contract the Raptors are going to continue to get better yakob Perle has no problem being on a team that’s not very good as long as they’re trying to win the indication right now is the Raptors are going to be going into a season where they are trying to win they are not going into this season looking at that draft piic they are going into this season trying to make the playoffs yako purle has stated already that he’s completely fine with a project like that he just doesn’t want to be on a team that purposely is tanking out the gate or at any point the Raptors look could it come to that who knows but that’s not the goal for the season yako purle is comfortable with this project and if he doesn’t have if he’s not comfortable with it he’ll let us know and that point will be the time to trade him but as far as the draft is concerned as far as fre agency is concerned yes getting a center is something that I think the Raptors should address a third Center for this team as I mentioned but as far as the priorities or the hierarchy of Need for this team Center is a whole lot lower to me than the backup point guard position whole lot lower than bigwing Defender and possibly if Gary Trent leads especially a whole lot lower than bringing in floor spacers and Shooters yes the Raptors need it but priority wise this is not the highest the rapt to put their financial capacity and their energy into fixing other things before they look into the center position 100% so for Zen ofite case here if you’re on the side of needing a center maybe are you off it do you change your thoughts at all what thoughts overall in the video give me your thoughts and opinions in the comments down below that’s all for me for today drop a like if you did enjoy subscribe to the channel as well for more rapes content just like this and I will see you again next time for another video here on Amateur hour Sports [Music]

Hey Raptors fans! 🦖 Welcome back to Amateur Hour Sports! In today’s video, Jacob Gramegna dives into a hot topic among the Raptors community: the push to acquire a center in the offseason. Whether it’s drafting a promising player like Zach Edey or signing a free agent like Nic Claxton, many fans believe this is the key move for the team. But is it really? Jacob breaks down why he believes this should NOT be the priority for the Raptors. Instead, he suggests alternative strategies and positions that should be the focus to truly elevate the team next season. From strengthening the backcourt to adding more versatile wings, find out why a center might not be the answer the Raptors need.

Don’t miss out on this insightful discussion! Make sure to like, comment, and subscribe for more Raptors content and join the conversation in the comments below. What do you think the Raptors should prioritize this offseason? Let us know!

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0:00 – Fans want the Raptors to focus on bigs
1:48 – Are there greater positional needs?
3:50 – Toronto’s current centre depth
5:53 – The difficulties in replacing Poeltl
8:02 – Can the Raptors replace Poeltl in free agency?
11:00 – Jakob Poeltl’s fit in Toronto
11:45 – Toronto has bigger priorities for 2024

This is Amateur Hour Sports. On this channel, Jacob Gramegna analyzes and breaks down the latest on the Toronto Raptors NBA team from trade rumors to post-game reactions, analysis, and much more. By subscribing to this channel you will be there first to watch and enjoy 3-4 videos a week all focused on this team and on game days Jacob goes live on the channel for a watch party where he interacts with chat, answers your questions, and analyses the game as it happens with play by play and commentary. Join the Amateur Hour Army today by subscribing and consider becoming a member to give extra support to the channel and help create better content more often.

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