Zan Tabak to Kyle Lowry: The Toronto Raptors Thread

AGENT ZERO · Post #3601 by **AGENT ZERO** » Fri Jul 13, 2018 11:34 am

I know, it's more of a general reply to all of the comments I have read that make it seem like Kawhi to LA is a done deal. Kawhi is a very unique guy with a really tough background story, I really believe that if a team traded for him and made him feel like apart of a family, and worked with him that he would stay. He seems to value those things alot more than most athletes.

Balki Bartokomous · Post #3602 by **Balki Bartokomous** » Fri Jul 13, 2018 2:04 pm

AGENT ZERO wrote:I know, it's more of a general reply to all of the comments I have read that make it seem like Kawhi to LA is a done deal. Kawhi is a very unique guy with a really tough background story, I really believe that if a team traded for him and made him feel like apart of a family, and worked with him that he would stay. He seems to value those things alot more than most athletes.

PG seemed like he was a lock to go to LA as well and a year convinced him to stay. If you have a chance to get an MVP you do it.

stoney · Post #3603 by **stoney** » Thu Jul 19, 2018 8:22 am

AGENT ZERO wrote:I know, it's more of a general reply to all of the comments I have read that make it seem like Kawhi to LA is a done deal. Kawhi is a very unique guy with a really tough background story, I really believe that if a team traded for him and made him feel like apart of a family, and worked with him that he would stay. He seems to value those things alot more than most athletes.

I really like how the site restore left this right at the end of the thread.

Hopefully we can accomplish this

Shawnathan Horcoff · Post #3604 by **Shawnathan Horcoff** » Thu Jul 19, 2018 8:51 am

Drake will singlehandedly drive Kawhi away.

Balki Bartokomous · Post #3605 by **Balki Bartokomous** » Thu Jul 19, 2018 12:43 pm

Fuck we had some good banter in here. Apox on the storm!

vf · Post #3606 by vf » Thu Jul 19, 2018 12:45 pm

Heard a great point today. If things don't work out with Kahwi they can still flip him at the deadline easier then moving DeRozan and kick off the rebuild.

Balki Bartokomous · Post #3607 by **Balki Bartokomous** » Thu Jul 19, 2018 12:54 pm

Yeah, I was saying that yesterday too. The whole thing is a massive win for Ujiri.

I think he'll end up staying here. He already gave up 30M by going from SA to TOR. If he leaves TOR, he gives up another FIFTY million dollars. Have you known anyone to leave 80M dollars on the table? You want a sneaker endorsement, it may give you 100M, ,but you could take a 50M sneaker endorsement up here, still get your fifty million and be at the same place. I dunno what happened in SA, because we weren't there. Only he knows, but I'm not ready to buy the whole "he won't play anywhere but LA" nonsense.

Craig · Post #3608 by **Craig** » Thu Jul 19, 2018 2:52 pm

vf wrote:Heard a great point today. If things don't work out with Kahwi they can still flip him at the deadline easier then moving DeRozan and kick off the rebuild.

That's tough to do if you're in a playoff spot, which they probably will be even if things don't work out because the East sucks.

AGENT ZERO · Post #3609 by **AGENT ZERO** » Thu Jul 19, 2018 3:55 pm

Maybe it's my pro Toronto bias speaking, but I have always believed that Toronto can attract any athlete in the 3 major pro sports if given the chance. One year in this city is that chance.

mooseOAK · Post #3610 by **mooseOAK** » Thu Jul 19, 2018 4:07 pm

Plenty of athletes have Toronto on their no way in hell list.

AGENT ZERO · Post #3611 by **AGENT ZERO** » Thu Jul 19, 2018 4:20 pm

mooseOAK wrote:Plenty of athletes have Toronto on their no way in hell list.

And many have come here and ended up staying. There are alot of negative perceptions about this city that are not based in reality.

Dr_Chimera · Post #3612 by **Dr_Chimera** » Thu Jul 19, 2018 4:31 pm

Kawhi trade was good y'all.

mooseOAK · Post #3613 by **mooseOAK** » Thu Jul 19, 2018 6:06 pm

AGENT ZERO wrote:
mooseOAK wrote:Plenty of athletes have Toronto on their no way in hell list.

And many have come here and ended up staying. There are alot of negative perceptions about this city that are not based in reality.

It’s not the city. It’s a different country plus the traveling through customs is a pain.

Balki Bartokomous · Post #3614 by **Balki Bartokomous** » Thu Jul 19, 2018 6:46 pm

lol, traveling through customs is NOT a pain. I have Nexus and it's idiotically easy, nor am I a pro athlete. They have customs officers visit them before they even board the team bus to get to the airport.

Vector · Post #3615 by **Vector** » Thu Jul 19, 2018 8:38 pm

The problem is the higher taxes. Texas and Florida are considered excellent locations because of the low taxes on their income. Factor in ignorance of Canada, perceptions of the weather (Toronto is too snowy, Vancouver is too rainy, etc.), and visa issues for certain players; then you start seeing why Toronto isn't the most desirable.

It's why DeMar was special. He was a good to great player depending on the year and whether it was the playoffs or regular season that absolutely embraced Toronto and being the face of the team. Lowry too.

For Kawhi, he's from LA and seems to want to play there. That's all we know. There's also a conflicting reports that he wants to be the face of a franchise. I think there's a less than zero chance he stays. Even if he leaves after a season, it was a great trade. I'm going into next season excited to watch every game instead of casually turning on when I remember.

Balki Bartokomous · Post #3616 by **Balki Bartokomous** » Thu Jul 19, 2018 9:19 pm

We had to go into a rebuild and I'd rather end on a Kawhi note.

vf · Post #3617 by vf » Fri Jul 20, 2018 6:23 am

I think the taxes thing is overblown. There's a ton of loopholes.

Curry Rage · Post #3618 by **Curry Rage** » Fri Jul 20, 2018 7:42 am

vf wrote:I think the taxes thing is overblown. There's a ton of loopholes.

Not like these guys can't afford to hire professional tax evad...err...avoid...err...planners. Tax planners.

paulster · Post #3619 by **paulster** » Fri Jul 20, 2018 8:17 am

Customs? Nope. I have nexus and it’s makes it trivial. Wife doesn’t and guess what - they’ve got these new machines at Pearson that makes it just as trivial for every pleb on earth. Pro athletes get special treatment as stated above - customs and immigration is nothing for the rich.

Taxes? Nope. If they are such a huge deal why have we never heard a pro athlete - active or retired - mention this? Or have we?

It’s the wives/girlfriends. They’re the ones who have a lot of pull. That, and the fact that these athletes aren’t exactly known for their intellectual prowess. Talk to the average American when travelling abroad and you’re lucky if they even know where toronto is, let alone that it isn’t a frozen wasteland 12 months per year.

Ultimately though, 99% of the time it seems it’s all about the money.

mooseOAK · Post #3620 by **mooseOAK** » Fri Jul 20, 2018 8:33 am

Balki Bartokomous wrote:lol, traveling through customs is NOT a pain. I have Nexus and it's idiotically easy, nor am I a pro athlete. They have customs officers visit them before they even board the team bus to get to the airport.

Okay, tell that to all of the NBA players with Toronto on their no trade list.

Craig · Post #3621 by **Craig** » Fri Jul 20, 2018 9:02 am

Arguing that there are more loopholes up here than down in the US is an interesting approach.

paulster · Post #3622 by **paulster** » Fri Jul 20, 2018 9:29 am

mooseOAK wrote:
Balki Bartokomous wrote:lol, traveling through customs is NOT a pain. I have Nexus and it's idiotically easy, nor am I a pro athlete. They have customs officers visit them before they even board the team bus to get to the airport.

Okay, tell that to all of the NBA players with Toronto on their no trade list.

It's all about the money man. Specifically, the fact we use "monopoly" money. They just can't handle it.

Warning - blog post:
Was just in Jamaica a couple weeks ago surrounded by Texans and other 'muricans. We're at some 'bar' in an alley on a bus bar crawl thing, and I'm fumbling around for US$ trying to focus my eyes enough to read the numbers on the bills. "Goddamn it these all look the same!" I lamented.
"Oh, you're used to your MONOPOLY MONEY aren't you, Canada?" retorted one of my new American friends (it was July 4 and I was wearing a shirt that said "Canada" on it so the locals would know we were cooler than the surrounding yankees, so that became my name).
So came my clever retort-from-the-north: "Well, you know when you're playing Monopoly, and you can instantly tell how much money you have? So yes, I AM used to our superior method that also has been adopted by literally every single other country!" (or something like that, I was kind of drunk but that's what it sounded like in my head)

It was a sick burn, at least I thought so. Good thing they didn't get me started on the metric system.

AGENT ZERO · Post #3623 by **AGENT ZERO** » Fri Jul 20, 2018 9:29 am

mooseOAK wrote:
AGENT ZERO wrote:
mooseOAK wrote:Plenty of athletes have Toronto on their no way in hell list.

And many have come here and ended up staying. There are alot of negative perceptions about this city that are not based in reality.

It’s not the city. It’s a different country plus the traveling through customs is a pain.

What df said.

Craig · Post #3624 by **Craig** » Fri Jul 20, 2018 9:31 am

Remember when Antonio Davis left because he didn't want his kids to go to Canadian schools and learn the metric system?

Craig · Post #3625 by **Craig** » Fri Jul 20, 2018 9:39 am

Can someone explain the Anthony/Schroeder trade to me? It seems like a whole bunch of garbage changed hands and somehow the Thunder got a legitimate starting point guard and somehow got someone else to buy out Anthony for them.

Balki Bartokomous · Post #3626 by **Balki Bartokomous** » Fri Jul 20, 2018 10:43 am

mooseOAK wrote:
Balki Bartokomous wrote:lol, traveling through customs is NOT a pain. I have Nexus and it's idiotically easy, nor am I a pro athlete. They have customs officers visit them before they even board the team bus to get to the airport.

Okay, tell that to all of the NBA players with Toronto on their no trade list.

Hot tip.........as of last year, only three players had no-trade clauses. Melo, LeBron and Dirk. It's not a thing in the NBA that is handed out, nor do players particularly care to have one. They'd prefer not to be dealt there because they don't really know anything about it. Most of them when they come here fall in love.

I have no doubt that Kawhi is going to love it. Just cause he loves it though, doesn't mean he's gonna sign here, however.

Balki Bartokomous · Post #3627 by **Balki Bartokomous** » Fri Jul 20, 2018 10:44 am

paulster wrote:Customs? Nope. I have nexus and it’s makes it trivial. Wife doesn’t and guess what - they’ve got these new machines at Pearson that makes it just as trivial for every pleb on earth. Pro athletes get special treatment as stated above - customs and immigration is nothing for the rich.

Taxes? Nope. If they are such a huge deal why have we never heard a pro athlete - active or retired - mention this? Or have we?

It’s the wives/girlfriends. They’re the ones who have a lot of pull. That, and the fact that these athletes aren’t exactly known for their intellectual prowess. Talk to the average American when travelling abroad and you’re lucky if they even know where toronto is, let alone that it isn’t a frozen wasteland 12 months per year.

Ultimately though, 99% of the time it seems it’s all about the money.

All salaries are paid in USD, they don't lose money to come here. So much of it is overblown. Like Masai said last year. Some superstar is going to figure Toronto out. Lets hope it's Kawhi.

Balki Bartokomous · Post #3628 by **Balki Bartokomous** » Fri Jul 20, 2018 10:53 am

https://www.tsn.ca/nba/video/barkley-ka ... ld~1443145

vf · Post #3629 by vf » Fri Jul 20, 2018 10:57 am

Craig wrote:Arguing that there are more loopholes up here than down in the US is an interesting approach.

I don't think it matters who has more. There's so many that a half decent money man can hide it all anyways. A lot of states make you pay income in their state by the game or day so the tax difference instantly becomes halved and then the Bean counters get to work.

Vector · Post #3630 by **Vector** » Fri Jul 20, 2018 1:29 pm

Craig wrote:Can someone explain the Anthony/Schroeder trade to me? It seems like a whole bunch of garbage changed hands and somehow the Thunder got a legitimate starting point guard and somehow got someone else to buy out Anthony for them.

Hawks started to hate Schroeder and would rather have the dead money and draft pick on there roster than him. He’s a headache and extremely inconsistent.

Vector · Post #3631 by **Vector** » Fri Jul 20, 2018 1:31 pm

vf wrote:I think the taxes thing is overblown. There's a ton of loopholes.

Agreed but it’s all a perception problem. It’s always going to be there since most Americans don’t even think about Canada and assume Toronto is some tiny garbage city.

LeafOfBread · Post #3632 by **LeafOfBread** » Fri Jul 20, 2018 2:23 pm

Balki Bartokomous wrote:https://www.tsn.ca/nba/video/barkley-kawhi-will-realize-quickly-toronto-is-one-of-five-best-cities-in-the-world~1443145

Barkley always supports Toronto. Enjoys watching hockey too, to the point where he even openly says on air that NHL playoffs are better. Love that guy

Dr_Chimera · Post #3633 by **Dr_Chimera** » Fri Jul 20, 2018 3:46 pm

What a pussy.

Balki Bartokomous · Post #3634 by **Balki Bartokomous** » Fri Jul 20, 2018 7:45 pm

Welcome, baby!

LeafOfBread · Post #3635 by **LeafOfBread** » Fri Jul 20, 2018 8:51 pm

Balki Bartokomous wrote:

Welcome, baby!

One of the few times I've actually seen Kawhi smile

LeafOfBread · Post #3636 by **LeafOfBread** » Fri Jul 20, 2018 8:52 pm

Dr_Chimera wrote:What a pussy.

Come on now, no need to hate on the man who loved it here

Dr_Chimera · Post #3637 by **Dr_Chimera** » Fri Jul 20, 2018 9:25 pm

He's just not a stone-faced killer. And that's what you need in this league.

Dr_Chimera · Post #3638 by **Dr_Chimera** » Sat Jul 21, 2018 12:28 am

Great news. Chuck likes us again.

Vector · Post #3639 by **Vector** » Sat Jul 21, 2018 1:27 am

That was literally posted and discussed earlier today. I do appreciate you never giving a shit, though. Never start. :)

Dr_Chimera · Post #3640 by **Dr_Chimera** » Sat Jul 21, 2018 2:02 am

Vector wrote:That was literally posted and discussed earlier today. I do appreciate you never giving a shit, though. Never start. :)

Oh well. It's a better link than the tsn one at least.

I think I was actually upset a bit at the prospect of Chuck jumping the Raptors ship.

PPJ · Post #3641 by **PPJ** » Sat Jul 21, 2018 1:24 pm

LeafOfBread wrote:
Balki Bartokomous wrote:

Welcome, baby!

One of the few times I've actually seen Kawhi smile

If that’s his smile, can’t wait to see his scowl.

Balki Bartokomous · Post #3642 by **Balki Bartokomous** » Sat Jul 21, 2018 4:10 pm

He'll always be my guy

mayoradamwest · Post #3643 by **mayoradamwest** » Sat Jul 21, 2018 8:14 pm

We once stared awkwardly at each other as he left an elevator and I got in... There's nothing worse than eye contact in those situations

Balki Bartokomous · Post #3644 by **Balki Bartokomous** » Sun Jul 22, 2018 12:01 am

mayoradamwest wrote:We once stared awkwardly at each other as he left an elevator and I got in... There's nothing worse than eye contact in those situations

Oh my God! That's the coolest fucking story I've ever heard in my life! That's insane! Can you tell it again, do you have time?

mayoradamwest · Post #3645 by **mayoradamwest** » Sun Jul 22, 2018 10:06 am

Yes, though not at the moment.

Balki Bartokomous · Post #3646 by **Balki Bartokomous** » Sun Jul 22, 2018 4:44 pm

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/spo ... ssion=true

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