Lee to Raptors?

[Eddie20]

http://www.basketballinsiders.com/nba-pm-the-trade-deadline-is-nearing/

When David Lee and his agent requested a trade from the Golden State Warriors, it was not because Lee was unhappy. Rather, it was because Lee was entering the final year of his contract and needed a situation where he could play in order to secure a sizable deal this summer. The Boston Celtics were one of several options presented, and Lee and his camp chose Boston specifically.

As the deadline approaches, Lee is averaging 15.7 minutes per game on the season and has not played in five of the Celtics’ last six games. When Lee plays, he’s been productive, but the Celtics simply do not have a role for him.

The problem for Boston is that it’s difficult to move Lee’s $15.4 million contract without any long-term cap impact. Their desire to keep their flexibility and not take on long-term money is something the Celtics have made clear to inquiring teams.

One of the teams that continues to be mentioned as a possibility for Lee at the deadline is the Toronto Raptors. However, making the cap math work would be complicated unless a third team that’s willing to take on one of Toronto’s longer deals gets involved.

The Celtics have been on a skid as of late and have been actively looking at deals where they could liquidate some of their duplication or trade up in the talent department, and Lee is one of the guys they are expected to try to move at the deadline.

Finding a deal for a $15.4 million contract is never easy, but it seems that both Lee and the Celtics want to try to find a trade before the Feb. 18 deadline.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Possibility for the Raptors... but for what exactly?

[Eddie20]

Possibility for the Raptors... but for what exactly?

Only thing I can think of is the following:

Boston
Noguiera or Caboclo...So Boston gets a prospect at either C or SF.

Toronto
Lee...trades away Scola and Joseph (signed to 7M per 3 years), which allows their 1st rd pick (Wright) to backup Lowry.

Portland
Joseph and Scola...trades away Alexander and Frazier (current backup PG) in order to create roster space. This also allows them to inch ever closer to the salary cap floor, which I believe is 63M.

[indeedproceed]

That looks to me like a whole lotta stuff pulled out of thin air.

[Eddie20]

That looks to me like a whole lotta stuff pulled out of thin air.

It's from Steve Kyler. He's pretty solid.

[Lucky17]

http://www.basketballinsiders.com/nba-pm-the-trade-deadline-is-nearing/

One of the teams that continues to be mentioned as a possibility for Lee at the deadline is the Toronto Raptors.

I'm skeptical this has any basis in reality. Literally the first time I've heard of Toronto having interest in Lee. How are they supposed to match Lee's salary?

[Eddie20]

http://www.basketballinsiders.com/nba-pm-the-trade-deadline-is-nearing/

One of the teams that continues to be mentioned as a possibility for Lee at the deadline is the Toronto Raptors.

I'm skeptical this has any basis in reality. Literally the first time I've heard of Toronto having interest in Lee. How are they supposed to match Lee's salary?

Before Green was traded last season did you hear anything about him landing on the Grizzlies? Did you hear any rumors of us getting Isaiah before it happened? Ainge is very quiet in his dealings, so I wouldn't be surprised to not hear much before many of his moves. They would need a 3rd team to facilitate a deal, like Portland who needs to reach the cap floor.

[Lucky17]

FWIW, this works.

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=h4e6pxj

Raptors won't trade any starter in return for Lee. Can't see Toronto moving Joseph (or Boston wanting him, given the roster). Ross is their Plan B if DeRozan bolts, and Johnson and Biyombo are important bench defenders. That only leaves a handful of contracts to work with.

I'm not sure Toronto would trade Scola for Lee straight up even if they could.

[max215]

http://www.basketballinsiders.com/nba-pm-the-trade-deadline-is-nearing/

One of the teams that continues to be mentioned as a possibility for Lee at the deadline is the Toronto Raptors.

I'm skeptical this has any basis in reality. Literally the first time I've heard of Toronto having interest in Lee. How are they supposed to match Lee's salary?

That's sort of the problem and why a third team would likely have to be involved. Kyler is solid though, so this is probably a legit rumor.

[jpotter33]

http://www.basketballinsiders.com/nba-pm-the-trade-deadline-is-nearing/

One of the teams that continues to be mentioned as a possibility for Lee at the deadline is the Toronto Raptors.

I'm skeptical this has any basis in reality. Literally the first time I've heard of Toronto having interest in Lee. How are they supposed to match Lee's salary?

I've actually seen it a couple of places, though they might all have been referencing this article itself.

However, I don't see why they'd have interest. Lee wouldn't really provide enough spacing to play at the 4, especially with JV and Biyombo. And he'd just take time away from those two if he was to exclusively play center.

[Lucky17]

http://www.basketballinsiders.com/nba-pm-the-trade-deadline-is-nearing/

One of the teams that continues to be mentioned as a possibility for Lee at the deadline is the Toronto Raptors.

I'm skeptical this has any basis in reality. Literally the first time I've heard of Toronto having interest in Lee. How are they supposed to match Lee's salary?

Before Green was traded last season did you hear anything about him landing on the Grizzlies? Did you hear any rumors of us getting Isaiah before it happened? Ainge is very quiet in his dealings, so I wouldn't be surprised to not hear much before many of his moves. They would need a 3rd team to facilitate a deal, like Portland who needs to reach the cap floor.

But the story is that Lee ends up on Toronto. How would Portland facilitate that?

[D Dub]

Derozen is the guy we'd want in any deal with Toronto.  And he doesn't appear to be a part of their long term plans.   I'm sure they'd want a big return, and I think our BKL picks fit that bill.

Lee, Sully + one BK pick for DD and PPaterson

[TheFlex]

Possibility for the Raptors... but for what exactly?

Only thing I can think of is the following:

Boston
Noguiera or Caboclo...So Boston gets a prospect at either C or SF.

Toronto
Lee...trades away Scola and Joseph (signed to 7M per 3 years), which allows their 1st rd pick (Wright) to backup Lowry.

Portland
Joseph and Scola...trades away Alexander and Frazier (current backup PG) in order to create roster space. This also allows them to inch ever closer to the salary cap floor, which I believe is 63M.

That would be an atrocious deal for Toronto. Scola, Cory Joseph and one of their two favorite prospects for Lee? I doubt it.

I see no reason why Toronto would want Lee. Makes no sense.

[trickybilly]

Possibility for the Raptors... but for what exactly?

Only thing I can think of is the following:

Boston
Noguiera or Caboclo...So Boston gets a prospect at either C or SF.

Toronto
Lee...trades away Scola and Joseph (signed to 7M per 3 years), which allows their 1st rd pick (Wright) to backup Lowry.

Portland
Joseph and Scola...trades away Alexander and Frazier (current backup PG) in order to create roster space. This also allows them to inch ever closer to the salary cap floor, which I believe is 63M.

Nogueira or Cabolco would be huge.

[Who]

I think D.Lee would be a very bad fit in Toronto. They do not need another dodgy defensive big man. Biyombo is doing a good job for them as their backup center.

I think the writer is picking Toronto because (1) David Lee is a power forward [I disagree] (2) Toronto has one of the weakest starting PFs in the league [agreed]. So 1+1=2.