2013-14 Finish: 52-30
Season Highlight


Kevin Durant won the second most coveted award in the league after a
championship ring. Durant garnered 14 first place votes, nearly half the
league. The vote made sense. Durant
finished the season for the Raptors with 38.4 points per game, shooting an
astounding 58% from the field. He also had 8 rebounds per game and
2.3 assists per game. Durant is an elite player and could very well
challenge Lebron James as the best player in the game.
Season Lowlight


The end of the Toronto hegemony. The exciting team we knew as the Raptors is
gone, a team that actually got the young players model right and stormed to win
a championship. It all ended when GM Juvenile traded Durant, hot from winning
his MVP award, to the Boston Celtics (IKR!) Who trades the frickin’ MVP of the
league? Well, the days of Bosh, Durant and Roy are history. Toronto has
officially entered a rebuilding phase. Say it isn’t say.
Best Trade


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The Houston Rockets send Trevor Ariza to the Toronto Raptors.
The Toronto Raptors send Jeff Taylor to the Houston Rockets.
The Toronto Raptors send a 2nd-Rounder (Tor) to the Houston Rockets.
The Houston Rockets trade -10 GM points.The Toronto Raptors receive 10 GM
points.
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Ariza went on to have a breakout season, finding his three-point shot and
propelling the Raptors into the second round of the playoffs (where the Sixers
finished them off). Jeff Taylor blew out his Achilles tendon and got in trouble
for domestic violence. You decide who got the better end of this deal.
Worst Trade
The Boston Celtics send Marc Gasol and Nicolas Batum to the
Toronto Raptors. The Toronto Raptors send Kevin Durant to the Boston
Celtics.
The Boston Celtics send a 1st-Rounder (Min) to the Toronto Raptors.
I don’t care how good Marc Gasol and Nicolas Batum are, you don’t move the MVP,
especially right after he wins it. Now, Toronto needs to redefine its identity
and have to listen to Boston yap incessantly about Kevin Durant. Thanks,
Juvenile.
Other Notable Trades
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The Philadelphia 76ers send Ray Allen to the
Toronto Raptors.
The Toronto Raptors use their trade exception over $ 3,229,050.
The Philadelphia 76ers trade -5 GM points.The Toronto Raptors receive 5 GM
points.
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(8)
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more
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13/11/02
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The Toronto Raptors send Kevin Martin to the
Philadelphia 76ers.
The Philadelphia 76ers use their trade exception over $ 6,500,000.
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Ray Allen waned a bit last season and averaged 6.7 points for Toronto. Martin
hit 23.6 for the Sixers. Juvenile said he was convinced Allen was the missing
piece to the winning chemistry. He backed out of a few deals to make this
happen, angering a few GMs in the process.
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The Orlando Magic send Anderson Varejao and Jason Smith
to the Toronto Raptors. The Toronto Raptors send David West to the
Orlando Magic.
The Orlando Magic trade -10 GM points.The Toronto Raptors receive 10 GM
points.
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Not a bad deal. Varejao is a force when healthy, but David West is still quite
good.
The LA Lakers send Isaiah Thomas to the Toronto
Raptors. The Toronto Raptors send Nick Young to the LA Lakers.
I would rather have Nick Young, TBH.
The Golden State Warriors send Kris Humphries and Gorgui
Dieng to the Toronto Raptors. The Toronto Raptors send Ronnie Price
and Ty Lawson to the Golden State Warriors.
Oof. The Raps must think Ty Lawson’s value has plummeted to
take this deal.
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The Chicago Bulls send Carlos
Delfino and Rudy Gay to the Miami Heat. The Chicago Bulls send Michael
Carter-Williams to the Toronto Raptors. The Miami Heat send Tayshaun
Prince and Stephen Curry to the Chicago Bulls.
The Miami Heat send a 2nd-Rounder (Bkn) to the Chicago Bulls. The
Toronto Raptors send a 1st-Rounder (Min) to the Miami Heat.
The Chicago Bulls trade -10 GM points.The Miami Heat receive 10 GM points.
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Out goes the MVP, in comes the ROY. Not
a bad deal for a crappy first rounder, even if it’s a good pick in a deep
draft. One in the hand is worth two in the bush, they say.
Best FA Signing
Nick Young- A pure scorer. This is the guy Juvenile wanted Ray Allen to be.
Alas, he tried him away soon after the season began.
Worst FA Signing
Eric Maynor- $2 million is too much money for Maynor. This is a minimum
contract type player who makes too much money every season. It was Toronto’s
turn to pay him this time around.


Star


Kevin Durant- MVP. Nuff said.
Surprise
Trevor Ariza- Just a few years ago, Ariza was an overpaid
player who could be had for the likes of Shane Battier. During the season,
Ariza played modestly, averaging 14 ppg. However, the forward exploded in the
playoffs, averaging 25 ppg and hitting 47% of his three pointers. This
explosive play helped the Raptors beat the Knicks four games to two.
Goat


GM Juvenile- Did I mention how much I disliked the Durant trade? Juvenile gets
the goat for that one transaction.
Draft Report Card
The Raptors walked away from the draft with just one player: Kyle Anderson.
While Anderson went earlier in the draft than his NLL counterpoint, he is one
of those tweener forwards that is too big to play the three but isn’t big
enough to play the four. He reminds some folks of Boris Diaw.
Looking To The Future
It’s the end of the Raptors as we know it. GM Juvenile is going to have an
interesting time revamping this team. MarShon Brooks has fled to Europe. Trevor
Ariza and Kris Humphries have demanded trades. Ray Allen won’t be back. Gal
Mekel may be gone. Meanwhile, can MCW and Isaiah Thomas co-exist? One of these
guys will likely be traded.
Upcoming Free Agents
Isaiah Thomas- We will likely re-sign with the Raptors, but do they need him
with MCW in town?
Trevor Ariza- Will be a sign and trade.
Ray Allen- Allen will wait and sign with the Cavs or some
other contender later in the season.
Donald Sloan- He will likely want to stay, but Juvenile
declined his option, so he’s out.
Kris Humphries- Will be a sign and trade.
Jason Smith- He doesn’t want to stick around either and look
for a team where he can get more minutes.
