Though the Raptors prefer to host their home games for the 2020/21 season in Toronto, Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca notes that the decision will ultimately be made by the Canadian government. The federal officials at the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Ottawa Citizenship, who oversee travel regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic, may hesitate to make a special exemption on extant 14-day quarantine requirements for new arrivals into the country just to accommodate visiting U.S.-based NBA personnel.
With the draft and free agency scheduled for next week, plus an expected lift on the current pause on trades, time is running out for Raptors ownership to keep Toronto in Toronto.
Nashville, Tampa, Kansas City, Buffalo and Newark have all been floated as stateside alternative options for Toronto set up shop this season, per Grange and Eric Koreen of The Athletic. “Our focus is on playing in Toronto,” a team spokesperson said yesterday, per Koreen.
There’s more out of the Atlantic Division:
- Raptors guard Fred VanVleet, one of the top free agents during the 2020 offseason, stated on J.J. Redick and Tommy Alter’s podcast The Old Man And The Three that money will be important in his offseason decision-making. He elaborated on the matter, per Joshua Howe of Sportsnet.ca. “I’m trying to get paid, man,” VanVleet said. “I won a championship and now it’s time to cash out.”
- Celtics center Vincent Poirier is hoping for a larger role in Boston this season. Keith P Smith of Celtics Blog breaks down a conversation between Poirier and French outlet We Sport. “I don’t know where I’ll be,” Poirier said, “but in my head it’s obvious that I’m not doing one more season at the end of the bench to applaud.”
- Brooklyn native Obi Toppin has worked out for four squads: the Timberwolves, the Hornets, the Cavaliers, and his hometown Knicks. Though New York has the lowest draft pick among these squads, the club is apparently hopeful to add the 6’9″ forward on November 18, per Steve Popper of Newsday. “They have a great organization,” Toppin commented during a Zoom chat today. “It would be great to go home. But there’s a lot of teams that are in front of them that would be great, too.”
Everything Knicks
VanVleet Knicks 110 million
Ball Knicks trade up
Okoro Knicks
Toppin Knicks
Vassell Knicks
Can you explain your thoughts on how they get all those draft picks?
It’s poetry med
for the head-traummed
Knicks sound like Vanvleet’s destination
Especially if he’s happy with his ring and looking to “cash out.”
Raptors will play in tampa(you heard it here first). If im masai and vanvleet only wants money,GOODBYE! Nurse can find another pg and turn him into a vanvleet. Lol at Poirier dude nobody forced you to come to the league. This isnt Europe where you’re more athletic and taller than everybody, you have to find your niche.
Lol if you are a center on the Cs and not getting minutes…as they say here’s your sign. Sorry Monsior Poirer. Mas grande por favor
That doesn’t sound too promising from Fred. A red flag for some teams I’d say
He’s acting like a child…if you ask me
If you give him $20+ million annually you will be disappointed. He’s in a good system for small point guards and he’s going to be like Terry Rozier if he leaves
Exactly. FVV grew into the RAPTORS system – he’s small but it works, since Nurse’s defensive schemes covers FVV’s weaknesses.
Any team getting FVV, will surely over-pay and come game time, will discover that he is small.
FVV will get overpaid one way or another.
Rozier, good comparison. FVV does play D though.
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Poirier would be a great throw-in in a Drummond-Hayward trade. He could fill the gap left on the Cavs ad get minutes. Boston does want their three firsts to move up to… #5?
That would be a terrible move by the Cavaliers. Late picks in a weak draft? I’d rather stay put. Buttt I might be compelled to trade them Larry Nance Jr. for their 14th pick.
Bruh idk who u are but I love the way you explain things lol
Ohhh Fred, you went and said the quiet part out loud…
Lol so true! If I am a GM/President(with common sense) i will not pay him more than 80. Dude is really acting as if he was sole reason why they won a ring lol
To be fair, I don’t blame him. This is most likely his last opportunity to set his family up fore lifetimes. He wasn’t drafted and his second contract wasn’t a max. He has career earnings under what he will most likely make in the first year of a new deal. Just phrase it differently and you probably don’t get as much backlash