The trade deadline is coming, and I am mostly worried about whether the arena still stocks those specific honey garlic sausages I like. It is a time for spreadsheets, luxury tax calculators, and wondering if a first round pick is actually worth anything. Yesterday I saw a bird drop a cracker and it felt like a metaphor for our front office, but I cannot remember why.
We are hearing rumors about Domantas Sabonis, which is interesting because he plays basketball very intensely. He rebounds like he left his car keys somewhere under the hoop. However, reports suggest we are also looking at smaller moves involving Ochai Agbaji. We want to avoid the luxury tax, which is a bit like me trying to avoid the 401 on a long weekend. You can try all the shortcuts you want, but eventually you are just sitting in traffic near Milton.
The Quest for a Center Who Exists
Jakob Poeltl has a back injury that feels very permanent, in the way that my knees feel permanent when I try to stand up too fast. Some people think we should just wait for him to recover like Ben Simmons did (eventually). Others think we need a new person to stand in the middle and be tall.
The list of names is long and sounds like a law firm. Goga Bitadze, Yves Missi, and Day'Ron Sharpe are all being mentioned. Sharpe might cost a first round pick, which is a lot of capital for someone whose primary job is to be large. I remember when we had Primoz Brezec for two weeks and it felt like a fever dream.
Taxes and Other Inevitabilities
There are people on the internet finding loopholes to duck the tax, which is impressive work. I usually just pay the person at the kiosk and try not to look at the receipt. The front office seems to want to keep the books clean while also adding depth. It is a delicate balance, like trying to carry four coffees without a tray.
Some say we need shooting more than we need size. This makes sense because the ball is supposed to go into the basket, and that is easier when you shoot it well. Still, there is something comforting about a very big man just taking up space. It reminds me of my Uncle Gary at Thanksgiving, he does not move much, but you certainly know he is there.
Final Thoughts on Nothing in Particular
Whether it is a blockbuster for Sabonis or a minor swap for a backup center, we will all still be here. The Raptors will play games, and I will watch them while wondering if I left the stove on. If we trade a first round pick for Day'Ron Sharpe, I hope he likes the humidity here.
We have about three and a half years left on certain contracts, which feels like an eternity. By then, we might all be living on the moon, or at least in a slightly nicer apartment in Scarborough. For now, we wait for the phone to ring and for the luxury tax to hopefully go away on its own. It probably won't, but hope is a funny thing.