Posted by u/festivalvibes 14 hours ago
[Charania] The Orlando Magic are planning to waive center Khem Birch in order to give him an opportunity to play more, with the Toronto Raptors as his likely landing spot, sources tell me and @JoshuaBRobbins. Birch is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
#Montreal’s very own Obligatory *WE FINALLY HAVE A CENTER THAT CAN REBOUND!*
It’s not a done deal yet. Remember everyone thought LMA was going to Miami
Boucher and Birch= The “Bell Centres”
Does this mean that Baynes is no more? And how do you guys think Boucher's minutes will be effected by this move?
My fantasy team needs this information
FINALLY A CENTER??? AND A CANADIAN AT THAT??
Don't disrespect the siege equipment like that
I like Birch, this would be a solid pickup
He’s so jacked. We need some muscle so I love this.
A Canadian. A centre. A rebounder! Triple whammy!
Guys Khem Birch isn't gonna suddenly make us a playoff team. The purpose of signing a big is so Siakam and OG don't get worn down playing out of position
Orlando gets worse, Toronto gets better. Orlando with 100000 tanking IQ
Woah. I've been clamouring for this guy for a while now. Obviously won't move the needle much but clearly much better option than Baynes. He is an UFA at the end of the season, so I'm assuming that we are hoping to get the inside track by bringing him in early. Anyways, definitely good move if we can bring him back as the main bench big while going for someone more impactful for the starting lineup.
Definitely nice as a test period. Hopefully avoid some of the Baynes problems and can hit the ground running next year.
Team canada grows stronger! Let's go baby
This wont save our season but ig it's an okay player
Not meant for playoff push, but a nice audition to confirm we can waive Baynes off after we tank accordingly.
Nurse has some good ravings on Team Canada about him so that is a great start
W
Every time he steps on the floor, Leo absolutely raves about this dude
Would be a solid pickup
More Bonjouuuuurrrrss from Jack incoming
YESSSSSSSSSSS
BONJOIR !
Good dayvening!
Definitely a little under the table talking by Masai and Weltman here hahaha
Exactly what I thought lol
Possible nicknames for a Birch/Boucher duo? The Bonjour Boys? Bon Mans, Bad Mans?
I still love the block Quebecois....
WE GOT A BIG MAN!!
So when’s his first game?
TWICE THE FRANÇAIS DOUBLE THE BONJOUUUUUR
Bro I can’t believe we’ve waited this long for a competent center
I like this a lot, audition for free agency potentially?
This is fantastic. We can keep Baynes as a situational backup, which is always where he'd be better, and give Boucher some burn as a stretch 4 as Pascal's backup and some spot minutes at small ball 5 with P on the floor. Like this move a lot.
Boom. Exactly.
Also takes some pressure off Boucher to bump inside all game. He can focus on his strengths now and won't be counted on to get every rebound
Strange to me that they weren’t able to get a second rounder for him.
At least someone decided to sign with us. I honestly believe Masai tried to get some of these bigs in the buy-out market but nobody wanted to come. I know it seems like he didn’t though.
The other bigs chose San Antonio (Dieng), Denver (McGee), the Lakers (Drummond), the Nets (LMA, Griffin). None of those situations are better than what we've got right now. I think you have the right idea, he reached out but no one wanted to come here this year
Orlando fan here, if your problem is rebounding Khem is a perfect fit, he is a proper "old school" center, will get you rebounds and score some points, set some good screens. What I loved about him the most was his hustle, he will give everything he can always, sad he didnt fit our timeline and we have WCJ and Bamba. I loved him when we faced in the playoffs 2 years ago!
Hopefully he doesn't take Norms number 😢
Holy shit nice
Wow I'm surprised they didn't trade him to us for like a second. Maybe we knew he may have been bought out?
People are forgetting that Jeff Weltman and Masai/Bobby have a great relationship.
This isn't a sexy name but it could be huge for us
As long as this isnt for a play-in push this is good
The Orlando Toronto pipeline still runneth strong
I was literally wondering how we didn’t trade for him at the deadline. Like give them the 2nd we got for Thomas. This is awesome! I think he’s going to be excellent in our system.
Orlando be like if we can't tank harder we'll make other tanking teams better?
The twin towers, Canadian version.
RAPTORS GETTING KHEM CELLS TREATMENT
Okay that’s good. Now if we make the play in we can at least fuck around and play spoiler.
This fan base is hilarious! A back up center on a shitty team gets waived and you all are excited because he’s Canadian and coming to Toronto!!! This is a Len level move and will look like it very soon.
Love finally adding a centre worth anything when we're 11 games under .500 and the season is all but totally lost... sigh
There's the play in and we're 2 games out
Shams always reports incorrect raptors news though
Woj has followed up with confirmation
Inject this news into my balls
He won't stop the tank
I don’t mind ruining the tank if we can get P and OG some help so that they don’t have to wrestle with bigs (also they are just coming out of COVID.) I was really starting to worry about them
Would be nice to get him, but I'm not celebrating until it's a done deal.
FWIW, Shams and Woj are reporting it as though it's done
Play-in here we come!
What is it with this canadian player obsession. Who cares about his passport, the guy can barely play. Why would the rebuilding magic waive a 28 yr old centre if he had promise? It doesnt add up.
I hate to say it... but if he wasn't Canadian I doubt anyone would really care haha. He isn't saving the season. If the FO wanted to save the season, they would have done it at the deadline. This is a move that gives us a big body on the roster and maybe re-sign him for cheap in the off-season. But he's not a starting C by any means.
Does that mean we’re moving the team to Montreal next year? I know I’ll get some hate for that comment, but I want a home team!!!
Bruh Toronto is basically Siberia in the NBA haha Montreal would be like different planet.
I’m very conflicted. Are we still tanking or nah
Yes
I don’t mind this at all
It's a reasonable pickup if we do it to give him a chance but this isn't really a move that makes the team better. Over his last 20 games he's putting up 3.1 PPG, 3.7 RPG, .314 FG%
He's also playing limited minutes on a team with no backcourt. Without looking, can you name 3 guards on the Magic?
FUCK YEAH
I like Khem, hope it happens
Just the big body to bruise with bigs and grab rebounds is valuable enough.
YES
any chance you guys move on from Baynes?
He won’t be waived if that’s what you mean. His team option is useful for trade scenarios in the offseason.
Yes!! Love this pick up. Raptors gonna change this mans game.
Nurse made Masai an offer he couldn't refuse.
It’s HAPPENINGGGGGGG
We are down terrible
birch syrup is delicious
Holy shit, a playable center? 🤤
I’ve always been rather high on Birch, he never got the PT on the Magic. Excited to see what he can bring us! Edit: also always thought he looked a bit like norm 😂😂
PSA: Looks like his nickname among Orlando fans was Khem Kong
LOL birch was pretty good for the magic a few games ago.
EVERYONE GET IN HERE
Let's FUUUUUUUUCKIIING GOOOOOOOOOOOO. FINALLY A CENTER THATS NOT TANK COMMANDER BAYNES
uhhhh yes please???
Ayyyy this actually isn't bad! Also I suspect that if he performs well, they're likely to re-sign him in free agency and get rid of Baynes. Birch would make a nice backup C next season if we can acquire a better starting C.
Wittman helping us out again LOL
yes pleease
He's pretty decent for a guy that has gotten so few minutes and touches as him. He's a good rim protector and plays the PnR nicely as well. He should fit nicely next to Boucher.
Lets see how he does, dunno too much about him cuz ive only seen him play short stretches. Remember Baynes is struggling because he isnt used to playing as the starting center. But maybe theres more to Khem, who knows. I wont set my expectation too high yet, ive been hurt enough this season
I don't believe it 😂
Norm Powell Doppelgänger
Oh shit!
Why am I fucking hype about this!!
Cuz his name isn't Aaron Baynes lol
Welcome homeeeeee
The tank has hit a speed bump
Are we getting a center? Im about to cry.
hell yeah team Canada assemble. Jamal pls come
bruh this is one of the 3 main guys i wanted TO to go for, it's perfect cause Orlando is gonna build around Mo Bamba now. could be the perfect situation.
He's no Allstar or anything, but as long as our players don't go to LA I'm happy lol
This right here is Jeff Weltman saying thank you to Masai.
dude is a center? looks like a pf ...
I would love Birch even before we lost Ibaka and Gasol.
he probably sucks but i'll enjoy it because he's homegrown lol.. maybe it means he'll work a lot harder