Deep Dive into Masai's Presidency

[C Court]

Back then RealGM was almost closer to fantasy basketball than a 'fan' forum, and I feel like that's really what these people want more than anything. It's almost preferable to have a bad GM than a good one, because half the fun seems to be roleplaying and convincing themselves they could actually run the team better

Who can forget threads like 'Tank for Rubio' and 'Tank for Harrison Barnes'?

And then there were posters' sigs with the projected Raptors 'star' starting five which included names like Joey Graham, Hoffa, Villaneuva and Michael Bradley.

[MixxSRC]

I still remember how tanknation was convinced that 2014 draft was deepest since Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh draft. Tank **** is so trash. Out of 10 years they'll pick one year where a guy turned into a franchise player and argue that it's a sound strategy.

[Danny1616]

Masai left Denver for the money and allure of a bigger market and now that Denver team he left without building into a contender is poised to be one for many years to come.

People here act like Masai getting an all-star calibre player at 27 is the greatest thing since sliced bread, yet the Nuggets got an MVP calibre player who doesn't choke in the playoffs in the 2nd round. Jamal Murray is the exact type of guard you need in the modern NBA. MPJ has more potential than any player on the Raptors roster.

It's funny how they could lose this incredible executive, but then end up in a better position than the team he currently resides over.

2012-2013 - Nuggets finished 57-25 [MASAI FINAL YEAR)

2013-2014 - Nuggets finished 36-46.

2014-2015 - Nuggets finished 30-52.

2015-2016 - Nuggets finished 33-49

2016-2017 - Nuggets finished 40-42.


So the 4 years after Masai left the Nuggets were a garbage team but you are saying that they ended up in a better position than the team he currently resides over even though the Raptors made the ECF finals in the 2016 and won a chip in 2019, and won 50+ games for 5 straight seasons.

WTF?

[Pooh_Jeter]

Masai left Denver for the money and allure of a bigger market and now that Denver team he left without building into a contender is poised to be one for many years to come.

People here act like Masai getting an all-star calibre player at 27 is the greatest thing since sliced bread, yet the Nuggets got an MVP calibre player who doesn't choke in the playoffs in the 2nd round. Jamal Murray is the exact type of guard you need in the modern NBA. MPJ has more potential than any player on the Raptors roster.

It's funny how they could lose this incredible executive, but then end up in a better position than the team he currently resides over.

2012-2013 - Nuggets finished 57-25 [MASAI FINAL YEAR)

2013-2014 - Nuggets finished 36-46.

2014-2015 - Nuggets finished 30-52.

2015-2016 - Nuggets finished 33-49

2016-2017 - Nuggets finished 40-42.


So the 4 years after Masai left the Nuggets were a garbage team but you are saying that they ended up in a better position than the team he currently resides over even though the Raptors made the ECF finals in the 2016 and won a chip in 2019, and won 50+ games for 5 straight seasons.

WTF?

Is it currently 2013?

Nuggets are in game 7 against the title favourites and going forward have a Jokic/Murray/MPJ core.

The Raptors best player is 34 and on the last year of his deal. They will be paying Siakam/FVV/OG 75M.

Convenient you left out the last two years when the Nuggets have been flourishing. If the Nuggets were in the trash Eastern Conference they easily make the playoffs more than they did in the stacked West.

Also, this idea that I can only be happy with a championship every year is ridiculous. It's the pursuit and path towards one that is needed. Desperately hoping a one in a million trade falls into your lap isn't smart planning. It might take a full rebuild in which case I'm perfectly fine with some lean years. I don't rate 50 win regular seasons like I'm some desperate T Wolves fan.

[OakleyDokely]

Back then RealGM was almost closer to fantasy basketball than a 'fan' forum, and I feel like that's really what these people want more than anything. It's almost preferable to have a bad GM than a good one, because half the fun seems to be roleplaying and convincing themselves they could actually run the team better

Who can forget threads like 'Tank for Rubio' and 'Tank for Harrison Barnes'?

And then there were posters' sigs with the projected Raptors 'star' starting five which included names like Joey Graham, Hoffa, Villaneuva and Michael Bradley.

Tank for Wiggins was a big one.

[lolwut]

I still remember how tanknation was convinced that 2014 draft was deepest since Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh draft. Tank **** is so trash. Out of 10 years they'll pick one year where a guy turned into a franchise player and argue that it's a sound strategy.

Tank for Wiggins
MKG the next NBA superstar
Harrison Barnes the next coming of MJ

A lot of people here would rather play ping pong balls for a chance at media-hyped prospects instead of actually going through the rigors of building a team over time.

[Pooh_Jeter]

You do realize that "tanking" is an outdated term and a rebuild involves more than just having a 10 win team and praying for ping pong balls right? It's all about building up assets and weaponizing cap space.

The easiest way is to just hope and pray for a #1 pick. Yeah, you could draft a bust, but you could also have Luka Doncic for the next 15 years. If you actually trust your scouting department it is what it is.

If you stockpile extra picks and young players, guess what, you are suddenly more attractive to FA's and you are a player in any trade involving a disgruntled star. Having some extra assets is partially what allowed the Kawhi deal to happen. Right now the Raptors have no interesting young assets besides OG (who needs to get paid very soon and is overrated by this fan base).

If you think a rebuild means a 76ers style "trust the process" type of thing you're just straight up ignorant.

[Pointgod]

Masai is unimpeachable. I don’t think there’s a better GM out there considering our free agent limitations.

[OakleyDokely]

Masai left Denver for the money and allure of a bigger market and now that Denver team he left without building into a contender is poised to be one for many years to come.

People here act like Masai getting an all-star calibre player at 27 is the greatest thing since sliced bread, yet the Nuggets got an MVP calibre player who doesn't choke in the playoffs in the 2nd round. Jamal Murray is the exact type of guard you need in the modern NBA. MPJ has more potential than any player on the Raptors roster.

It's funny how they could lose this incredible executive, but then end up in a better position than the team he currently resides over.

2012-2013 - Nuggets finished 57-25 [MASAI FINAL YEAR)

2013-2014 - Nuggets finished 36-46.

2014-2015 - Nuggets finished 30-52.

2015-2016 - Nuggets finished 33-49

2016-2017 - Nuggets finished 40-42.


So the 4 years after Masai left the Nuggets were a garbage team but you are saying that they ended up in a better position than the team he currently resides over even though the Raptors made the ECF finals in the 2016 and won a chip in 2019, and won 50+ games for 5 straight seasons.

WTF?

Is it currently 2013?

Nuggets are in game 7 against the title favourites and going forward have a Jokic/Murray/MPJ core.

The Raptors best player is 34 and on the last year of his deal. They will be paying Siakam/FVV/OG 75M.

Convenient you left out the last two years when the Nuggets have been flourishing. If the Nuggets were in the trash Eastern Conference they easily make the playoffs more than they did in the stacked West.

Also, this idea that I can only be happy with a championship every year is ridiculous. It's the pursuit and path towards one that is needed. Desperately hoping a one in a million trade falls into your lap isn't smart planning. It might take a full rebuild in which case I'm perfectly fine with some lean years. I don't rate 50 win regular seasons like I'm some desperate T Wolves fan.

The Raps are currently in the same spot they were just prior to the Kawhi trade, 1 player away.

The Raps have the ability to create a max slot in 2021, they have all their picks going forward and some young cheap assets like Davis, Thomas, OG. Big names change teams every offseason and the Raps have the ability to target one of them. Hell they might be the favorite to land the biggest fish in 2021 if you listen to most reports and Vegas.

The picture you paint of the current Raptors situation is something you've created in your head, it's not reality. The Raps only have Siakam signed long term. Masai has a lot of options.

[Steelo Green]

Now that the season is over, I think it is time to have a look at Masai and his tenure with Toronto.

I preface this with saying Masai is a fine President, but that people need to stop looking at him as one of the elite of the elite President's in basketball.

Before I get "you are a hater who doesn't watch basketball", just a reminder I was the one saying Pascal and Fred will struggle big time against the Celtics and if you pay Fred 25 million, you will be stuck with one of the worst contracts in the NBA. I am only speaking in facts so as to make people realize that Masai is good but looking overall, he has had a lot of bad and the current state of the team isn't exactly much to write home about.

Now, when Masai took the team, he started strong, one of the best trades in franchise history (Bargs), and then Rudy Gay for the Sacramento package that netted us players to help make us a playoff team and get Vasquez who netted us OG and Norm.

Great start to his presidency.

Now I will give him a pass at the draft given that he took a project in Bruno and that he is relatively a great drafter (though Capella, Bogdanovic, Jokic, Grant, Dinwiddie, Harris, Powell, and Clarkson were all on the board).

Now, Kyle was basically traded to the Knicks but they backed out because they didn't want to get fleeced again, which in the end turned out great for us because Kyle has now had a borderline HOF career, but it cannot be ignored that he was going to trade him for MWP, Shumpert and a 2018 first rounder (which if the Knicks had Kyle would likely be a middling pick at best).

Okay, deals fall apart, let us leave that as well, but the next part cannot be ignored.

Masai signs Demarre Carroll who has recently had injuries to his Achilles and knee, two of the most red flag injuries in the league, and he not only signs him, but pays him 15 million dollars to be his "Lebron Stopper". 15 mil back then is something like 20+ currently for a 4-6 option on any good team. A similar player in Jae Crowder makes 7 mil in the current CBA with a higher cap. Luckily Wes Matthews was injured, otherwise Masai's plan was to sign him as well.

Okay, a blemish on the record is pretty common for most GM's, so let us say it was a mistake, but then if we start compounding it with others...

Masai had a core of Kyle, Val, and Derozan with their coach Casey for years. This core that kept getting embarrassed. Somehow Casey was not fired after the Wizards sweep (first time in NBA history the team with home court advantage was swept), and we continued to go with the same guys who had major issues in Demar who was one of the worst defenders in the league and who was unwilling/unable to learn the 3 point shot, which in today's NBA makes him a hugely flawed player.

Now he has some solid hits, signing Biyombo, Poetl is a tbd but got Kawhi so that's fine, and obviously leaving out contract, getting Pascal at 27 is a steal.

Then of course Fred not too long after which is again, a great gem of an undrafted player.

So some great moves by Masai, with some questionable ones, the biggest being that he kept going with a flawed core from the coach to their "star player".

Kyle and Serge are FA's in 2017, after a sweep to the Cavs and what do we do? We sign Kyle to a 30 million dollar deal for 2 years, and Serge to a 20+ million dollar deal. Kyle who didn't have a market and even asked to go to SA who didn't want him, and Serge who is a backup big in the NBA. For comparisons sake Brooke Lopez makes 13 million dollars as an all-star who is better than Serge in almost every facet.

We have a trend here of Masai handing out horrible deals left and right, which is the huge fear I have moving forward with Fred.

Masai then has to unload the horrendous contract of Carroll by trading a first and a second rounder to the Nets. Horrible asset management.

Solid pick in OG who is going to be a longstanding 3D in this league.

Then the big move, Kawhi. After years of going with a flawed core, a mediocre coach, a one in a million chance to get a player of Kawhi's caliber for one season comes along, and he jumps at it. Great trade of course, the best we have ever made, he carried us to the title.

Now of course one could say, but he did make the Kawhi trade, and he did get the title, sure, I agree, as I have said, this isn't a Masai is the worst GM in basketball, more so he is not this Godlike figure he is made out to be. If you look back he is great with drafting, trading for depth, but has huge issues with asset management in terms of contracts, handing out some of the worst deals in the league (such has Pascal and his max before he had done anything to earn it), and going with a flawed core. Masai also has huge issues with finding elite talent. Kawhi he got only because of the one year off very odd situation, but talent wise Toronto has never gotten great talent through Masai. Lot of good talent and depth pieces, but now that Kawhi is gone we don't really have any star power. Great coaching and depth but no starpower.

Masai will be here a long time, we all know that, but his patience and lucking into Kawhi do not forgive what we currently have. Kawhi is gone and we don't look very different to the Demar team and are severely lacking in elite talent.

If he keeps running the course it will be those same Demar years and the same people who hated those mediocre teams, the ones that were never truly a contender, and the chances a one in a million Kawhi trade happen again are slim to none.

GMs jobs are to build a sustained contender, and a one off title doesn't forgive Masai for prior to one season a mediocre Presidency.

Let's enjoy the personal jabs and people questioning if I watch basketball or hate myself

cool story bro

Great response bro.

[Steelo Green]

The posts in this thread are pretty funny and filled with conjecture pertaining to what the discussion is actually about:

-not being happy with a title (no we are happy but adding nuance to Masai’s tenure is a fair discussion)
-being new fans who haven’t seen the dark days (seen it all but I don’t compare to Colangelo or Mighty Mouse not wanting to be here, just trying to create a contender for years to come and looking at the mediocre Lebronto years that seems to be back again)
-that we’re looking for attention (ironic considering a post asking for attention is asking for attention)
-anger that we do not understand basketball or are haters or could do a better job (yes critique means we could do a better job. It’s the same as blindly following to critique it just doesn’t go with the household narrative that Masai is infallible)
-personal shots which is my fav and short quips for +1, and yet not actually responding to valid points made (barring a few and to those I give respect)

[Steelo Green]

2012-2013 - Nuggets finished 57-25 [MASAI FINAL YEAR)

2013-2014 - Nuggets finished 36-46.

2014-2015 - Nuggets finished 30-52.

2015-2016 - Nuggets finished 33-49

2016-2017 - Nuggets finished 40-42.


So the 4 years after Masai left the Nuggets were a garbage team but you are saying that they ended up in a better position than the team he currently resides over even though the Raptors made the ECF finals in the 2016 and won a chip in 2019, and won 50+ games for 5 straight seasons.

WTF?

Is it currently 2013?

Nuggets are in game 7 against the title favourites and going forward have a Jokic/Murray/MPJ core.

The Raptors best player is 34 and on the last year of his deal. They will be paying Siakam/FVV/OG 75M.

Convenient you left out the last two years when the Nuggets have been flourishing. If the Nuggets were in the trash Eastern Conference they easily make the playoffs more than they did in the stacked West.

Also, this idea that I can only be happy with a championship every year is ridiculous. It's the pursuit and path towards one that is needed. Desperately hoping a one in a million trade falls into your lap isn't smart planning. It might take a full rebuild in which case I'm perfectly fine with some lean years. I don't rate 50 win regular seasons like I'm some desperate T Wolves fan.

The Raps are currently in the same spot they were just prior to the Kawhi trade, 1 player away.

The Raps have the ability to create a max slot in 2021, they have all their picks going forward and some young cheap assets like Davis, Thomas, OG. Big names change teams every offseason and the Raps have the ability to target one of them. Hell they might be the favorite to land the biggest fish in 2021 if you listen to most reports and Vegas.

The picture you paint of the current Raptors situation is something you've created in your head, it's not reality. The Raps only have Siakam signed long term. Masai has a lot of options.

Wrong.

First of all, the last top 2 player traded away was?

When has that happened in the history of the league exactly?

I think we would have to go back to Kareem so Kawhi isn’t happening again.

Also we’re not a a player away. We would be swept without Kyle winning those three games. His loss and we fall back quite a bit.

In the East who is better now: Boston, Brooklyn, Milwaukee, Miami, Indiana.

Kyle is not going to be Kyle for a lot longer and then you have the hilariously bad core of Fred/OG/Pascal.

[Danny1616]

Masai left Denver for the money and allure of a bigger market and now that Denver team he left without building into a contender is poised to be one for many years to come.

People here act like Masai getting an all-star calibre player at 27 is the greatest thing since sliced bread, yet the Nuggets got an MVP calibre player who doesn't choke in the playoffs in the 2nd round. Jamal Murray is the exact type of guard you need in the modern NBA. MPJ has more potential than any player on the Raptors roster.

It's funny how they could lose this incredible executive, but then end up in a better position than the team he currently resides over.

2012-2013 - Nuggets finished 57-25 [MASAI FINAL YEAR)

2013-2014 - Nuggets finished 36-46.

2014-2015 - Nuggets finished 30-52.

2015-2016 - Nuggets finished 33-49

2016-2017 - Nuggets finished 40-42.


So the 4 years after Masai left the Nuggets were a garbage team but you are saying that they ended up in a better position than the team he currently resides over even though the Raptors made the ECF finals in the 2016 and won a chip in 2019, and won 50+ games for 5 straight seasons.

WTF?

Is it currently 2013?

Nuggets are in game 7 against the title favourites and going forward have a Jokic/Murray/MPJ core.

The Raptors best player is 34 and on the last year of his deal. They will be paying Siakam/FVV/OG 75M.

Convenient you left out the last two years when the Nuggets have been flourishing. If the Nuggets were in the trash Eastern Conference they easily make the playoffs more than they did in the stacked West.

Also, this idea that I can only be happy with a championship every year is ridiculous. It's the pursuit and path towards one that is needed. Desperately hoping a one in a million trade falls into your lap isn't smart planning. It might take a full rebuild in which case I'm perfectly fine with some lean years. I don't rate 50 win regular seasons like I'm some desperate T Wolves fan.

Lol.

You realize it's not easy to win a title, right? The margin of error is pretty small and you need some luck. What does this say about the Clippers if they lose? The Clippers have two MVP caliber players, a great supporting cast, and traded their future to win a title this year. Sometimes teams can do literally everything to win a title and still come up short.

We were moments away from advancing to the ECF, sometimes it doesn't go your way. Last year we were moments away from losing in the 2nd round, but we got some luck.

The Nuggets twice this series had two huge comebacks. They could have easily been eliminated 4-1.

Your premise was that the Nuggets are far better off compared to when Masai left. That argument itself was ridiculous because the 4 years after Masai left the Nuggets were terrible. You can't take an entirely different era and like things got better once Masai left, lol.

So let's say the Nuggets advance to the WCF and lose to the Lakers? What difference does that make? We also advanced to the ECF where we won 2 games against the eventual champion Cavaliers.

My god, it's like some of you posters act as if it's title or bust, it's not that easy.

We don't know what will happen with the Nuggets going forward. We don't know what injury issues they may face. We don't know if they will be able to sign critical pieces.

Just a year ago the Sixers looked like they were poised to make a title run. They nearly beat us a year ago and may have gone on to win the entire thing if they did. They had Embiid, Simmons, Butler and Harris. They made some foolish moves and Simmons got hurt before the playoffs. They got swept in the 1st round.

[Danny1616]

The posts in this thread are pretty funny and filled with conjecture pertaining to what the discussion is actually about:

-not being happy with a title (no we are happy but adding nuance to Masai’s tenure is a fair discussion)
-being new fans who haven’t seen the dark days (seen it all but I don’t compare to Colangelo or Mighty Mouse not wanting to be here, just trying to create a contender for years to come and looking at the mediocre Lebronto years that seems to be back again)
-that we’re looking for attention (ironic considering a post asking for attention is asking for attention)
-anger that we do not understand basketball or are haters or could do a better job (yes critique means we could do a better job. It’s the same as blindly following to critique it just doesn’t go with the household narrative that Masai is infallible)
-personal shots which is my fav and short quips for +1, and yet not actually responding to valid points made (barring a few and to those I give respect)

You are completely blind.

The "mediocore Lebronto years." Your definition of mediocre is being a contender that is just short of making the finals. I got news for you. It's not that easy to make the finals every year.

If winning 55-60 wins year and advancing to the semi-finals or conference finals is mediocre for you, then your expectations are **** **** crazy and completely unrealistic.

Mediocre teams are teams like Indiana, Portland, Orlando, Detroit, Pelicans etc. teams that can win 40-50 games and make the playoffs, but usually get bounced in the 1st round or miss the playoffs every season.

I just don't get it. We were literally minutes away from advancing to the ECF, and likely would have an easier match-up against Miami based on our rosters. Sometimes you get some luck and advance and sometimes you don't, the margin of error is small. How many years did we see teams like Dallas, the Lakers, the Spurs and OKC go at it in the playoffs.

[OakleyDokely]

Is it currently 2013?

Nuggets are in game 7 against the title favourites and going forward have a Jokic/Murray/MPJ core.

The Raptors best player is 34 and on the last year of his deal. They will be paying Siakam/FVV/OG 75M.

Convenient you left out the last two years when the Nuggets have been flourishing. If the Nuggets were in the trash Eastern Conference they easily make the playoffs more than they did in the stacked West.

Also, this idea that I can only be happy with a championship every year is ridiculous. It's the pursuit and path towards one that is needed. Desperately hoping a one in a million trade falls into your lap isn't smart planning. It might take a full rebuild in which case I'm perfectly fine with some lean years. I don't rate 50 win regular seasons like I'm some desperate T Wolves fan.

The Raps are currently in the same spot they were just prior to the Kawhi trade, 1 player away.

The Raps have the ability to create a max slot in 2021, they have all their picks going forward and some young cheap assets like Davis, Thomas, OG. Big names change teams every offseason and the Raps have the ability to target one of them. Hell they might be the favorite to land the biggest fish in 2021 if you listen to most reports and Vegas.

The picture you paint of the current Raptors situation is something you've created in your head, it's not reality. The Raps only have Siakam signed long term. Masai has a lot of options.

Wrong.

First of all, the last top 2 player traded away was?

When has that happened in the history of the league exactly?

I think we would have to go back to Kareem so Kawhi isn’t happening again.

Also we’re not a a player away. We would be swept without Kyle winning those three games. His loss and we fall back quite a bit.

In the East who is better now: Boston, Brooklyn, Milwaukee, Miami, Indiana.

Kyle is not going to be Kyle for a lot longer and then you have the hilariously bad core of Fred/OG/Pascal.

So this team is worse than the teams with Demar? That's what you're arguing?

[OakleyDokely]

60 wins and being 1 minute away from ECF = mediocrity. That's what I learned today on the Raptors board.

Let's tear it apart!!!!!! Oh wait, only Siakam is signed long term. There's nothing to tear apart. Masai already built a flexible roster that he can take in any number of directions.

[MixxSRC]

The Raps are currently in the same spot they were just prior to the Kawhi trade, 1 player away.

The Raps have the ability to create a max slot in 2021, they have all their picks going forward and some young cheap assets like Davis, Thomas, OG. Big names change teams every offseason and the Raps have the ability to target one of them. Hell they might be the favorite to land the biggest fish in 2021 if you listen to most reports and Vegas.

The picture you paint of the current Raptors situation is something you've created in your head, it's not reality. The Raps only have Siakam signed long term. Masai has a lot of options.

Wrong.

First of all, the last top 2 player traded away was?

When has that happened in the history of the league exactly?

I think we would have to go back to Kareem so Kawhi isn’t happening again.

Also we’re not a a player away. We would be swept without Kyle winning those three games. His loss and we fall back quite a bit.

In the East who is better now: Boston, Brooklyn, Milwaukee, Miami, Indiana.

Kyle is not going to be Kyle for a lot longer and then you have the hilariously bad core of Fred/OG/Pascal.

So this team is worse than the teams with Demar? That's what you're arguing?

He was saying worse talent in the league in another thread

[Fairview4Life]

But he didnt win this yr, and while the future hasnt happened, he wont win it in subsequent yrs.

We are living in a world where the Toronto Raptors won a title in the hardest big 4 league to win a title, something no one really ever expected despite our obvious homerism, and mother **** are in these streets whining like babies.

What?

The NBA is probably the easiest of the big 4 to win a championship because if you have a top 5/10 player you are almost automatically a contender. One player can drastically change your fortunes. The same doesn't go for the NFL, NHL or MLB.

Yes, people are in the streets protesting. Sure, make up some strawman. People aren't just blindly loyal to Masai and then all of a sudden you have a bunch of wannabe gate keepers telling people what they can or cannot think.

Lolol yes, all you need is a “top 5/10 player” and you’re automatically a contender. AHahahaha. Relatedly, who are the top 5/10 players in the NBA next season? Dallas a contender? Portland? New Jersey? What if a team has 2 top 10 players, should everyone else quit? Lol, what indeed.

[bluerap23]

Masai left Denver for the money and allure of a bigger market and now that Denver team he left without building into a contender is poised to be one for many years to come.

People here act like Masai getting an all-star calibre player at 27 is the greatest thing since sliced bread, yet the Nuggets got an MVP calibre player who doesn't choke in the playoffs in the 2nd round. Jamal Murray is the exact type of guard you need in the modern NBA. MPJ has more potential than any player on the Raptors roster.

It's funny how they could lose this incredible executive, but then end up in a better position than the team he currently resides over.

2012-2013 - Nuggets finished 57-25 [MASAI FINAL YEAR)

2013-2014 - Nuggets finished 36-46.

2014-2015 - Nuggets finished 30-52.

2015-2016 - Nuggets finished 33-49

2016-2017 - Nuggets finished 40-42.


So the 4 years after Masai left the Nuggets were a garbage team but you are saying that they ended up in a better position than the team he currently resides over even though the Raptors made the ECF finals in the 2016 and won a chip in 2019, and won 50+ games for 5 straight seasons.

WTF?

Is it currently 2013?

Nuggets are in game 7 against the title favourites and going forward have a Jokic/Murray/MPJ core.

The Raptors best player is 34 and on the last year of his deal. They will be paying Siakam/FVV/OG 75M.

Convenient you left out the last two years when the Nuggets have been flourishing. If the Nuggets were in the trash Eastern Conference they easily make the playoffs more than they did in the stacked West.

Also, this idea that I can only be happy with a championship every year is ridiculous. It's the pursuit and path towards one that is needed. Desperately hoping a one in a million trade falls into your lap isn't smart planning. It might take a full rebuild in which case I'm perfectly fine with some lean years. I don't rate 50 win regular seasons like I'm some desperate T Wolves fan.

Tim Connely has done a great job in Denver. The Jokic and Nurkic picks were excellent. He zigged when everyone else zagged. He has also made some nice low risk, high reward picks in Porter and Bol picking them up after they fell in the draft due to possible career-ending/altering injuries. Jamal Murray was the 7th pick (higher than we've had in a really long time). I also really liked the Grant acquisition.

That said, they are about as good as us. They will also likely lose in Game 7 in the second round to a more talented team.

Maybe they have a brighter looking future today, but that changes year to year. I really like what they've done, but they haven't won anything yet. We won a championship just last year. Masai earns more points on that alone.

We have had a great run with this team over the last two years. People need to respect that Masai made that happen.

I am looking forward to the next 2 years to see what he does to get us to that level again.

[GordanFreeman]

The posts in this thread are pretty funny and filled with conjecture pertaining to what the discussion is actually about:

-not being happy with a title (no we are happy but adding nuance to Masai’s tenure is a fair discussion)
-being new fans who haven’t seen the dark days (seen it all but I don’t compare to Colangelo or Mighty Mouse not wanting to be here, just trying to create a contender for years to come and looking at the mediocre Lebronto years that seems to be back again)
-that we’re looking for attention (ironic considering a post asking for attention is asking for attention)
-anger that we do not understand basketball or are haters or could do a better job (yes critique means we could do a better job. It’s the same as blindly following to critique it just doesn’t go with the household narrative that Masai is infallible)
-personal shots which is my fav and short quips for +1, and yet not actually responding to valid points made (barring a few and to those I give respect)

This kid started off by calling Masai's tenure mediocre. In another thread he said our roster is trash. And his hot takes are *****. Now he's feeling sorry for himself because ppl aren't falling for his family's bs. Lol.