Masai/Leiweke Press Conference (Recap P31, Video P40)

[Dr Positivity]

I'm not sure how you do the "hybrid" option with this team.

Do we have the pieces? I'm not sure any of our guys can net us decent picks in next years draft.

Wouldn't surprise me if a year from now our core is Lowry, Ross, Amir, Valanciunas. Then after the Demar and Gay trades and a generally poor season, we're left with a friendly amount of capspace and draft prospects along with that group to make a hybrid rebuild

[mowe]

http://pmd.fan590.com/audio_on_demand-3/Tim-Leiweke-with-Sid-Seixeiro-ts-20130604-Interview.mp3

MLSE President & CEO Tim Leiweke On Tim & Sid

18 minutes ago

Tim Leiweke, newly appointed president & CEO of Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment, explains why Masai Ujiri is the best man to take over as Raptors GM, and what he hopes to accomplish now as part of MLSE.

This is a must-listen. Sid asks all the right questions and TL shows him and Masai have a plan.

[Mr.Raptorsingh]

Look, I don't think we'll tank outright, as I don't believe Ujiri would want that. Rather, I think they are going to try to get creative, mix in some high-end young talent with the young guys we already have in DeMar and Jonas.

I think Lowry and Gay are up for grabs.

I would say all of Lowry, Derozan, Gay, Amir are on the table personally

The guy I think is most likely to stay of that 4 is Gay, personally. It's just a savvier move to hold onto Gay at least until the trade deadline. Very likely he puts up better stats in that half season, which either increases his trade value - And it gives us the possibility he plays like such a star next year that we don't want to trade him anymore. No need to rush trading Gay at the nadir of his trade value.

I actually think Rudy won't be all that difficult to move. I don't about y'all, but I think Gay has lower value on this board than he actually does on the market. This guy could net us cap flexibility, and a young piece imo. I mean, there's a bunch of teams with cap space, and not a whole to spend it on.

He can be moved if Ujiri wants to deal Rudy.

[StMikes31]

I'm not sure how you do the "hybrid" option with this team.

Do we have the pieces? I'm not sure any of our guys can net us decent picks in next years draft.

Rudy and Demar certainly can.

They got value. It's about finding the right team and deal.

I'd be surprised if we could get a high pick in next years draft without taking a horrible contract back. Especially for Rudy.

I wouldn't be surprised. For someone who was all about going in with this core you seem to have a low expectation for these players.

If you look at them with face value (production and contract) they can get you a pick. And it doesn't matter if it's not a lotto either, it's about getting as much assets as possible.

[MEDIC]

I actually think Rudy won't be all that difficult to move. I don't about y'all, but I think Gay has lower value on this board than he actually does on the market. This guy could net us cap flexibility, and a young piece imo. I mean, there's a bunch of teams with cap space, and not a whole to spend it on.

He can be moved if Ujiri wants to deal Rudy.

Maybe, but what did Memphis get? Not a hell of a lot.

We could trade him to OKC for PJ3, Lamb & our pick back.....

[ThemCrookedRefs]

The odds of a full tank are slim to none, mark my words. We'll likely get an upgraded bench and a Bargs trade. Outside of that I'd be surprised if we even upgraded one starting position.

I agree. Although I think he will move DeRozan during the season for a better outside shooter or defender. From listening to TL, I don't think they are going for a complete rebuild, nor should they. This team does have some good talent to work with.

[CoachJReturns]

Yes, it is. Ujiri talked about young, up-and-coming players on the Canadian youth teams that he couldn't mention by name. That screams Andrew Wiggins to me, unless you know of other under-19 Canadian players that are sure shot NBA talents.

He talked about the growth of basketball here in general, I didn't get the impression he was pointing us at drafting Wiggins.

Like I said, maybe it's just wishful thinking. But not naming names gives me the impression there are specific targets.

I was thinking the same thing. I'm trying not to get my hopes up, but unless he is planning to pursue a young player or two from team Canda, there's no reason for him to mention that he can't name names. We all know who the top Canadians are. It's not a secret. Still, I'm trying to keep calm in case I'm disappointed later.

[MEDIC]

I wouldn't be surprised. For someone who was all about going in with this core you seem to have a low expectation for these players.

I like them collectively. I don't think they get you a hell of a lot individually. At least nothing franchise changing. I think if this team started making some playoff noise, then a lot of these players values would soar. The way I look at it, getting rid of these guys now would be selling low.

I think Demar, Jonas, Gay & Lowry are a decent start. You add another solid starter & some solid bench players & you have a competitive playoff team.

I'm just sick of the losing.

[CoachJReturns]

http://pmd.fan590.com/audio_on_demand-3/Tim-Leiweke-with-Sid-Seixeiro-ts-20130604-Interview.mp3

MLSE President & CEO Tim Leiweke On Tim & Sid

18 minutes ago

Tim Leiweke, newly appointed president & CEO of Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment, explains why Masai Ujiri is the best man to take over as Raptors GM, and what he hopes to accomplish now as part of MLSE.

This is a must-listen. Sid asks all the right questions and TL shows him and Masai have a plan.

Take notes please. I'm at work and can't listen in.

[StMikes31]

I wouldn't be surprised. For someone who was all about going in with this core you seem to have a low expectation for these players.

I like them collectively. I don't think they get you a hell of a lot individually. At least nothing franchise changing.

I think Demar, Jonas, Gay & Lowry are a decent start. You add another solid starter & some solid bench players & you have a competitive playoff team.

I'm just sick of the losing.

I know but you have to accept and expect another 2 years of it. It's what needs to happen then we go balls out and win.

Just jump the fence and believe

[MEDIC]

Just jump the fence and believe

If & when Masai starts selling off players for draft picks, I'll jump on board.

Until then, I'm supporting these guys. I actually like this group. I like them more than any Bosh lead team that we had.

[MEDIC]

The odds of a full tank are slim to none, mark my words. We'll likely get an upgraded bench and a Bargs trade. Outside of that I'd be surprised if we even upgraded one starting position.

I agree. Although I think he will move DeRozan during the season for a better outside shooter or defender. From listening to TL, I don't think they are going for a complete rebuild, nor should they. This team does have some good talent to work with.

Or you try to trade Derozan for young players/ picks & stick Ross in there next season as your outside shooter.

[JohnnyFlame]

What I'm hearing is at the very least no more retreads on the roster. Youth and quite possibly Canadian youth. Does open the possibility of getting into the draft for just that possibility. Quite clear that if they retain Casey then he will have to be willing to accept that fact. No more dufus vets over the young talent. If they ain't going all out tank then they are doing a major trade and I'm thinking he was not referring to AB.

They both sound like they want to move quickly. I'm thinking this offseason is going to be filled with developments.

[mdot]

Pro tanking side and the anti tanking side both heard what they want to hear today. Realistically speaking, I think it would be next to impossible to trade for a lottery pick next season, unless you attach Jonas to the trade. I also think that TL and MU know that with this roster he knows were not bad enough to tank unless some we have horrible injury luck. I do think that after the first twenty games we will realize the direction we are going in. If Derozen plays incredible and gets traded for a pick, then we know the tank is on, but if we keep the status quo then I don't think the tank is happening. After listening to them, I don't think they want to trade everyone and just tank like many on here on hoping.

What I got from that they prefer to collect assets and trade for a piece ala the Harden trade to Houston. For example, I think they will be targeting teams that are going to tank and trading for their core player. Like a hypothetical scenario I could give is let's say around the 30 game mark the Portland Blazers 9-21, just cause they plain out suck and have no excuses. MU calls up the Portland front office and says with Aldridge its not working with you guys, Ill give you Bargs and our protected first in this years draft. Bargs and Aldrige expire around the same time, basically were just trading you a first round pick for Aldridge. Maybe throw in Ross as a sweetener, something like that. That would make our starting 5 Lowry, Derozen, Gay, Aldrige, Valancuianis, which in my opinion is a solid starting 5. I think they will do a trade like this, they won't full out tank like many on here are hoping.

[Boogie!]

let's go nba. i think this is all part of one big conspiracy by the NBA to rig next year's draft for toronto with us drafting wiggins, with all the young talent talk and masai talking about growing basketball through our youth and canada's youth team.

[pbj]

Just jump the fence and believe

If & when Masai starts selling off players for draft picks, I'll jump on board.

Until then, I'm supporting these guys. I actually like this group. I like them more than any Bosh lead team that we had.

I'm with you on that one.. I'm happy with either scenario at this point - either we upgrade the current group to the point of being very competitive or they get moved to make room for for longer term success.

It's funny how having a competent GM and no-BS CEO behind him make me optimistic that they have our best interest in mind.

[Reignman]

I don't see that at all, as MikeM pointed out

Sure, I'll believe it when I see it. The kids on this board are on a wishful-thinking binge. I'm certain the content owners (Bell/Rogers) want some playoff ball and since we're so close, money talks and bull walks.

The odds of a full tank are slim to none, mark my words. We'll likely get an upgraded bench and a Bargs trade. Outside of that I'd be surprised if we even upgraded one starting position.

Like Dagger, you're always wrong.

Find me something I was wrong about and I'll give you a cookie. Like how I was right about BC sticking around.

[polo007]

http://www.tsn.ca/blogs/jack_armstrong/?id=424713

Masai Ujiri (Raptors): Watched the press conference on Tuesday. Let there be no doubt, he's in charge - 100 per cent. The added title of president of basketball operations and how he handled the questions about the presence of president Bryan Colangelo, as well as their relationship, said it all to me. He's his own man and he will make all the calls. He's got the bat and the ball. Very clear.

[Reignman]

Man just stop.

Stop what? That's my opinion on what's going to happen.

But you've convinced yourself we'll be tanking for Wiggins and I get that, good for you. Just don't cry on here when it doesn't happen. Well, you can cry all you want, just don't be surprised if it doesn't happen.

Your opinion makes no sense when the facts involved clearly state that the total opposite is going to happen.

Do I think the team is going into a huge fire sale mode and trade everyone this off-season to be the crappiest team ever? No.

Do I think within the next year, the core is going to be turned-over (except Val)? Absolutely.

The team will be re-building so stop with your ego opinion and admit your wrong or stop posting. We are not just trading Bargs and adding to the bench and calling it a day. Listen or read for Fuc*s sake.

I'll bring a box of tissue on opening day, you're going to need it when the same starting lineup gets announced.

[StMikes31]

Stop what? That's my opinion on what's going to happen.

But you've convinced yourself we'll be tanking for Wiggins and I get that, good for you. Just don't cry on here when it doesn't happen. Well, you can cry all you want, just don't be surprised if it doesn't happen.

Your opinion makes no sense when the facts involved clearly state that the total opposite is going to happen.

Do I think the team is going into a huge fire sale mode and trade everyone this off-season to be the crappiest team ever? No.

Do I think within the next year, the core is going to be turned-over (except Val)? Absolutely.

The team will be re-building so stop with your ego opinion and admit your wrong or stop posting. We are not just trading Bargs and adding to the bench and calling it a day. Listen or read for Fuc*s sake.

I'll bring a box of tissue on opening day, you're going to need it when the same starting lineup gets announced.

Hey seriously, I can call the Keg now and reserve a table for you and Dagger.