Masai and Bobby are Asleep at the Wheel

[ATLTimekeeper]

Fair points all around. But I will say that I'm certainly not accusing them of laziness. I'm accusing them of being excessively patient. Their competence and diligence mandates me to say that the C position hasn't been upgraded or added to, purposefully, and not out of neglect. Were they so inclined, they could've easily brokered a deal by now to add one of the many 3rd or 4th string centers starving for minutes to the team, likely one that could out-compete Baynes for minutes. Yet they haven't.

Asleep at the wheel doesn't imply excessive patience, but either way it's on you to argue that their excessive patience has been a problem in the past or that they are wrong to be excessively patient this time around. As evidence, you have brought up Willy Hernangomez, who has helped zero teams in his short career achieve any modicum of success, and Damion Jones on a 10 day. We can argue that Ellenson hasn't helped, and that Len didn't help. There should be some confidence that 3rd and 4th stringers aren't all that helpful.

We're not where we are solely because of Aaron Baynes anymore than he was responsible for the 30 some odd games where they played like a top 10 team.

[Pooh_Jeter]

The Lakers won the title and added Gasol, Harrell and Schroeder.

The Raptors won the title and have gone 750+ days without making a trade. The biggest FA acquisition was Aron Baynes.

Even the best executives make mistakes and there is no question these past two years have been a run of bad decisions by the brain trust. It's unfortunate that a lot of people are unwilling to allow for any type of criticism around this team. Raptors fans have a right to be upset and they should be able to vent the frustrations.

That's a completely disingenuous comparison.

If you want to make it apples for apples, you'd have to ask the hypothetical question: what would the Lakers have done if Lebron decided to walk after the Laker's chip?

That's what Kawhi did to the Raps, and it put them in a different place. In fact, adding Gasol, Harrell and Schroder happened in large part BECAUSE Lebron (and AD) aren't going anywhere.

After the Lakers last title window closed with Kobe tearing his achilles they rebuilt and picked up a ton of talent through the draft which then allowed them to be attractive to LeBron and then deal for AD.

Beyond that, it's not like last years Raptors were all that far from making real noise in the playoffs, yet nothing.

You have to choose a path.

[ATLTimekeeper]

The Lakers won the title and added Gasol, Harrell and Schroeder.

The Raptors won the title and have gone 750+ days without making a trade. The biggest FA acquisition was Aron Baynes.

Even the best executives make mistakes and there is no question these past two years have been a run of bad decisions by the brain trust. It's unfortunate that a lot of people are unwilling to allow for any type of criticism around this team. Raptors fans have a right to be upset and they should be able to vent the frustrations.

Well, we can't get star quality free agents. This has been a thing since forever.

We were also holding out for Giannis. A foolish gamble, especially now that we have some hindsight... But a gamble that could have also of payed off.

This year? There's no way we can add anyone to this team before trade deadline and seriously compete for a title. It's just not happening.

Might as well just trade Lowry and hope we finish in the 11-13th range.

About Giannis, part of my impatience with the team's current situation is fueled by the FO's strategy of explicitly managing cap space for the 2021 free agency.

Supposedly, had Giannis not signed the supermax with the Bucks, he'd now be contemplating his present life and contrasting it with a potential future as a Maverick, Heat, or Raptor, based on these team's current outlook and his potential fit.

That 2021 free agency well has since dried up, but our chess pieces were already in position when that occurred.

I find it extremely difficult to accept that the front office was banking on this team, with its level of performance, inconsistency, and wavering identity, deriving directly from the roster's flaws, to be the sales pitch as a landing spot for potential free agents thirsting for championships.

You are aware they pursued both Ibaka and Gasol first, right?

[Badonkadonk]

The Lakers won the title and added Gasol, Harrell and Schroeder.

The Raptors won the title and have gone 750+ days without making a trade. The biggest FA acquisition was Aron Baynes.

Even the best executives make mistakes and there is no question these past two years have been a run of bad decisions by the brain trust. It's unfortunate that a lot of people are unwilling to allow for any type of criticism around this team. Raptors fans have a right to be upset and they should be able to vent the frustrations.

That's a completely disingenuous comparison.

If you want to make it apples for apples, you'd have to ask the hypothetical question: what would the Lakers have done if Lebron decided to walk after the Laker's chip?

That's what Kawhi did to the Raps, and it put them in a different place. In fact, adding Gasol, Harrell and Schroder happened in large part BECAUSE Lebron (and AD) aren't going anywhere.

After the Lakers last title window closed with Kobe tearing his achilles they rebuilt and picked up a ton of talent through the draft which then allowed them to be attractive to LeBron and then deal for AD.

Beyond that, it's not like last years Raptors were all that far from making real noise in the playoffs, yet nothing.

You have to choose a path.

They did choose a path, you just don't like it.

[johanliebert]

Damion jones lol.

The lakers played without Dennis Schroeder for a few games when ad went down. That was the real reason they struggled.

Garbage thread

[WaltFrazier]

I agree with the OP 100 percent.
Masai and Bobby have done nothing to improve this team whatsoever in 2 years.
Masai failed with the ibaka and gasol replacements, then failed with his Giannis plan. It happens, but to not say a single word all season, and then possibly plan ur escape route at the end of the season is unfair to the current players on the team who deserve better.

I'm a fan of Masai and his business acumen. But to deny that he failed this team is not being genuine. Even a word of encouragement would do wonders for the players.

Me too. After Kawhi walked, where was plan B? That off-season we added RHJ and Stanley.

Ok the team was great anyway in 2020 pre-covid. OG's development helped. Now the plan shifts to Giannis. We lose Gasol and Serge and sign woeful replacements. Giannis re-signs a week into the season. We release Len. Where is plan B? Where is at least a reasonable replacement for Len, instead of leaving the team hanging with an incomplete, undersized roster?

After the 2-8 start and before the current covid fiasco, the team, undermanned as it is, was starting to play really well and move up in the standings. Even at that point they needed one more big to really compete. The FO has really let down the players coaches and fans with their poor roster construction and lack of activity.

[Pooh_Jeter]

Well, we can't get star quality free agents. This has been a thing since forever.

We were also holding out for Giannis. A foolish gamble, especially now that we have some hindsight... But a gamble that could have also of payed off.

This year? There's no way we can add anyone to this team before trade deadline and seriously compete for a title. It's just not happening.

Might as well just trade Lowry and hope we finish in the 11-13th range.

About Giannis, part of my impatience with the team's current situation is fueled by the FO's strategy of explicitly managing cap space for the 2021 free agency.

Supposedly, had Giannis not signed the supermax with the Bucks, he'd now be contemplating his present life and contrasting it with a potential future as a Maverick, Heat, or Raptor, based on these team's current outlook and his potential fit.

That 2021 free agency well has since dried up, but our chess pieces were already in position when that occurred.

I find it extremely difficult to accept that the front office was banking on this team, with its level of performance, inconsistency, and wavering identity, deriving directly from the roster's flaws, to be the sales pitch as a landing spot for potential free agents thirsting for championships.

You are aware they pursued both Ibaka and Gasol first, right?

Offering both of them deals you know they wouldn't take to preserve space for a pipe dream that didn't even come close to happening isn't much of a pursuit.

[Pooh_Jeter]

That's a completely disingenuous comparison.

If you want to make it apples for apples, you'd have to ask the hypothetical question: what would the Lakers have done if Lebron decided to walk after the Laker's chip?

That's what Kawhi did to the Raps, and it put them in a different place. In fact, adding Gasol, Harrell and Schroder happened in large part BECAUSE Lebron (and AD) aren't going anywhere.

After the Lakers last title window closed with Kobe tearing his achilles they rebuilt and picked up a ton of talent through the draft which then allowed them to be attractive to LeBron and then deal for AD.

Beyond that, it's not like last years Raptors were all that far from making real noise in the playoffs, yet nothing.

You have to choose a path.

They did choose a path, you just don't like it.

What path did they choose? Organic growth?

[DelAbbot]

I agree with the OP 100 percent.
Masai and Bobby have done nothing to improve this team whatsoever in 2 years.
Masai failed with the ibaka and gasol replacements, then failed with his Giannis plan. It happens, but to not say a single word all season, and then possibly plan ur escape route at the end of the season is unfair to the current players on the team who deserve better.

I'm a fan of Masai and his business acumen. But to deny that he failed this team is not being genuine. Even a word of encouragement would do wonders for the players.

Me too. After Kawhi walked, where was plan B? That off-season we added RHJ and Stanley.

Ok the team was great anyway in 2020 pre-covid. OG's development helped. Now the plan shifts to Giannis. We lose Gasol and Serge and sign woeful replacements. Giannis re-signs a week into the season. We release Len. Where is plan B? Where is at least a reasonable replacement for Len, instead of leaving the team hanging with an incomplete, undersized roster?

After the 2-8 start and before the current covid fiasco, the team, undermanned as it is, was starting to play really well and move up in the standings. Even at that point they needed one more big to really compete. The FO has really let down the players coaches and fans with their poor roster construction and lack of activity.

Maybe that is plan B. Let the roster be poorly constructed and organic tank - accumulate assets - once enough assets go for it again.

[Badonkadonk]

After the Lakers last title window closed with Kobe tearing his achilles they rebuilt and picked up a ton of talent through the draft which then allowed them to be attractive to LeBron and then deal for AD.

Beyond that, it's not like last years Raptors were all that far from making real noise in the playoffs, yet nothing.

You have to choose a path.

They did choose a path, you just don't like it.

What path did they choose? Organic growth?

Not sure if you're just trolling at this point, but you may have missed the part where they were setting up for a run at Giannis by prioritizing 2022 flexibility (eg. Fred's contract dip, keeping max slot available).

Since that didn't happen a few months ago, they've clearly decided to take stock of what pieces they want to lock in (Fred, OG to go with Pascal.. probably Boucher will be added) and then look for their next opportunity to add a difference maker.

Again, you don't like it, but that's clearly what's happened.

[fbalmeida]

Well, we can't get star quality free agents. This has been a thing since forever.

We were also holding out for Giannis. A foolish gamble, especially now that we have some hindsight... But a gamble that could have also of payed off.

This year? There's no way we can add anyone to this team before trade deadline and seriously compete for a title. It's just not happening.

Might as well just trade Lowry and hope we finish in the 11-13th range.

About Giannis, part of my impatience with the team's current situation is fueled by the FO's strategy of explicitly managing cap space for the 2021 free agency.

Supposedly, had Giannis not signed the supermax with the Bucks, he'd now be contemplating his present life and contrasting it with a potential future as a Maverick, Heat, or Raptor, based on these team's current outlook and his potential fit.

That 2021 free agency well has since dried up, but our chess pieces were already in position when that occurred.

I find it extremely difficult to accept that the front office was banking on this team, with its level of performance, inconsistency, and wavering identity, deriving directly from the roster's flaws, to be the sales pitch as a landing spot for potential free agents thirsting for championships.

You are aware they pursued both Ibaka and Gasol first, right?

Yes of course, and Baynes was easily one of the best available alternatives. Unfortunately his game has fallen off mightily, with career lows in efficiency and defensive impact. A confluence of misfortune to having lost Ibaka. So with Len playing poorly and eventually being waived, and Baynes falling decidedly short of expectations and playing very poorly early on, its like there's this permanent warning light that's been flashing and being purposely ignored far longer than it should have.

For whatever reason, they've opted to wait. I think a more balanced roster may have allowed us to have secured a 4-6 seed, instead of falling to 11th.

[ATLTimekeeper]

Yes of course, and Baynes was easily one of the best available alternatives. Unfortunately his game has fallen off mightily, with career lows in efficiency and defensive impact. A confluence of misfortune to having lost Ibaka. So with Len playing poorly and eventually being waived, and Baynes falling decidedly short of expectations and playing very poorly early on, its like there's this permanent warning light that's been flashing and being purposely ignored far longer than it should have.

For whatever reason, they've opted to wait. I think a more balanced roster may have allowed us to have secured a 4-6 seed, instead of falling to 11th.

They were in that 4-6 seed before 3/5 of their starters got covid.

[Pooh_Jeter]

They did choose a path, you just don't like it.

What path did they choose? Organic growth?

Not sure if you're just trolling at this point, but you may have missed the part where they were setting up for a run at Giannis by prioritizing 2022 flexibility (eg. Fred's contract dip, keeping max slot available).

Since that didn't happen a few months ago, they've clearly decided to take stock of what pieces they want to lock in (Fred, OG to go with Pascal.. probably Boucher will be added) and then look for their next opportunity to add a difference maker.

Again, you don't like it, but that's clearly what's happened.

As has been chronicled in this thread already, just standing pat and adding nothing of note to the core of the team not only wasn't a smart move for potentially wooing Giannis it left the team in a bad spot when he re-signed and took that remote possibility away.

It isn't just me who believes this all in pursuit of Giannis was a mistake.

[fbalmeida]

Damion jones lol.

The lakers played without Dennis Schroeder for a few games when ad went down. That was the real reason they struggled.

Garbage thread

Sure, but you've got the defending champ and HCA seed Lakers not being too picky about signing Damian Jones to a 10-day contract and getting their money's worth by starting him in multiple games. They looked for a guy, brought him in and thrust him into the starting lineup over Marc Gasol no less.

[fbalmeida]

I agree with the OP 100 percent.
Masai and Bobby have done nothing to improve this team whatsoever in 2 years.
Masai failed with the ibaka and gasol replacements, then failed with his Giannis plan. It happens, but to not say a single word all season, and then possibly plan ur escape route at the end of the season is unfair to the current players on the team who deserve better.

I'm a fan of Masai and his business acumen. But to deny that he failed this team is not being genuine. Even a word of encouragement would do wonders for the players.

Me too. After Kawhi walked, where was plan B? That off-season we added RHJ and Stanley.

Ok the team was great anyway in 2020 pre-covid. OG's development helped. Now the plan shifts to Giannis. We lose Gasol and Serge and sign woeful replacements. Giannis re-signs a week into the season. We release Len. Where is plan B? Where is at least a reasonable replacement for Len, instead of leaving the team hanging with an incomplete, undersized roster?

After the 2-8 start and before the current covid fiasco, the team, undermanned as it is, was starting to play really well and move up in the standings. Even at that point they needed one more big to really compete. The FO has really let down the players coaches and fans with their poor roster construction and lack of activity.

Yup. Even during our good stretch, if you're watching closely the need is right there and its pretty glaring.

[ATLTimekeeper]

Damion jones lol.

The lakers played without Dennis Schroeder for a few games when ad went down. That was the real reason they struggled.

Garbage thread

Sure, but you've got the defending champ and HCA seed Lakers not being too picky about signing Damian Jones to a 10-day contract and getting their money's worth by starting him in multiple games. They looked for a guy, brought him in and thrust him into the starting lineup over Marc Gasol no less.

Marc's been out due to the safety protocol. Jones isn't starting over him.

[Yeezus_]

1. Why do you guys think its some sort of norm for executives to come out in the media to tell them the direction of the team? lmao
2. Just because they didn't sign Damien Jones, they are asleep at the wheel?

Its funny to me how irrational and illogical this fanbase it. It's like we're playing 2k and if things don't happen i.e. trades/signings, the team is "not doing anything"

Some of yall went from Masai is the best executive in the league to he's awful. It's embarrassing.

1. It would be nice and reassuring to hear anything from them at this point. On any subject.

2. I think they are asleep at the wheel because they've passed on even attempting to mitigate the team's clear and evident weakness at Center. And again, I'm not clamouring for them to trade for Vucevic or Myles Turner. We're clearly undermanned and undersized at Center, often leading to crippling defensive breakdowns even when at full strength. And the latency in at least even partially plugging this problem has cost us.

2a. I've never played 2k in my life.

2b. Masai is still the greatest. I just can't figure out why he'd let the team sink or swim without even trying to get a Center to replace Len. We did go on a 10-5 stretch just before Covid-19, but even in those games, it was fairly evident that we could've used more size in the paint. To me they're like a hockey team that has one goalie on its roster and is content to rely on the Zamboni driver when a backup is needed, instead of getting a cheap serviceable backup.

No, they do not need to speak to the media regarding the status of the team just to appease some fans who are impatient lol. Adding Damien Jones is not going to change the outcome of these games man.

[Yeezus_]

What path did they choose? Organic growth?

Not sure if you're just trolling at this point, but you may have missed the part where they were setting up for a run at Giannis by prioritizing 2022 flexibility (eg. Fred's contract dip, keeping max slot available).

Since that didn't happen a few months ago, they've clearly decided to take stock of what pieces they want to lock in (Fred, OG to go with Pascal.. probably Boucher will be added) and then look for their next opportunity to add a difference maker.

Again, you don't like it, but that's clearly what's happened.

As has been chronicled in this thread already, just standing pat and adding nothing of note to the core of the team not only wasn't a smart move for potentially wooing Giannis it left the team in a bad spot when he re-signed and took that remote possibility away.

It isn't just me who believes this all in pursuit of Giannis was a mistake.

Its worth the gamble. Risk/Reward plays out in the position the team was at.

[fbalmeida]

Yes of course, and Baynes was easily one of the best available alternatives. Unfortunately his game has fallen off mightily, with career lows in efficiency and defensive impact. A confluence of misfortune to having lost Ibaka. So with Len playing poorly and eventually being waived, and Baynes falling decidedly short of expectations and playing very poorly early on, its like there's this permanent warning light that's been flashing and being purposely ignored far longer than it should have.

For whatever reason, they've opted to wait. I think a more balanced roster may have allowed us to have secured a 4-6 seed, instead of falling to 11th.

They were in that 4-6 seed before 3/5 of their starters got covid.

We're three/four games out of that 4-7 EC fracas. A balanced roster at the start of the season would've won those three/four games. We'd be facing the remaining schedule better prepared, more confident, and with a completely different outlook.

Instead we're pussy whipped and waiting on suitors for Lowry and Norm.

[Harcore Fenton Mun]

The deck's been stacked against us this year. There is only so much you can do with the cards you have been dealt.

No Toronto
No fans
Limited d-league use.
The need to avoid repeater tax
Moving the team to Tampa on short notice
Loss of Ibaka/Gasol
Limited practice time (limited facility use)
Lots of injuries due to short turnaround.
Loss of our offensive coordinator
Loss of the guy who replaced him

Don't read too much into this year, I know I'm not. It is, what it is.