CPT wrote:Not even really trying to hot take here, but is there any evidence that Masai has a plan?
I think there's a vague idea of staying "competitive" (re: not tanking) while stockpiling assets and accumulating value (even certain trades everyone hates are usually reasonable "value"), but I don't know what the next step is.
I have a feeling the Pascal trade will be one of those weird ones where the guys involved are kind of surprising. An old school player for player swap, not one of these star for cap space and picks deals. Something like the Sabonis for Haliburton/Hield deal.
The stock piling of assets for trades and what not was what I was hoping was being done, as some sort of plan. The problem is he just keeps letting them walk or makes moves when their value has decreased due to age, contract length, internal issues, W-L record etc etc
The problem with Pascal, Trent and OG, all three expiring, is they are now rental players for any team that trades for them, the value has decreased. For Pascal it's not just the rental player aspect, he is also getting older, production has dropped, rumors of him being selfish with locker room problems in 2022 and rumors of him saying he will not resign anywhere or for any team that trades for him. With Trent it's the rental aspect to go along with his declining production, lack of development, nonshalant attitude on the court, questionable fit on any team's future.
So, I can't say compiling assets was ever really part of the plan either. Or Masai has just failed at his plan, if this is what the plan was. The plan looks more like if he can't get a perfect trade for exactly the players he wants he is more than willing to just let his assets walk so he can spend the money how he wants, when he wants and on what players he wants. Problem with that approach, especially in Canada is the players must also want to sign and come here lol, so imo trades are the way to go.
Both Pascal and Trent's value were higher the last two years then it is now, for sure.