Masai Approval Rating 2024

[bonjovi0308]

This is probably hindsight, but had Masai traded Bruce Brown to the Knicks for the 25th pick in 2024 assuming the rumor was real, then we could have had Ryan Dunn at the 25th.

[Raps in 4]

If I ignore 2022-2024, then it's very positive. He drafted well with the picks he had the last two years.

But we can't ignore the last two years of blunders, because they've put the team in a deep hole. Trading FRPs for Thad and Yak was a huge mistake. Holding onto Pascal until the last minute was another one. We should have had far more FRPs the last few years.

[Indeed]

2023 issues:
> Lack of quality C - not resolved (F)
> Lack of PG - resolved (A)
> Lack of 3 point shooters - partially resolved (B)
> Change of play style - not resolved (lack of 1st option and ended up Siakam postup) (D)
Draft - good (B)
Trade - very good (A)
Signing - Olynky, Barnes, Quickley (C)

Overall: B- for last season (short term)
We probably did most of the things right. However, we ended up in "Rebuilding", and still lack high quality prospects or draft picks.
The asset management wasn't very good for the last few years as well, which comes to this point. If the approval is more than 2024, then it would be C-

[deck]

I'm somewhere around a C+/B- but trending up. I liked Chomche as a pick, but didn't know enough about Mogbo or Shead to really have an opinion. Having watched both played now, I think both are looking like good players given where they were drafted. I need to see JKW play before I can say anything informed on him.

I'm excited about Gradey. Last year was rough, but despite missing some threes this year, he has shown a huge step. Maybe a MIP candidate?

There is hope for Ochai; let's see if he can keep playing like he has.

Despite not having IQ, RJ and Barnes consistently playing, this team has mostly competed, which is impressive as hell.


Posters saying we are in a deep hole, I really don't know what franchise you have been following for the past several decades. Apart from the 1998-2000 rosters with two superstars in Vince and McGradey, is there a roster in the history of the franchise with more upside than this one? The Poeltl / Thad trades were mistakes, but we have a young roster with good upside, and relative cap flexibility going forward.

[CPT]

Probably still a C-/D.

Early returns on the rookies look very good, but just because they are outperforming their draft position doesn't mean all that much yet. I'm really not trying to downplay it, as getting 3 rotation players (maybe more) from 2nd round picks and the undrafted pool is fantastic, but how much does it move the needle for the team's future?

If they lead to a consolidation trade down the road, great, but I can't give credit for that until it happens.

I still see this as a team that is not really set up to compete now or in the future, so while it's good to see nice value plays around the edges, my overall opinion on the future of the team hasn't changed that much. It may have actually gotten worse, as I was expecting a bit more in terms of blue chip talent from the Siakam and OG trades before they were made.

[Kingsway_fan]

Incomplete.

Will wait for end of season.

He can redeem himself if the draft picks exceed expectation... and what he does with Brown.

[Got Nuffin]

I’m much happier seeing these draft picks balling out better than a lot of the 1st rounders from the draft, and Dick is developing into a home run.

Barnes is a home run. OG trade was amazing, Siakam trade stinks although Agbaji looks impressive and Walter continuing that trend would definitely lessen the sting.

I want to see Poeltl and Brown jr traded for a decent return before handing out a B and actually being optimistic about our future.

[DreamTeam09]

I’m much happier seeing these draft picks balling out better than a lot of the 1st rounders from the draft, and Dick is developing into a home run.

Barnes is a home run. OG trade was amazing, Siakam trade stinks although Agbaji looks impressive and Walter continuing that trend would definitely lessen the sting.

I want to see Poeltl and Brown jr traded for a decent return before handing out a B and actually being optimistic about our future.

What's up with you guys n wanting to trade Jakob, he's been like our best player this year. Consistent across the board and you need that for a development structure

[refshateRaps]

Dark days are here

Thanks Masai

[wegotthabeet]

If we’re going off of what he’s done since December 30 then it’s a solid B. Absolutely killed it at the draft. They showed why they have the reputation as one of the best drafting and development teams. The draft is their bread and butter. Ifthey can land a high lottery pick next year I’d move it to an A.

[Rapsalot]

As always some of this is incomplete since we don’t know what a BB trade looks like or how the Pacer 2026 pick will be used. The trade with the kings was very well done. The draft again incomplete. You had 4 picks if J’KW becomes 6+ man that will help grade but to date he has only played so-so in Summer League. If you end up with 2 rotation players in top 11 and one in the 6+man it will be a B- as a start. If less results will certainly trend the draft grade down.

The OP wants just this year but ownership will not look that way. If the only move for BB is equal longer salary, a second round pick and then we just use first and (second from Blazzers) I think MU need ping pong ball luck to save his job.

[Harcore Fenton Mun]

What are the odds of Ted Rogers negotiating a new contract with Masai? He knows he's not going to be back, right.

[MiamiSPX]

What are the odds of Ted Rogers negotiating a new contract with Masai? He knows he's not going to be back, right.

Would he even want to stay once Larry is gone?

Friedman mentioned last year that a certain faction of the Board had suggested no more team Presidents and the GMs would report directly to Pelley. Everyone knows said faction was Rogers. Call me crazy but this reality is closer than it appears. Shanahan is in the last year of his contract and there is obviously no conceivable way he gets extended if (when) they lose in the 1st round again. A betting man would also lean towards Masai riding off into the sunset with Larry in 2 years.

[YogurtProducer]

If I ignore 2022-2024, then it's very positive. He drafted well with the picks he had the last two years.

But we can't ignore the last two years of blunders, because they've put the team in a deep hole. Trading FRPs for Thad and Yak was a huge mistake. Holding onto Pascal until the last minute was another one. We should have had far more FRPs the last few years.

You also cant ignore the years before the last two years. That is equally illogical.

How many times does this need to be said though...

Thad - that was a trade down of 13 spots, not a trade away. Koloko was a good pick there (and would have been good at 20 to). Tough to fault anyone for a sickness.

Yak - huge mistake? If anything, the early returns this season on what we lost out on there are showing maybe losing that pick was not a big deal. Plus - no one knows what is gonna happen with Yak. For all we know he is packaged along with other stuff for a huge upgrade (or picks and a step back).

Pascal - we never were gonna get more than what we got unless we traded him at the peak out "this" team in 2020ish. But no one would have said you should trade away a 25 year old all-nba player

These are the posts that always kill me. Our "big mistakes" would mean having (best case) Walker Kessler (or honestly, maybe still Koloko) and Rob Dillingham/Zach Edey/Whoever, instead of what we have now. AKA - nothing that fundamentally would change our fortunes right now. Lets just be honest about it for once.

[ontnut]

C for Changes. Ch-ch-ch-changes. Time may change me.

[billy_hoyle]

Too early, but trending very positive.

If we get Flagg or Ace (or someone better?) in this draft by what looks like an obvious developmental tank job, how can anyone even complain?

Took back just enough present day talent (RJ and IQ) but not too much to stifle the tank.

Instilling a clear tanking developmental directive (hence Olynyk, Brown, RJ, Scottie, IQ not seeing the court together, leaning into a cautious injury approach).

Very early returns on the '2024 role player draft' is extremely positive IMO. Looks like we might have:
1. Elite Defensive backup PG.
2. Do-it all wing stopper.
3. Defensively neutral, ideal sized SF sniper.

That doesn't include J'KW or Chomche.

Ogbaji looks like a solid get, as does Dick.

If we can obtain another solid center and draft Flagg/Ace, we will have completely restocked in a year. That's on the table right now. As always lottery luck will determine how easy our path back to contention will be.

[Ell Curry]

I’m feeling more optimistic. If we can tank into a good pick and come out with a starting quality wing, we’d be in decent shape, maybe an eventual Poeltl plus picks for a better center trade like Minny did to get Gobert.

Quickley-2025-Barrett-Barnes-Poeltl
Shead-Dick-Agbaji-Mogbo

And 2 firsts in the 2026 draft, hopefully grab a good defensive backup wing and a backup 5 we can develop who’s less raw than Chomche (assuming he’s not miraculously ahead of the curve and not a cheap 2nd contract project guy) or a big who can shoot at least, like a Mo Wagner type.

If we go center in the 2025 draft, it’s gonna be hard to get a 2-way wing elsewhere, but defensive guards/wings like Jrue Holiday and Derrick White and Caruso and Mikal Bridges do sometimes come on the market.

Basically I think we have 2 big cards to play, the 2025 draft pick and then 1 draft picks out for a star who probably isn’t a 2 way wing kinda deal (Mitchell, Gobert) since those seem to cost even more, though if Barrett is a real asset and bench young guy or 2 pop that would help, like the Suns having Bridges and Cam Johnson to include in a KD trade (though unlikely we get a Bridges level asset outside of drafting one).

But Masai/Bobby seem to have bounced back a bit in terms of scrounging up some useful young bench players after missing out on guys like that.

So yeah, gotta tank, but hopefully lots of rookie minutes will accomplish that without having to accept weak value for Poeltl to ensure we’re in Flagg/Bailey/Harper/Edgecombe territory. All 4 of those guys look like decent fits (Flagg or Bailey at the 3, Harper is the 1 on O but 2 on D and Quickley vice versa, Edgecombe is the 2).

[DelAbbot]

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[nikster]

I’m much happier seeing these draft picks balling out better than a lot of the 1st rounders from the draft, and Dick is developing into a home run.

Barnes is a home run. OG trade was amazing, Siakam trade stinks although Agbaji looks impressive and Walter continuing that trend would definitely lessen the sting.

I want to see Poeltl and Brown jr traded for a decent return before handing out a B and actually being optimistic about our future.

What's up with you guys n wanting to trade Jakob, he's been like our best player this year. Consistent across the board and you need that for a development structure

And I don't understand what the plan is in the future? People are so obsessed with the tank there's no plan for what happens for when we try to compete. Based on Scotties timeline we need to compete at most in a year or 2. We're gonna have an absolutely massive hole at Centre we will need to desperately fill if we give up Poeltl

[Tripod]

Once we turned the page MU has dine a very good job. We have rebuilt our playable depth which was needed. If Bruno was instead a healthy Koloko, or Porter, our development would be firing on all cylinders. Somehow adding another young big to the mix would be nice to learn from yak. Hopefully Bruno is only a placeholder until Ko comes back and bruno is cut opening a spot for a new addition.