Tank World Order V (Rise of the Phoenix)

[PhilBlackson]

gonna be tough to keep pace with the pistons/jazz but we're trying

We don't need to have the worst record in the league....id be fine with top 4 lotto odds top 3 would be great and top 5 is good enough...The lottery is a gamble anyways...Cooper Flagg maybe the prize but there are a few more players in the draft i want.

Ace Bailey looking like the one.

If we got Ace, it’s a wrap! I’m dead serious when I say I believe we'd be a true championship contender by his 3rd year and I'd honestly be confident that we'd ring at some point.

Teams wouldn't be able to handle all the movement & shooting between him, Gradey & IQ with Scottie picking teams apart and I don't think some people even take into account how insanely good Ace could be if we're the ones developing him. If we somehow fluke into getting Ace Bailey it's gonna be up there with the Kawhi game 7 buzzer beater with how surreal of a moment it would be to me (assuming his shooting is real) lol

[DelAbbot]

If what Gradey is showing is real this might be our last actual season for a while to get an actual high pick.

We might actually be in the playoffs next year.

Our defense is not good enough for playoffs even if this leap of offense is real

[PhilBlackson]

If what Gradey is showing is real this might be our last actual season for a while to get an actual high pick.

We might actually be in the playoffs next year.

Our defense is not good enough for playoffs even if this leap of offense is real

Idk that we would be a definitive PlayOFF team, but Play In -- I have ZERO doubts that this team would be AT LEAST the 10th seed (THIS year) if everyone is healthy which is another part that I don't think is being taken into account when you say that. The leap in offence is with our best players (minus Gradey) in & out of the lineup. Both offensively & defensively there would be more of a clear leap if there was more of a set rotation and guys were getting more & more accustom to the same groups. But it's a random mix & match and yet they're STILL looking way improved.

Sometimes I genuinely believe Darko throws in guys like Fernando in to cool these guys off at times to help with the tank lol because you can already see what they're trying to do with his system and when you see these guys get going, they're cooking. He literally seems like he has to call timeouts or make substitutions just to slow down the BENCH, this isn't even a healthy starting group. They're competing nose to nose with some of the best teams in the league with no warm up/build up against crap ones and doing so with primarily their bench. Idk how it's not obvious that this team is MUCH, much better than our record would obv suggest.

I genuinely believe that this team fully healthy would be anywhere from 7-10th seed, right now....which is why I'm that more excited about a single tank season to add another elite young talent (with Ace being the best upside/fit). If we do that (assuming health), I'm ready to bet that we'd be a clear Playoff team (homecourt for PlayIn at worst) next year, the following one we'd be middle of the pack as the excitement grows/players develop/FO adds more & more pieces and by their 3rd year we'll have made all the necessary trades & guys will have developed enough we'd be in legit discussion as a contender. If this team is healthy and adds a top 5 prospect, they'll FLY up the standings over the next several years ie/ the 2-3 year period Masai discussed as being our rebuild window...

[AbC?]

Some prescient Presti quotes:

"Our ultimate goal is to build a team that will inspire the same kind of joy, success, and togetherness that we have all experienced over our first 11 years. This will take time and involve hard choices. There will always be the temptation to take shortcuts, to look for quick fixes, and to reach out for instant gratification. There will no doubt be criticisms — much of which we could all recite in advance right now. It is the job of the organization to resist those shortcuts, accept that criticism, and keep us deeply committed. If you want an exceptional outcome, you must be willing to be the exception. Therefore, my singular goal as we transition our basketball team is to reposition and replenish the organization to allow for optimal future success." - 2019

“The most competitive thing to do, in my opinion, is to really try to do something great and build it from the ground up,” Presti said. “It's easy to burn the boats to get to the middle, but we're trying to avoid that. We can always do that.” - 2021

“We also have a lot of humility about the fact that this is a hard thing to do. It's one of the reasons why a lot of people try to avoid it. They don't like to do it because, at the end of the day, it's easier to talk about being competitive but not really trying to do the things that will get you to the top of the mountain, or at least figure out if you can.”

“The way I would look at this is if you think one day you want to buy a house,” Presti said. “You don't know where it's going to be, but you want to buy a house. You don't go out and buy the paint for it now. You'd rather wait to see where is the house? How much paint do I need? What color? “We need to know what the house looks like before we start thinking about the cosmetics, in my opinion.”

"When we do get back to the postseason, we want it to be an arrival and not an appearance." - 2021

All are applicable to the Raptors current situation.

[PhilBlackson]

Some prescient Presti quotes:

"Our ultimate goal is to build a team that will inspire the same kind of joy, success, and togetherness that we have all experienced over our first 11 years. This will take time and involve hard choices. There will always be the temptation to take shortcuts, to look for quick fixes, and to reach out for instant gratification. There will no doubt be criticisms — much of which we could all recite in advance right now. It is the job of the organization to resist those shortcuts, accept that criticism, and keep us deeply committed. If you want an exceptional outcome, you must be willing to be the exception. Therefore, my singular goal as we transition our basketball team is to reposition and replenish the organization to allow for optimal future success." - 2019

“The most competitive thing to do, in my opinion, is to really try to do something great and build it from the ground up,” Presti said. “It's easy to burn the boats to get to the middle, but we're trying to avoid that. We can always do that.” - 2021

“We also have a lot of humility about the fact that this is a hard thing to do. It's one of the reasons why a lot of people try to avoid it. They don't like to do it because, at the end of the day, it's easier to talk about being competitive but not really trying to do the things that will get you to the top of the mountain, or at least figure out if you can.”

“The way I would look at this is if you think one day you want to buy a house,” Presti said. “You don't know where it's going to be, but you want to buy a house. You don't go out and buy the paint for it now. You'd rather wait to see where is the house? How much paint do I need? What color? “We need to know what the house looks like before we start thinking about the cosmetics, in my opinion.”

"When we do get back to the postseason, we want it to be an arrival and not an appearance." - 2021

All are applicable to the Raptors current situation.

WOW...this quote right here perfectly encapsulates why I want the tank because when we return to the Playoffs with that player added to this roster...it won't be just an "appearance", it will be an ARRIVAL!

Right now I think we're built to make appearances but if we add another star young talent, the league will be put on notice that we're here and we're coming for that #1 spot in due time.

[ATLTimekeeper]

Some prescient Presti quotes:

"Our ultimate goal is to build a team that will inspire the same kind of joy, success, and togetherness that we have all experienced over our first 11 years. This will take time and involve hard choices. There will always be the temptation to take shortcuts, to look for quick fixes, and to reach out for instant gratification. There will no doubt be criticisms — much of which we could all recite in advance right now. It is the job of the organization to resist those shortcuts, accept that criticism, and keep us deeply committed. If you want an exceptional outcome, you must be willing to be the exception. Therefore, my singular goal as we transition our basketball team is to reposition and replenish the organization to allow for optimal future success." - 2019

“The most competitive thing to do, in my opinion, is to really try to do something great and build it from the ground up,” Presti said. “It's easy to burn the boats to get to the middle, but we're trying to avoid that. We can always do that.” - 2021

“We also have a lot of humility about the fact that this is a hard thing to do. It's one of the reasons why a lot of people try to avoid it. They don't like to do it because, at the end of the day, it's easier to talk about being competitive but not really trying to do the things that will get you to the top of the mountain, or at least figure out if you can.”

“The way I would look at this is if you think one day you want to buy a house,” Presti said. “You don't know where it's going to be, but you want to buy a house. You don't go out and buy the paint for it now. You'd rather wait to see where is the house? How much paint do I need? What color? “We need to know what the house looks like before we start thinking about the cosmetics, in my opinion.”

"When we do get back to the postseason, we want it to be an arrival and not an appearance." - 2021

All are applicable to the Raptors current situation.

Isn't that pretty funny considering they got upset in the playoffs last year, and then panic-spent in the off-season?

imo until you win, stfu about your methodology. No one needs a TED talk on just how smart and humble you are. 10 different teams have won titles since Presti started as a GM.

[AbC?]

Some prescient Presti quotes:

"Our ultimate goal is to build a team that will inspire the same kind of joy, success, and togetherness that we have all experienced over our first 11 years. This will take time and involve hard choices. There will always be the temptation to take shortcuts, to look for quick fixes, and to reach out for instant gratification. There will no doubt be criticisms — much of which we could all recite in advance right now. It is the job of the organization to resist those shortcuts, accept that criticism, and keep us deeply committed. If you want an exceptional outcome, you must be willing to be the exception. Therefore, my singular goal as we transition our basketball team is to reposition and replenish the organization to allow for optimal future success." - 2019

“The most competitive thing to do, in my opinion, is to really try to do something great and build it from the ground up,” Presti said. “It's easy to burn the boats to get to the middle, but we're trying to avoid that. We can always do that.” - 2021

“We also have a lot of humility about the fact that this is a hard thing to do. It's one of the reasons why a lot of people try to avoid it. They don't like to do it because, at the end of the day, it's easier to talk about being competitive but not really trying to do the things that will get you to the top of the mountain, or at least figure out if you can.”

“The way I would look at this is if you think one day you want to buy a house,” Presti said. “You don't know where it's going to be, but you want to buy a house. You don't go out and buy the paint for it now. You'd rather wait to see where is the house? How much paint do I need? What color? “We need to know what the house looks like before we start thinking about the cosmetics, in my opinion.”

"When we do get back to the postseason, we want it to be an arrival and not an appearance." - 2021

All are applicable to the Raptors current situation.

Isn't that pretty funny considering they got upset in the playoffs last year, and then panic-spent in the off-season?

imo until you win, stfu about your methodology. No one needs a TED talk on just how smart and humble you are. 10 different teams have won titles since Presti started as a GM.

You would characterize the youngest team (and still the youngest) in the NBA losing in the semis to the eventual finalists, after making the playoffs for the first time in 3 years, as an upset? That actually shows how high the expectations are of OKC now. Well deserved I guess.

That they panic spent to address their biggest need is certainly a take too.

[billy_hoyle]

Some prescient Presti quotes:

"Our ultimate goal is to build a team that will inspire the same kind of joy, success, and togetherness that we have all experienced over our first 11 years. This will take time and involve hard choices. There will always be the temptation to take shortcuts, to look for quick fixes, and to reach out for instant gratification. There will no doubt be criticisms — much of which we could all recite in advance right now. It is the job of the organization to resist those shortcuts, accept that criticism, and keep us deeply committed. If you want an exceptional outcome, you must be willing to be the exception. Therefore, my singular goal as we transition our basketball team is to reposition and replenish the organization to allow for optimal future success." - 2019

“The most competitive thing to do, in my opinion, is to really try to do something great and build it from the ground up,” Presti said. “It's easy to burn the boats to get to the middle, but we're trying to avoid that. We can always do that.” - 2021

“We also have a lot of humility about the fact that this is a hard thing to do. It's one of the reasons why a lot of people try to avoid it. They don't like to do it because, at the end of the day, it's easier to talk about being competitive but not really trying to do the things that will get you to the top of the mountain, or at least figure out if you can.”

“The way I would look at this is if you think one day you want to buy a house,” Presti said. “You don't know where it's going to be, but you want to buy a house. You don't go out and buy the paint for it now. You'd rather wait to see where is the house? How much paint do I need? What color? “We need to know what the house looks like before we start thinking about the cosmetics, in my opinion.”

"When we do get back to the postseason, we want it to be an arrival and not an appearance." - 2021

All are applicable to the Raptors current situation.

Isn't that pretty funny considering they got upset in the playoffs last year, and then panic-spent in the off-season?

imo until you win, stfu about your methodology. No one needs a TED talk on just how smart and humble you are. 10 different teams have won titles since Presti started as a GM.

I was going to pretty much say this.

Presti just traded a top 5 pick for Caruso. Used $30m to sign Isaiah Hartenstien.

He got booted from the second round of the playoffs. He hasn't won a thing. Never really has. The hardest part is actually winning it all.

Philly was patient, didn't push their chips in until they had an MVP and all star side kick. They haven't made it out of the second round.

[ATLTimekeeper]

Some prescient Presti quotes:

"Our ultimate goal is to build a team that will inspire the same kind of joy, success, and togetherness that we have all experienced over our first 11 years. This will take time and involve hard choices. There will always be the temptation to take shortcuts, to look for quick fixes, and to reach out for instant gratification. There will no doubt be criticisms — much of which we could all recite in advance right now. It is the job of the organization to resist those shortcuts, accept that criticism, and keep us deeply committed. If you want an exceptional outcome, you must be willing to be the exception. Therefore, my singular goal as we transition our basketball team is to reposition and replenish the organization to allow for optimal future success." - 2019

“The most competitive thing to do, in my opinion, is to really try to do something great and build it from the ground up,” Presti said. “It's easy to burn the boats to get to the middle, but we're trying to avoid that. We can always do that.” - 2021

“We also have a lot of humility about the fact that this is a hard thing to do. It's one of the reasons why a lot of people try to avoid it. They don't like to do it because, at the end of the day, it's easier to talk about being competitive but not really trying to do the things that will get you to the top of the mountain, or at least figure out if you can.”

“The way I would look at this is if you think one day you want to buy a house,” Presti said. “You don't know where it's going to be, but you want to buy a house. You don't go out and buy the paint for it now. You'd rather wait to see where is the house? How much paint do I need? What color? “We need to know what the house looks like before we start thinking about the cosmetics, in my opinion.”

"When we do get back to the postseason, we want it to be an arrival and not an appearance." - 2021

All are applicable to the Raptors current situation.

Isn't that pretty funny considering they got upset in the playoffs last year, and then panic-spent in the off-season?

imo until you win, stfu about your methodology. No one needs a TED talk on just how smart and humble you are. 10 different teams have won titles since Presti started as a GM.

You would characterize the youngest team (and still the youngest) in the NBA losing in the semis to the eventual finalists, after making the playoffs for the first time in 3 years, as an upset? That actually shows how high the expectations are of OKC now. Well deserved I guess.

That they panic spent to address their biggest need is certainly a take too.

They weren't in the semis, and they were the top seed. Definitely not an arrival.

They're paying a guy that's started 60 nba games 30 million, because they didn't know that their house was unpainted? It's fine to do all your yapping when you win. Otherwise you are no different from any other GM trying to do the exact same thing.

[Phezmo123]

We don't need to have the worst record in the league....id be fine with top 4 lotto odds top 3 would be great and top 5 is good enough...The lottery is a gamble anyways...Cooper Flagg maybe the prize but there are a few more players in the draft i want.

Ace Bailey looking like the one.

If we got Ace, it’s a wrap! I’m dead serious when I say I believe we'd be a true championship contender by his 3rd year and I'd honestly be confident that we'd ring at some point.

Teams wouldn't be able to handle all the movement & shooting between him, Gradey & IQ with Scottie picking teams apart and I don't think some people even take into account how insanely good Ace could be if we're the ones developing him. If we somehow fluke into getting Ace Bailey it's gonna be up there with the Kawhi game 7 buzzer beater with how surreal of a moment it would be to me (assuming his shooting is real) lol

Who’s his NBA comp? What level of player can I expect him to be in year 3?

[Clutch0z24]

Isn't that pretty funny considering they got upset in the playoffs last year, and then panic-spent in the off-season?

imo until you win, stfu about your methodology. No one needs a TED talk on just how smart and humble you are. 10 different teams have won titles since Presti started as a GM.

You would characterize the youngest team (and still the youngest) in the NBA losing in the semis to the eventual finalists, after making the playoffs for the first time in 3 years, as an upset? That actually shows how high the expectations are of OKC now. Well deserved I guess.

That they panic spent to address their biggest need is certainly a take too.

They weren't in the semis, and they were the top seed. Definitely not an arrival.

They're paying a guy that's started 60 nba games 30 million, because they didn't know that their house was unpainted? It's fine to do all your yapping when you win. Otherwise you are no different from any other GM trying to do the exact same thing.

I think your looking at this the wrong way....To use the quotes he said in the post....He already has his "House" in Shai/Chet/Williams ....Which did take some time and some losing seasons and rough times for the fans....They took a step back from having PG/Westbrook And having a mid ceiling as a team....To now having one of the best young cores in the entire NBA With a bright upside and prolly will be playoff contenders for years to come....Winning it all is yet to be seen...

The "Panic buying" your talking about is the "Paint" or "Cosmetics" he is talking about are the guys he is adding to the core to get the best total outcome possible....They need defenders and needed another big man to help Chet to avoid injuries....They are currently 5-0 on this season and will prolly be the Number 1 seed in back to back years in the tough West...

Its ok if your spewing this nonsense out of jealousy because how good the OKC look....But you should really look at the Raptors and see how we could learn from everything Presti is saying....Being a middle of the pack team is easy to do ....Being a legit title contender and a great team every year takes patience and a few rough seasons to get there...

[AbC?]

They weren't in the semis, and they were the top seed. Definitely not an arrival.

They're paying a guy that's started 60 nba games 30 million, because they didn't know that their house was unpainted? It's fine to do all your yapping when you win. Otherwise you are no different from any other GM trying to do the exact same thing.

They were in the semis... what do you call the 2nd round of the playoffs?

The contract for IHart is fine. It's a 3 year deal with a team option. The paid a premium for the flexibility and it lets them get off his deal when Chet and JDub are due for extensions.

[ATLTimekeeper]

There's no jealousy over a team that hasn't won. I'm consistent. I don't hand out crowns ahead of time. And I don't hang on every word of someone that hasn't actually won anything, and neither should Masai.

We know that OKC didn't have to go through one rough season to get Shai.

[Los_29]

Talk is cheap. It’s not hard to say the right things. Presti and many other GMs say the right things but what do they have to show for it?

They have a very good team. A very young and exciting team. But as we know, Presti had an even better young team 12 years ago and somehow managed to screw it all up. Traded Harden for peanuts, lost KD for nothing and drafted poorly.

They weren't in the semis, and they were the top seed. Definitely not an arrival.

They're paying a guy that's started 60 nba games 30 million, because they didn't know that their house was unpainted? It's fine to do all your yapping when you win. Otherwise you are no different from any other GM trying to do the exact same thing.

They were in the semis... what do you call the 2nd round of the playoffs?

The contract for IHart is fine. It's a 3 year deal with a team option. The paid a premium for the flexibility and it lets them get off his deal when Chet and JDub are due for extensions.

That’s the Western Conference Semis. When I think of semis, I think final 4 of the entire league. All OKC did was beat the injured and depleted Pelicans. They didn’t beat any of the elite teams.

Hartenstein deal was horrendous in terms of how much they gave him but they will only have to pay him that for two years, he fills a need and they aren’t signing anyone else in OKC. It’s kind of like the FVV deal for Houston. Way too much money but it’s a shorter term contract.

[Boardbreaker]

They weren't in the semis, and they were the top seed. Definitely not an arrival.

They're paying a guy that's started 60 nba games 30 million, because they didn't know that their house was unpainted? It's fine to do all your yapping when you win. Otherwise you are no different from any other GM trying to do the exact same thing.

They were in the semis... what do you call the 2nd round of the playoffs?

The contract for IHart is fine. It's a 3 year deal with a team option. The paid a premium for the flexibility and it lets them get off his deal when Chet and JDub are due for extensions.

The 2nd round is just that. Semi finals are the conference finals.

[AbC?]

They weren't in the semis, and they were the top seed. Definitely not an arrival.

They're paying a guy that's started 60 nba games 30 million, because they didn't know that their house was unpainted? It's fine to do all your yapping when you win. Otherwise you are no different from any other GM trying to do the exact same thing.

They were in the semis... what do you call the 2nd round of the playoffs?

The contract for IHart is fine. It's a 3 year deal with a team option. The paid a premium for the flexibility and it lets them get off his deal when Chet and JDub are due for extensions.

The 2nd round is just that. Semi finals are the conference finals.

I've always heard it called the conference semifinals. That's what the NBA calls it, that's what ESPN and every media outlet calls it. But sure, it's all semantics.

[ItsDanger]

Just write Presti in a post, causes immediate reactions. LOL

[ATLTimekeeper]

They weren't in the semis, and they were the top seed. Definitely not an arrival.

They're paying a guy that's started 60 nba games 30 million, because they didn't know that their house was unpainted? It's fine to do all your yapping when you win. Otherwise you are no different from any other GM trying to do the exact same thing.

They were in the semis... what do you call the 2nd round of the playoffs?

The contract for IHart is fine. It's a 3 year deal with a team option. The paid a premium for the flexibility and it lets them get off his deal when Chet and JDub are due for extensions.

Conference semis or quarterfinals. Not an arrival. They swept a New Orleans team without Zion.

So when iHart's option is up he's no longer needed? Looks like they just overpaid in the summer. No big deal. They are playing with house money. Just don't go around talking about how wise you are being when you've already blown a promising team just like this.

Like I said, he appeals to a certain type of fan. I am not that type of fan. Winners get to talk. Everyone else that does is a more or less articulate version of Pat Bev. The next 5 years are unknown.

[Clutch0z24]

There's no jealousy over a team that hasn't won. I'm consistent. I don't hand out crowns ahead of time. And I don't hang on every word of someone that hasn't actually won anything, and neither should Masai.

We know that OKC didn't have to go through one rough season to get Shai.

They were a losing team for a few years and capitalized on trading their franchise player away for the best possible young player on the market with a ton of draft picks that might actually net them another top pick in the future....They tanked for Chet, Drafted well with Williams with a high pick and like i said they have their "House" ....Even if they didn't have to lose to get Shai they had to trade their best player at the time and basically go from being a middle of the pack playoff team to starting over again...

Winning in the NBA takes time we all know this but you are fooling yourself if you don't look at what the OKC has done and give them their flowers....They have one of the best upsides as a team in the NBA imo....They will always be in the conversation to win the title with their best players being 26, 22, 23 years of age....Yeah you can say they have not won yet but they are all still babies in NBA terms and will have many chances to grow together and get a chip or two...

[ATLTimekeeper]

They were a losing team for a few years and capitalized on trading their franchise player away for the best possible young player on the market with a ton of draft picks that might actually net them another top pick in the future....They tanked for Chet, Drafted well with Williams with a high pick and like i said they have their "House" ....Even if they didn't have to lose to get Shai they had to trade their best player at the time and basically go from being a middle of the pack playoff team to starting over again...

They went from a middle of the pack playoff team to a middle of the pack playoff team. They decided to move off Chris Paul, who subsequently went to the NBA Finals with a talented guard and some role players.

Winning in the NBA takes time we all know this but you are fooling yourself if you don't look at what the OKC has done and give them their flowers....They have one of the best upsides as a team in the NBA imo....They will always be in the conversation to win the title with their best players being 26, 22, 23 years of age....Yeah you can say they have not won yet but they are all still babies in NBA terms and will have many chances to grow together and get a chip or two...

They look really good! Not hard to say that. I'm really happy that he built a really good team, because I like watching good basketball. I don't want to hear him preach from the pulpit about how wise he is when 1/3 of the league has done what he hasn't in the time that he's had the job. I'm not going to hang on those words. When he does it, then I will look back and appreciate how all those decisions paid off and absolutely give him full credit.