Raps make another hire: Cap expert Bobby Webster

Rhettmatic · Post #1 » by **Rhettmatic** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 4:42 pm

Meet our cap expert?

http://blog.raptors.com/press-releases/ ... -strategy/

The Toronto Raptors announced Wednesday they have named Bobby Webster as the club’s Vice President, Basketball Management & Strategy. Webster joins the Raptors after working for the NBA league office in New York for the past seven seasons, most recently in the role of Associate Director, Salary Cap Management.

“I am delighted to have Bobby join our basketball operations team,” said Masai Ujiri, Raptors President and General Manager, Basketball Operations. “His skill set will be valuable in a number of areas, and his experience and knowledge of the CBA and its complexities from a League level will be a great asset to the organization.”

Webster brings with him a vast working knowledge of the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). He was part of the NBA league office team that worked with the NBA Labor Relations Committee to negotiate the most recent CBA with the National Basketball Players Association.

While at the NBA, Webster advised front office personnel from all 30 teams on CBA matters related to salary cap and luxury tax planning, player contract negotiations and trade proposals. He also played a lead role in the NBA league office’s player contract analytics efforts.

In his role with the Raptors, Webster will provide his CBA expertise and take on expanded duties that include scouting, player personnel and roster management.

Headliner · Post #2 » by **Headliner** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 4:44 pm

Nice.
Sounds like a good piece of a brain trust, and like he might be well connected.

Double Helix · Post #3 » by **Double Helix** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 4:44 pm

This is clearly the "Ben" guy that another poster was referring to at last night's STHs event.

Los Manos · Post #4 » by **Los Manos** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 4:46 pm

Good stuff. I like the way Masai thinks.

"I need a cap expert, why don't I just hire the guy from the league office that every team in the league goes to for help?"

StMikes31 · Post #5 » by **StMikes31** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 4:47 pm

Wow... impressive.

itbobby007 · Post #6 » by **itbobby007** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 4:48 pm

Nice! Like the way things are shaping up.

fredericklove · Post #7 » by **fredericklove** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 4:48 pm

How did we end up getting this stud wow? Money money money.

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Patman · Post #8 » by **Patman** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 4:49 pm

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKUOB8MN4Kc[/youtube]

YogiStewart · Post #9 » by **YogiStewart** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 4:49 pm

so Fruitman's gone.

LifeBaller11 · Post #10 » by **LifeBaller11** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 4:50 pm

Yes this was the new hiring that MU introduced last night at the Town Hall event last night.

MU said he hired him because he more or less built the CBA so to have a guy like him can be beneficial in doing some creative roster changes if need be.

I expect the rest of MU's front office to form after the finals is wrapped up.

RaptorNews · Post #11 » by **RaptorNews** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 4:50 pm

Damn, what a hire

StMikes31 · Post #12 » by **StMikes31** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 4:50 pm

I like how they got rid of all the old farts and are bringing some fresh blood into the organization - especially guys who have a great resume.

carl_english · Post #13 » by **carl_english** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 4:51 pm

Masai, we believe!!!

pharring · Post #14 » by **pharring** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 4:53 pm

I wonder if he has family ties in Toronto. With a resume like that, I'm thinking he could have gone just about anywhere he wanted.

Post #15 » by **niQ** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 4:54 pm

Great Pick up!

It's like the Grizz, needed a good analyst.. picked up John Hollinger from ESPN.

We needed a good Cap Manager, picked up Bobby Webster from the NBA League Office! lol

LifeBaller11 · Post #16 » by **LifeBaller11** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 4:55 pm

pharring wrote:I wonder if he has family ties in Toronto. With a resume like that, I'm thinking he could have gone just about anywehere he wanted.

Seems unlikely, he said he's never been to Toronto prior to getting hired with the Raptors. But he had heard many good things and it took him 30 seconds to take the job after he talked to MU and TL who called him 30 minutes after.

It was someone MU really wanted to target since his days in Denver the last couple seasons.

He comes highly recommended from Stern and Silver as well.

HEDOBALL · Post #17 » by **HEDOBALL** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 4:57 pm

FRUITMAN?!

Indeed · Post #18 » by **Indeed** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 4:57 pm

Good idea to bring a cap specialist in.

Rhettmatic · Post #19 » by **Rhettmatic** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 4:58 pm

pharring wrote:I wonder if he has family ties in Toronto. With a resume like that, I'm thinking he could have gone just about anywhere he wanted.

I'm wondering if Leiweke/MLSE are just out there throwing money at executives. With both announcements we've heard about today, we hired someone away from a pretty good situation (you could argue that Tolzman's wasn't, since he would have had a new management team coming in, but Denver probably wanted to keep him).

If so, I'm pleased to see it. There's no salary cap on execs.

StMikes31 · Post #20 » by **StMikes31** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 5:00 pm

Rhettmatic wrote:
pharring wrote:I wonder if he has family ties in Toronto. With a resume like that, I'm thinking he could have gone just about anywhere he wanted.

I'm wondering if Leiweke/MLSE are just out there throwing money at executives. With both announcements we've heard about today, we hired someone away from a pretty good situation (you could argue that Tolzman's wasn't, since he would have had a new management team coming in, but Denver probably wanted to keep him).

If so, I'm pleased to see it. There's no salary cap on execs.

Yup.. and I think these guys have committed a long time ago and just waited to announce all at once for a big buzz announcement. Getting contracts done could have prolonged the delay as well.