VanWest82 wrote:SHFT wrote:1) OK some real speculation there my friend. Masai said his convo was nothing was imminent and explained it by saying at the time of the convo with DD they were like 4th in line for this trade.
2) You have no idea what happened in the trade talks with SAS (none of us do) so I am not sure why your opinion is based on what could have been agreed to and how Demar got involved in the deal.
3) What Masai did caused some negative PR (which he admitted to and apologized for). But the CYCLE of PR you are speaking of, is strictly on Demar. Masai said his piece and Demar keeps going on about it. If Demar stopped (whether he agreed or not), there is no cycle.
4) Not sure if you understand what "nothing is imminent means". It means, nothing is close to being done. That is what Masai said, we were 4th in line at the time of the convo. We went from "LOL TORONTO" to "we are something to monitor" to "we are in the driving seat" to "trade is done" pretty damn fast for a superstar of Kawhi's ability.
5) It absolutely was a miscommunication - Demar admitted it himself. The discussion was how to get better the next season. Masai does that with all his players. If Masai lied to Demar, Demar would have said that in the interview.
6) HE DID SAY HE WAS SORRY...A BUNCH OF TIMES. In the presser where he was announcing Kawhi, literally half of it was an apology and an explanation.
I understand people here really like Demar (so do I) and I love that he repped us to the fullest. But let me be clear. DD said MU LIED to him at first (which started this entire thing). Now he is saying stuff "he felt like he was going to be here" and "should have given me a heads up". Those are 2 very different stories. THAT is why this is getting annoying to me.
This is getting frustrating. For the last time, and then I'm done...
Fact: Masai met with Demar and his agent in Vegas.
Fact: Demar was very clearly blindsided based on his post trade reactions.
Fact: Demar is saying Masai lied to him when he asked whether there was any truth to the Spurs rumors. His agent is saying the same thing.
It has has nothing to do with how imminent the trade might have been. Masai is answering the question in a way so as to avoid having to answer the real question: did he mislead Demar? Demar is an honest guy. Masai had every reason to lie to him with trade discussions ongoing. Multiple national NBA reporters have since stated that they were surprised the deal didn't get done the week before Masai left for Africa. That's how close it was. If you believe it was just a miscommunication when Masai is in the trade craft and secrets business, then I don't know what else to tell you.
When you apologize for something but continue to misconstrue the events around it, the apology doesn't land. You're blaming the wife who was publicly cheating on, lied to, and then dumped for another girl getting her side of the story out there. It would be extremely naive to think that wouldn't happen.
Fact: Masai met with Demar and his agent in Vegas.
OK. Scheduled meeting with his agent, not scheduled with Demar per Masai but agreed.
Fact: Demar was very clearly blindsided based on his post trade reactions.
Again, OK. You seem to think everyone thinks and reacts the same because if I was Demar and seeing how the team plays better without me, I would think I could be traded but whatever. But no dispute from me on Demar being blindsided.
Fact: Demar is saying Masai lied to him when he asked whether there was any truth to the Spurs rumors. His agent is saying the same thing.
Him and his agent can say whatever they want but this has been addressed A MILLION TIMES....NOTHING WAS IMMINENT. Again, means nothing was close to happening at the time which I believe 100%. I can see based off Masai's wording why Demar thought he wasn't getting traded but there was no way MU LIED to him. If that was a "fact", why did not Demar bring up that MU LIED (I am looking for that specific word because it is a very strong word) in his interview with ESPN? Haynes gave him plenty of opportunity to do it. He didn't say it because it is not true. This is the part that irks me. Man up and admit you made a mistake in saying that you were outright lied to because it didnt happen.
It has has nothing to do with how imminent the trade might have been.
Where have you been? It has EVERYTHING to do with how imminent it was. If Kawhi was happy in San Antonio and he re upped a super max do you think Masai says that to Demar? Of course he doesn't. The entire reason this is important is because how unique Kawhi's situation was. SAS could have traded Kawhi anywhere. Let me break down this timeline for you.
-Kawhi is on the trading block
-Raps gauge their interest
-Rumors fly around
-Raptors figure out they are in last place to land Kawhi
-Masai meets with Demar. Demar asks about the rumors. Masai (knowing at the time we were in last) said nothing was imminent (which was true) and instead of telling Demar "hey the Spurs dont want you as part of the deal but we are going to try our hardest to trade you anyways" he talks about next season.
-Every other team starts backing out
-Boom - deal is done.
-Demar says he was lied to.
-Masai realises his mistake and addresses at first opportunity.
Masai had every reason to lie to him with trade discussions ongoing.
If Demar didnt use the word "lie" in his interview with ESPN, it means he wasnt lied to but he felt slighted. That is totally fair. But Masai didn't lie to him which is what you are saying.
Multiple national NBA reporters have since stated that they were surprised the deal didn't get done the week before Masai left for Africa
Multiple NBA sources are surprised that WE didn't get Kawhi before Masai left or that Kawhi wasn't deal immediately following the season? Because those are 2 seperate things. We were getting laughed at for even being in the Kawhi conversation when it was first reported so not sure how any of these national reporters can say that now.
When you apologize for something but continue to misconstrue the events around it, the apology doesn't land
What part of his apology was misconstrued? That he very easily could have cleaned house when he arrived? There is SO MUCH precedent for a new GM coming in and firing the coach and dealing with players. That he admitted to his mistake? Because his version of what happened and Demars version are the same. "nothing was imminent, we talked about the future". It is very direct and to the point IMO.
The part that is misconstrued is Demar saying he was lied to at first and then going back on that by saying he should have been kept in the loop (which I understand) but those, again, are 2 separate stories.
It would be extremely naive to think that wouldn't happen
And its not naive to say what you are saying? This isn't a family, its a business. You can be bonded with your colleagues, but at the end of the day, you are colleagues. **** happens. Be upset sure, but to say 1 thing (that he was lied to) 1 day and another day say something completely different is why this looks worse than it really is.
Imagine being a Spurs fan right now...you trade crybaby Kawhi for the best deal out there and the best player in any deal you were going to get is still sulking about being traded.
Take your emotion out of it and you will see that while Masai arguably could have handled it better, he did nothing wrong.
