Deep Dive into Masai's Presidency

[nabbs]

Pat Riley signed some of the worst free agent contracts in the league for like a 2 year stretch.

People like to pretend that some of the top Presidents are perfect, but that just isnt the case when you break down each transaction.

Individual transactions really dont matter anyways. Can you build a consistent winner, that's the key question. Masai is one of the few who has. And he's done it in a foreign country that doesn't attract the top free agents like MIA, LA, NY does. And he's done it without tanking or top draft picks.

He's going to be the highest paid executive in basketball very soon and he will deserve every penny.

It's incredible that Riley ended up with lotto picks to get Bam and Herro when he handed out big pay days to Tyler Johnson (which was a match on an offer sheet iirc), James Johnson and Dion Waiters.


Teams bailed him out and a lot of people forget.

I like how this is your takeaway from Riley's tenure.

He absolutely nailed those picks (which were late lotto picks, not top 5 picks). Tyler Johnson was undrafted and he picked up Nunn and Robinson as well. He made mistakes signing Johnson, Waiters and Whiteside, but he realized that quickly and look at their team and cap sheet now. Every GM makes mistakes, but a guy like Riley acts immediately he doesn't evaluate for 3 years.

Kudos for him nailing those picks, no doubt. However, getting a chance to have a lottery pick is half the battle. Teams mostly miss but Riley nailed it, I am not disputing that (especially later lottery). Unless Masai had multiple lottery picks during his tenure here then I just don't think it's all that fair to compare his lack of star building.

What's wrong with our cap sheet right now? It's clean and we have all of our picks going forward

[OakleyDokely]

I love Riley, but he gave a combined 212 million to these 4 players:

Olynyk 4/50
Waiters 4/52
James Johnson 4/60
Tyler Johnson 4/50

These deals handcuffed the team for a few years and led to some mediocre years in between their championship years and this year.

If we really want to dissect everyone's flaws, let's have at it.

[vini_vidi_vici]

Why do you keep going on about this nonsense that I haven't enjoyed anything or that I've been a fan for 5 minutes?

I enjoyed every minute of the Kawhi experience. He is the greatest player in franchise history and it's unlikely the Raptors ever have a player of his calibre again.

Every season since the Washington sweep was a wasted one except for of course the Kawhi outlier.

So youre a championship or bust guy. An ECF birth, "waste of time".

Just some advice for you and ppl of this ilk. If you dont watch them, if you dont post here, you wont "waste" your time.

Have you thought maybe this is a reflection of you and your unrealistic expectations, and not MU??

It's not championship or bust, it's about being on a path to build a contender. Those DeRozan/Lowry/Casey teams were absolute frauds. If you think that ECF berth meant anything beyond a nice banner to put at the top of the ACC you're crazy.

I'm not wasting my time, I love basketball. It's people of your ilk who act like gatekeepers on what people can do and say.

Every season since the Washington sweep was a wasted one except for of course the Kawhi outlier.

Yes, alot of fans were very visceral in their distaste for a ECF run.

[Fairview4Life]

The Toronto **** Raptors won the NBA championship, last year. LOL.

[vini_vidi_vici]

I love Riley, but he gave a combined 212 million to these 4 players:

Olynyk 4/50
Waiters 4/52
James Johnson 4/60
Tyler Johnson 4/50

These deals handcuffed the team for a few years and led to some mediocre years in between their championship years and this year.

If we really want to dissect everyone's flaws, let's have at it.

And you talk about Bob Myers.

https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warriors/bucks-owner-reveals-why-steph-curry-andrew-bogut-trade-was-killed

Lasry sees the Golden State Warriors as a model franchise, although he did chuckle when Warriors owner Joe Lacob told New York Times Magazine three years ago that the organization is “light years ahead” of the other 29 teams.

“I don’t know if they can be light years ahead if they traded Steph Curry to the Bucks for Andrew Bogut,” Lasry says of a proposed trade before he purchased the Bucks, which has been reported as both fact and urban legend. “That was the deal. But the Bucks’ medical staff didn’t think Steph’s ankle would hold up. That killed the deal.

"So, I don’t know if that’s being light years. It’s luck. And that’s fine.” Lasry then smiled and added, “I think we got rid of that medical staff when we bought the team.”

Only MU got lucky by Dolan backing out.

[vini_vidi_vici]

The Toronto **** Raptors won the NBA championship, last year. LOL.

But he didnt win this yr, and while the future hasnt happened, he wont win it in subsequent yrs.

[Fairview4Life]

The Toronto **** Raptors won the NBA championship, last year. LOL.

But he didnt win this yr, and while the future hasnt happened, he wont win it in subsequent yrs.

We are living in a world where the Toronto Raptors won a title in the hardest big 4 league to win a title, something no one really ever expected despite our obvious homerism, and mother **** are in these streets whining like babies.

[C Court]

For years, a certain segment of smarty pants fans would use 'he never won a championship' as their mic drop argument to diminish the success of a Raptors executive/coach/player.

With the Raptors 2019 NBA Championship, that particular argument can no longer be their go-to. So instead they are reduced to relying on a tortured line of reasoning which is essentially 'Q-Anon for Raptors Fans'.

[Pooh_Jeter]

It's incredible that Riley ended up with lotto picks to get Bam and Herro when he handed out big pay days to Tyler Johnson (which was a match on an offer sheet iirc), James Johnson and Dion Waiters.


Teams bailed him out and a lot of people forget.

I like how this is your takeaway from Riley's tenure.

He absolutely nailed those picks (which were late lotto picks, not top 5 picks). Tyler Johnson was undrafted and he picked up Nunn and Robinson as well. He made mistakes signing Johnson, Waiters and Whiteside, but he realized that quickly and look at their team and cap sheet now. Every GM makes mistakes, but a guy like Riley acts immediately he doesn't evaluate for 3 years.

Kudos for him nailing those picks, no doubt. However, getting a chance to have a lottery pick is half the battle. Teams mostly miss but Riley nailed it, I am not disputing that (especially later lottery). Unless Masai had multiple lottery picks during his tenure here then I just don't think it's all that fair to compare his lack of star building.

What's wrong with our cap sheet right now? It's clean and we have all of our picks going forward

This team is destined to be spending 75+ million on a Siakam/FVV/OG core, that is awful.

[Rebel INS]

Back in the dark late 2000s/early 2010's days of the ceaseless negativity on here, I used to wonder whether realgm'ers would never be happy with this team and that they secretly loved LARP'ing as GM's (ie; 10000+ post counts which are mostly "IF I was GM, I'd draft 'x' and trade 'y' and amnesty 'z'") and endlessly criticizing management more than actually being a fan of a basketball team.

I remember wondering if realgmers would still be miserable even if we won a championship, back when even making the playoffs with home court advantage seemed out of reach

Guess I know the answer now

[Pooh_Jeter]

I love Riley, but he gave a combined 212 million to these 4 players:

Olynyk 4/50
Waiters 4/52
James Johnson 4/60
Tyler Johnson 4/50

These deals handcuffed the team for a few years and led to some mediocre years in between their championship years and this year.

If we really want to dissect everyone's flaws, let's have at it.

No one would argue those were good deals. He absolutely NAILED the picks he got when the team scuffled a bit and 3 of the 4 are long gone (Olynyk while overpaid is actually a useful contributor for them). They are now in the ECF and are favourites to land Oladipo/Giannis and could realistically get both.

Masai had one year of being an actual contender and the legwork on that deal was done by someone else. Forgive me for not give him all the credit in the world for building a total fraud team outside of that year (which had plenty of lucky breaks beyond the actual deal itself).

[Pooh_Jeter]

The Toronto **** Raptors won the NBA championship, last year. LOL.

But he didnt win this yr, and while the future hasnt happened, he wont win it in subsequent yrs.

We are living in a world where the Toronto Raptors won a title in the hardest big 4 league to win a title, something no one really ever expected despite our obvious homerism, and mother **** are in these streets whining like babies.

What?

The NBA is probably the easiest of the big 4 to win a championship because if you have a top 5/10 player you are almost automatically a contender. One player can drastically change your fortunes. The same doesn't go for the NFL, NHL or MLB.

Yes, people are in the streets protesting. Sure, make up some strawman. People aren't just blindly loyal to Masai and then all of a sudden you have a bunch of wannabe gate keepers telling people what they can or cannot think.

[GordanFreeman]

See this is the funny thing, I said, we have not built a consistent contender, just the Demar years that everyone here was ready to fire Masai.

I am not saying kudos to the title, but Masai's entire tenure is a bit of an odd one.

But sure, conjecture and paraphrasing incorrectly.

The funny thing.... I know you've actually talked yourself into believing this lie is true. Not that the idea even matters. But sure, continue with the hyperbole. What a piece of work this is.

Uhh, no plenty of people were ready to fire Masai after the second Lebronto.

Same people saying evaluating as a joke and Casey too long and why keep going with mediocre Derozan.

Revisionist history is always fun.

No, it wasn't alot of ppl. It was you, Mr. and Mrs. colonjello and a few ******. Many of us did want the core to be broken up.

[OakleyDokely]

I love Riley, but he gave a combined 212 million to these 4 players:

Olynyk 4/50
Waiters 4/52
James Johnson 4/60
Tyler Johnson 4/50

These deals handcuffed the team for a few years and led to some mediocre years in between their championship years and this year.

If we really want to dissect everyone's flaws, let's have at it.

No one would argue those were good deals. He absolutely NAILED the picks he got when the team scuffled a bit and 3 of the 4 are long gone (Olynyk while overpaid is actually a useful contributor for them). They are now in the ECF and are favourites to land Oladipo/Giannis and could realistically get both.

Masai had one year of being an actual contender and the legwork on that deal was done by someone else. Forgive me for not give him all the credit in the world for building a total fraud team outside of that year (which had plenty of lucky breaks beyond the actual deal itself).

Masai has built consistent 50+ win teams. He's a won a title. Masai has built teams that are consistently 1 player away from winning a title. They had that 1 player last year and won and it's his job to find that 1 player again.

You really dont understand just how hard it is to build 50+ win teams that consistently make the 2nd round / conference finals. That's your problem. Your expectations are quite frankly delusional.

[TorontoBaller]

Sure, you type content.
But it's you I dislike. Your writing style makes me dislike you.
I wish you growth.

Edit:
I think it's the arrogance. The way you came looking for a fight and making sweeping stmts.

Then saying " A GM's job is to create a perennial contender"... and "I'm not saying he's the worst GM">

You're just trying to get action.
You're blocked.

[Rebel INS]

For years, a certain segment of smarty pants fans would use 'he never won a championship' as their mic drop argument to diminish the success of a Raptors executive/coach/player.

With the Raptors 2019 NBA Championship, that particular argument can no longer be their go-to. So instead they are reduced to relying on a tortured line of reasoning which is essentially 'Q-Anon for Raptors Fans'.

They'll caveat the ring with "Kawhi fell in his lap and he lucked into GSW injuries"

They'll caveat consistently turning late round picks and undrafted FA's into productive starters and assets into "overpaying to keep a mediocre core"

They'll caveat consistent 50+ win seasons as "meaningless regular season games in a weak conference"

They'll caveat anything and everything, and at this point there's no point arguing with these people because the goal posts will continue moving into perpetuity, and these "Tank Nation Anon" ideologues will find anyway they can to argue that despite all the signs to the contrary, they were right all along that nothing short of blowing up the whole team and going deep rebuild 5+ years ago was always the only path to 'real' success

[vini_vidi_vici]

I love Riley, but he gave a combined 212 million to these 4 players:

Olynyk 4/50
Waiters 4/52
James Johnson 4/60
Tyler Johnson 4/50

These deals handcuffed the team for a few years and led to some mediocre years in between their championship years and this year.

If we really want to dissect everyone's flaws, let's have at it.

No one would argue those were good deals. He absolutely NAILED the picks he got when the team scuffled a bit and 3 of the 4 are long gone (Olynyk while overpaid is actually a useful contributor for them). They are now in the ECF and are favourites to land Oladipo/Giannis and could realistically get both.

Masai had one year of being an actual contender and the legwork on that deal was done by someone else. Forgive me for not give him all the credit in the world for building a total fraud team outside of that year (which had plenty of lucky breaks beyond the actual deal itself).

Masai has built consistent 50+ win teams. He's a won a title. Masai has built teams that are consistently 1 player away from winning a title. They had that 1 player last year and won and it's his job to find that 1 player again.

You really dont understand just how hard it is to build 50+ win teams that consistently make the 2nd round / conference finals. That's your problem. Your expectations are quite frankly delusional.

Currently this team has the most consecutive 50W seasons in the NBA, and right now T12th in NBA history for consecutive 50W season at 5.

[OakleyDokely]

For years, a certain segment of smarty pants fans would use 'he never won a championship' as their mic drop argument to diminish the success of a Raptors executive/coach/player.

With the Raptors 2019 NBA Championship, that particular argument can no longer be their go-to. So instead they are reduced to relying on a tortured line of reasoning which is essentially 'Q-Anon for Raptors Fans'.

They'll caveat the ring with "Kawhi fell in his lap and he lucked into GSW injuries"

They'll caveat consistently turning late round picks and undrafted FA's into productive starters and assets into "overpaying to keep a mediocre core"

They'll caveat consistent 50+ win seasons as "meaningless regular season games in a weak conference"

They'll caveat anything and everything, and at this point there's no point arguing with these people because the goal posts will continue moving into perpetuity, and these "Tank Nation Anon" ideologues will find anyway they can to argue that despite all the signs to the contrary, they were right all along that nothing short of blowing up the whole team and going deep rebuild 5+ years ago was always the only path to 'real' success

Most of these guys just want to be the Charlotte Hornets so they can talk about which player to take 8th in the draft every year. They want 1995-2013 Raptors. Winning 50 games and losing in the ECF is a waste of time. Until that 50 win team has the opportunity to add a big name and wins a championship.

[GordanFreeman]

Masai left Denver for the money and allure of a bigger market and now that Denver team he left without building into a contender is poised to be one for many years to come.

People here act like Masai getting an all-star calibre player at 27 is the greatest thing since sliced bread, yet the Nuggets got an MVP calibre player who doesn't choke in the playoffs in the 2nd round. Jamal Murray is the exact type of guard you need in the modern NBA. MPJ has more potential than any player on the Raptors roster.

It's funny how they could lose this incredible executive, but then end up in a better position than the team he currently resides over.

They were a lottery team for a few years and were able to pick high in the draft. Their FO gets alot of credit for picking jokic. But they whiffed on alot of picks and they traded the pick that was used to select Donovan mitchell for trey Lyles.
If masai swung and missed like this, you and your son 'steelo' would call him a bum.

[Rebel INS]

For years, a certain segment of smarty pants fans would use 'he never won a championship' as their mic drop argument to diminish the success of a Raptors executive/coach/player.

With the Raptors 2019 NBA Championship, that particular argument can no longer be their go-to. So instead they are reduced to relying on a tortured line of reasoning which is essentially 'Q-Anon for Raptors Fans'.

They'll caveat the ring with "Kawhi fell in his lap and he lucked into GSW injuries"

They'll caveat consistently turning late round picks and undrafted FA's into productive starters and assets into "overpaying to keep a mediocre core"

They'll caveat consistent 50+ win seasons as "meaningless regular season games in a weak conference"

They'll caveat anything and everything, and at this point there's no point arguing with these people because the goal posts will continue moving into perpetuity, and these "Tank Nation Anon" ideologues will find anyway they can to argue that despite all the signs to the contrary, they were right all along that nothing short of blowing up the whole team and going deep rebuild 5+ years ago was always the only path to 'real' success

Most of these guys just want to be the Charlotte Hornets so they can talk about which player to take 8th in the draft every year. They want 1995-2013 Raptors. Winning 50 games and losing in the ECF is a waste of time. Until that 50 win team has the opportunity to add a big name and wins a championship.

Back then RealGM was almost closer to fantasy basketball than a 'fan' forum, and I feel like that's really what these people want more than anything. It's almost preferable to have a bad GM than a good one, because half the fun seems to be roleplaying and convincing themselves they could actually run the team better