Masai and Bobby are Asleep at the Wheel

[2muchTLC]

What if instead of being sleep at the wheel, both Masai and Bobby are in the lab working on something big. Either way, we'll find out March 25 what they have been upto.

And that is probably to do nothing because we have a lottery pick in a stacked draft

[tecumseh18]

Oh the Raps will be fine, once everyone is back and healthy. They would have won the Pistons game tonight by making more free throws and if Pascal, Kyle and Fred did better than 1 for 17 from 3 (most of those wide open).

Masai is entirely within his rights to take his time in making the right move. But if he can't get a decent C (Turner) by the deadline, then Lowry has to be traded because this version of the team has no chance at all.

[Hero]

Oh the Raps will be fine, once everyone is back and healthy. They would have won the Pistons game tonight by making more free throws and if Pascal, Kyle and Fred did better than 1 for 17 from 3 (most of those wide open).

Masai is entirely within his rights to take his time in making the right move. But if he can't get a decent C (Turner) by the deadline, then Lowry has to be traded because this version of the team has no chance at all.

It's not always about just taking your time with a move as a GM. Sometimes you need be decisive and make a call when you realize it isn't going as expected.

[2muchTLC]

Oh the Raps will be fine, once everyone is back and healthy. They would have won the Pistons game tonight by making more free throws and if Pascal, Kyle and Fred did better than 1 for 17 from 3 (most of those wide open).

Masai is entirely within his rights to take his time in making the right move. But if he can't get a decent C (Turner) by the deadline, then Lowry has to be traded because this version of the team has no chance at all.

Shouldn't need this many excuses. The raptors season record is closer to the last place than to 3rd in the east

[C-R-E-A-M-]

no they arent. this is exactly what they want. Masai is an elite scout. you know he's salivating at a chance to get a top 5 pick

[Zeno]

Autonomous vehicle. IBM Watson is driving remotely from Toronto.

But seriously, sometimes I think people want action for the sake of action rather than reasoned action.

[Kingsway_fan]

no they arent. this is exactly what they want. Masai is an elite scout. you know he's salivating at a chance to get a top 5 pick

Yep, and with the core including norm... new ballgame in front of our fans nxt year....

[JPriest]

who cares what happens this season. winning is nice but this is the season to be apathetic. re-sign Norm and get a decent C. FVV-Norm-OG-Pascal all in their primes, healthy and with a full offseason can be competitive next year. Add in a lottery pick who should be at least serviceable his first year and this team can compete with the best of em. the Lowry era as great as it's been, is clearly over.

[Basketball_Jones]

Let's hope they continue sleeping straight into the lottery

[Rapsfan07]

Oh the Raps will be fine, once everyone is back and healthy. They would have won the Pistons game tonight by making more free throws and if Pascal, Kyle and Fred did better than 1 for 17 from 3 (most of those wide open).

Masai is entirely within his rights to take his time in making the right move. But if he can't get a decent C (Turner) by the deadline, then Lowry has to be traded because this version of the team has no chance at all.

Honestly, even if he manages to land Turner (somehow without dealing Lowry) Lowry still needs to be traded. Doesn't do him or us any good to resign him.

[Psubs]

no they arent. this is exactly what they want. Masai is an elite scout. you know he's salivating at a chance to get a top 5 pick

Do you mean Dan Tolzman?

[fbalmeida]

I suspect that for the front office, how we do vs the Jazz will be the decider.
If by some unfathomable miracle, we manage to beat and outplay the Jazz, I think Masai's affection for winning will dictate the direction, which judging by Nurse's explicitly ambiguous comments yesterday, I would guess is still in the balance, pending how we do in this final stretch before the deadline.

If we beat the Jazz and at least 3 of the next four, I can see them moving Norm and Boucher for an upgrade at starting C.

And after Masai and Bobby have downed half a bottle of port wine each, they'll start seeing a 24 - 8 record to close out the remaining schedule as a possibility.

[tecumseh18]

Oh the Raps will be fine, once everyone is back and healthy. They would have won the Pistons game tonight by making more free throws and if Pascal, Kyle and Fred did better than 1 for 17 from 3 (most of those wide open).

Masai is entirely within his rights to take his time in making the right move. But if he can't get a decent C (Turner) by the deadline, then Lowry has to be traded because this version of the team has no chance at all.

Honestly, even if he manages to land Turner (somehow without dealing Lowry) Lowry still needs to be traded. Doesn't do him or us any good to resign him.

I agree 100%. I'm just saying if Masai can't/won't trade for an upgrade at C, then he absolutely HAS to trade Lowry. Kyle at his age deserves to be on a contender, and the Raps as currently constituted ain't it.

I just hope Kyle starts hitting shots again, to prove to his destination team that he's worth what it will take to get him.

[2muchTLC]

ngl ya'll really just sleeping on this draft

[Yeezus_]

I suspect that for the front office, how we do vs the Jazz will be the decider.
If by some unfathomable miracle, we manage to beat and outplay the Jazz, I think Masai's affection for winning will dictate the direction, which judging by Nurse's explicitly ambiguous comments yesterday, I would guess is still in the balance, pending how we do in this final stretch before the deadline.

If we beat the Jazz and at least 3 of the next four, I can see them moving Norm and Boucher for an upgrade at starting C.

And after Masai and Bobby have downed half a bottle of port wine each, they'll start seeing a 24 - 8 record to close out the remaining schedule as a possibility.

I really dont think Masai/Bobby will use one game against Utah to decide what to do tbh. That seems a little short-sighted and things can happen from game to game. I think they know the direction they want to take and we'll see it come to life starting at the trade deadline.

[fbalmeida]

Some of you may have noticed that William Lou launched a RaptorsReaction newsletter recently. He invited subscribers to send in questions and emails.

So I sent him a "sleeping at the wheel" themed email a few days ago.

He featured it in yesterday's newsletter and was kind enough to share his thoughts, which are a pretty good amalgamation of the conversation we've had here.

[tecumseh18]

I suspect that for the front office, how we do vs the Jazz will be the decider.
If by some unfathomable miracle, we manage to beat and outplay the Jazz, I think Masai's affection for winning will dictate the direction, which judging by Nurse's explicitly ambiguous comments yesterday, I would guess is still in the balance, pending how we do in this final stretch before the deadline.

If we beat the Jazz and at least 3 of the next four, I can see them moving Norm and Boucher for an upgrade at starting C.

And after Masai and Bobby have downed half a bottle of port wine each, they'll start seeing a 24 - 8 record to close out the remaining schedule as a possibility.

I really dont think Masai/Bobby will use one game against Utah to decide what to do tbh. That seems a little short-sighted and things can happen from game to game. I think they know the direction they want to take and we'll see it come to life starting at the trade deadline.

Still, the Jazz are a good team, so the game will be a better indicator of where the Raps really are. The last decent team we played (albeit without OG/Fred/Pascal) was the Celtics, and that was as close to a moral victory as exists in pro sports.

There's still an argument to be made that the Raps when healthy are a very good team, albeit one missing a starting C. Our games against the top teams over the last six weeks have provided cause for hope. I'm talking from Masai's perspective. Personally I want the high pick. But I trust management's call here.

[Harcore Fenton Mun]

You don't have to be overly active, you just have to win the ones you make.

If there isn't a good trade available, making a bad one is a poor substitute. That was the BC answer, "hey look how hard I'm working".

[brownbobcat]

You don't have to be overly active, you just have to win the ones you make.

If there isn't a good trade available, making a bad one is a poor substitute. That was the BC answer, "hey look how hard I'm working".

The funny thing with BC is that he would "win" a lot of small moves, but absolutely crap the bed on big moves and overall strategy.

I prefer the opposite rather and I recommend not giving a 2nd thought on missing out on Damion Jones

[DelAbbot]

Business idea: Counselling services for Raptors fans. A 24hr "why is Masai/Bobby not doing anything!" hotline. Only $1 per min local. International calls $3 extra per min.

Some of you may have noticed that William Lou launched a RaptorsReaction newsletter recently. He invited subscribers to send in questions and emails.

So I sent him a "sleeping at the wheel" themed email a few days ago.

He featured it in yesterday's newsletter and was kind enough to share his thoughts, which are a pretty good amalgamation of the conversation we've had here.