Masai and Bobby are Asleep at the Wheel

[ThatClockWork]

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

This is the take.
Get some talent to fix up the frontcourt issues even if you lose Lowry. Build on your core. We will be fine. Let the younger guys take on larger roles and see where they are at. Norm is capitalizing. Boucher is. It will work out.

[Slade3]

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.

No, you don't make a decision for the whole season or beyond based on one game. That is just ludicrous.

[WaltFrazier]

Another day gone by, still asleep.

[Ref_from_hell]

Another day gone by, still asleep.

Another day gone by, other teams are getting better and we're stuck with zero depth and no NBA caliber center

[TorontoRapsFan]

who are all these NBA caliber C that the Raps can get without giving up the core pieces they have? There aren't really any teams out there that need to get rid of their big men for expirings. Not one that works with the expiring contracts the Raps have

[TD2FutureStar]

who are all these NBA caliber C that the Raps can get without giving up the core pieces they have? There aren't really any teams out there that need to get rid of their big men for expirings. Not one that works with the expiring contracts the Raps have

Not sure whose available, but if the Raps trade Lowry that gives them some assets to try and get a C. Say they get Maxie + 1st + 2nd + expirings for Kyle we could parlay that into something decent, theoretically.

[halifax]

trade powell and lowry asap for lottery picks. if lowry doesn't like the destination he can go where he wants in a few months.

[TorontoRapsFan]

who are all these NBA caliber C that the Raps can get without giving up the core pieces they have? There aren't really any teams out there that need to get rid of their big men for expirings. Not one that works with the expiring contracts the Raps have

Not sure whose available, but if the Raps trade Lowry that gives them some assets to try and get a C. Say they get Maxie + 1st + 2nd + expirings for Kyle we could parlay that into something decent, theoretically.

If we do that trade, After renouncing everyone they can except Boucher (non guaranteed second year), Raps will have about 8mil cap space. That's pretty much the MLE. Hell in this case it's probably better to be over the cap so they qualify for non tax player MLE which would be more than 8.

[seanbig]

Are we tanking or are we trying to go for it? If we tanking no point getting a good c until we get our lotto ball

If we are going for it... who we kidding
We suck turkey balls and Kyle and Lowry are still on our team

[dafan590]

so what the heck is going on......i dont care about lowry at this moment....

Are we going to let Masai go seriously??????? where the f is the contract extension????

[Johnny Bball]

Are we tanking or are we trying to go for it? If we tanking no point getting a good c until we get our lotto ball

If we are going for it... who we kidding
We suck turkey balls and Kyle and Lowry are still on our team

Both. You can trade Lowry and Powell and with whatever, literally whatever you get back, still make the playoffs if health isn't an issue.

The tanking an intentionally losing thing (like any coach or player does that) is such a **** joke from the get go. You would have to trade all of Lowry, Powell and FVV. Or in the next week someone is out for the season and it changes it.

[2muchTLC]

so what the heck is going on......i dont care about lowry at this moment....

Are we going to let Masai go seriously??????? where the f is the contract extension????

That is probably why he hasnt made any moves yet

[Pooh_Jeter]

Are we tanking or are we trying to go for it? If we tanking no point getting a good c until we get our lotto ball

If we are going for it... who we kidding
We suck turkey balls and Kyle and Lowry are still on our team

Both. You can trade Lowry and Powell and with whatever, literally whatever you get back, still make the playoffs if health isn't an issue.

The tanking an intentionally losing thing (like any coach or player does that) is such a **** joke from the get go. You would have to trade all of Lowry, Powell and FVV. Or in the next week someone is out for the season and it changes it.

There has never been a form of tanking in any sport where the coach and players intentionally try to lose. This would actually be in violation of each sports CBA and be potentially illegal. "Tanking" is a management directive.

[FreshyFlames]

We are tanking

[FreshyFlames]

Are we tanking or are we trying to go for it? If we tanking no point getting a good c until we get our lotto ball

If we are going for it... who we kidding
We suck turkey balls and Kyle and Lowry are still on our team

Both. You can trade Lowry and Powell and with whatever, literally whatever you get back, still make the playoffs if health isn't an issue.

The tanking an intentionally losing thing (like any coach or player does that) is such a **** joke from the get go. You would have to trade all of Lowry, Powell and FVV. Or in the next week someone is out for the season and it changes it.

There has never been a form of tanking in any sport where the coach and players intentionally try to lose. This would actually be in violation of each sports CBA and be potentially illegal. "Tanking" is a management directive.

You couldn't be more wrong. It happens in league soccer where a team will lose on purpose if it negatively affects their rival.

[Pooh_Jeter]

Both. You can trade Lowry and Powell and with whatever, literally whatever you get back, still make the playoffs if health isn't an issue.

The tanking an intentionally losing thing (like any coach or player does that) is such a **** joke from the get go. You would have to trade all of Lowry, Powell and FVV. Or in the next week someone is out for the season and it changes it.

There has never been a form of tanking in any sport where the coach and players intentionally try to lose. This would actually be in violation of each sports CBA and be potentially illegal. "Tanking" is a management directive.

You couldn't be more wrong. It happens in league soccer where a team will lose on purpose if it negatively affects their rival.

Resting players because of either other league/cup commitments or to try and dictate favourable matchups is very different from tanking for a draft pick which isn't even a concern outside of North American sports. These teams have relegation to worry about and don't even have drafts.

[agkagk]

Both. You can trade Lowry and Powell and with whatever, literally whatever you get back, still make the playoffs if health isn't an issue.

The tanking an intentionally losing thing (like any coach or player does that) is such a **** joke from the get go. You would have to trade all of Lowry, Powell and FVV. Or in the next week someone is out for the season and it changes it.

There has never been a form of tanking in any sport where the coach and players intentionally try to lose. This would actually be in violation of each sports CBA and be potentially illegal. "Tanking" is a management directive.

You couldn't be more wrong. It happens in league soccer where a team will lose on purpose if it negatively affects their rival.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/worst-dives-fifa-world-cup-2018

[720]

Imagine thinking trading Lowry and Norm doesn't mean the team will start losing.

If the team trades Lowry and Norm it's over for this season.

[The_Hater]

I've picked up on a little detail here that seriously irks me and leaves me concerned that Masai and Bobby are asleep at the wheel, while other teams are taking care of business.

The Lakers, following AD's calf strain, tried playing a few games with what they had. AD's last game was February 14th vs Denver.

So they beat the Timberwolves.
Lose to the Nets.
Lose to Miami.
Lose to the Wizards.
and Lose to Utah.

And so on February 26th, they pick up a recently waived Damian Jones on a 10-day contract.

He's nothing special.
25 years old.
6-11.
245 pounds.
An able bodied Center.

And he then plays 8 minutes vs the Warriors.
7 minutes vs the Suns.
A start and 14 minutes vs the Kings.
A start and 15 minutes vs the Pacers.
A start and 21 minutes vs the Warriors again.

And they pick their game back up to a point where they start playing better, and winning more games than they would have.

He's been super efficient at the dunker spot. 90.9 FG%. Reliable from the FT line. Protects the rim.
And again, nothing special. 5.4 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 block per 13.4 minutes

And yet, Damian Jones is better, bigger, younger, and cheaper than Aron Baynes.

A simple, quick, and easy roster solution to a clear and evident roster problem.

So in the spirit of my "Trade for Willy Hernangomez thread" (viewtopic.php?f=32&t=2056485), In which I defend that a small and precise set of minor transactions is likely more important at this point than making some big splash, I respectfully ask...



What the **** are Masai and Bobby doing?!

Because if we're certainly not in the callow, antithetical, and plainly non-serious business of tanking, they have also provided precisely zero indication of concern for making necessary and frankly, simple, obvious, perfectly accessible improvements to the roster.

Evading language filter. Warned.
niQ

Yes we’ve had problems at Center this season. Yes Baynes has been disappointing. But to claim these guys are asleep at the wheel because we missed out on Damian Jones is pretty funny. He was unemployed for a reason.

Anyways, neither you nor I have the inside dirt on what moves they’ve been trying to make but being asleep wouldn’t fit the history of these executives. So that’s a poor take. And obviously it would be wise to keep Bayne’s fairly big expiring contract on the roster until the trade deadline. You don’t cut trade chips for sideways moves like Damian Jones or whatever other plug is on the waiver wire or playing 3rd string for some other team. Other than a trade for a good player, there were no miracles coming in the middle of the current season.

[Mister Ze]

Miami Philly Brooklyn and Milwaukee have slightly broken away from the pack as the top 4 seeds.

I don’t think the Raptors could beat any of them in the first round unless they acquire a star or tremendous depth at the deadline. Doing a small transaction like picking up an average Center isn’t going to move the needle.

If I’m Masai and Webster I would do a fire sale and tank.