Masai and Bobby are Asleep at the Wheel

[Raps in 4]

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.

We can beat the Bucks. Scrub Norm would average like 25 PPG against them. This version of Norm would average like 50.

[2muchTLC]

The raptors are already in the lottery and the key players have played in a significant number of games in line with the rest of the league. Don't think they really need to intentionally "rest" someone unless gunning for a top 3 pick

[FreshyFlames]

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

Basketball is full of divas too... what's your point?

[FreshyFlames]

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.

Well there's examples in baseball as well of players on the field intentionally throwing the game. It's happened in sports way more than never.

[Pooh_Jeter]

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.

Well there's examples in baseball as well of players on the field intentionally throwing the game. It's happened in sports way more than never.

Only one I can recall is the Black Sox scandal in 1919. They threw the World Series for money basically. This was independent of the team itself and they actually went through with it BECAUSE they hated the owner that much.

[fbalmeida]

The latest loss vs the lowly Cavaliers, and our current predicament, represents failure at the highest levels of the front office and coaching.
Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster both deserve criticism for the fireable offense of, in the wake of Gasol and Ibaka's departures, having kept Aron Baynes on the team this long.
Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster have failed this season.

[Zeno]

The latest loss vs the lowly Cavaliers, and our current predicament, represents failure at the highest levels of the front office and coaching.
Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster both deserve criticism for the fireable offense of, in the wake of Gasol and Ibaka's departures, having kept Aron Baynes on the team this long.
Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster have failed this season.

I think you are overstating things. I'm not going to kill them based on signing this or that guy on a 10 day and I'd rather they do nothing then make panic moves. I'll evaluate them based on the roster at the start of next season because it is pretty obvious that next season has always been their goal. And they have been given just about the worst luck and situation this season imaginable to evaluate their next moves. I think they have earned more trust than a lot of folks are giving them. But I get it, I take the losses as hard as anyone...

[LBJKB24MJ23]

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.

We can beat the Bucks. Scrub Norm would average like 25 PPG against them. This version of Norm would average like 50.

Although this may be true

the rest of the Raptors would only score 10-20 points. that is what you didn't factor in

[DelAbbot]

The latest loss vs the lowly Cavaliers, and our current predicament, represents failure at the highest levels of the front office and coaching.
Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster both deserve criticism for the fireable offense of, in the wake of Gasol and Ibaka's departures, having kept Aron Baynes on the team this long.
Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster have failed this season.

Not resigning Ibaka and Gasol but keeping Baynes is fireable offense? LOL, you say it like Masai/Bobby are fungible and easily replaced.

It's a classic "don't know what you got until they are gone" case with Masai/Bobby.

Take a break from hot takes until Thursday's deadline passes.

[fbalmeida]

Of course you don't fire them over a failed season. But you do put them on notice for such a sudden, abrupt, and needless collapse.

in a nutshell: it comes down to them having passively settled early on the worst C rotation/depth in the league, and a sub-standard bench.

All else is a minor detail or things that are simply beyond their control.

[Bull-E]

Masai and Bobby are teaching a masterclass on patience and creating leverage. IF there's a fruitful market for Lowry and Powell, I'm more confident we'll see that in the coming days. If not, we do our best to keep them in the fold past this season.

No point doing something just for the sake of doing something.

[bape_lovers]

who would do you think Masai could've got to upgrade our bench?

Of course you don't fire them over a failed season. But you do put them on notice for such a sudden, abrupt, and needless collapse.

in a nutshell: it comes down to them having passively settled early on the worst C rotation/depth in the league, and a sub-standard bench.

All else is a minor detail or things that are simply beyond their control.

[Zeno]

who would do you think Masai could've got to upgrade our bench?

Of course you don't fire them over a failed season. But you do put them on notice for such a sudden, abrupt, and needless collapse.

in a nutshell: it comes down to them having passively settled early on the worst C rotation/depth in the league, and a sub-standard bench.

All else is a minor detail or things that are simply beyond their control.

And even if he could have gotten someone was this really the year to spend assets to improve it? So any upgrades needed to be future neutral in nature in my opinion.

[TheRealDeal]

Isn’t this what people were saying before the Kawhi trade too?

[WeThe2019Champs]

Masai most likely gone next season. Bet he's laying back and relaxing somewhere. No point of doing anything major. Hand whatever is left to the next person. It was a fun run.

[fbalmeida]

who would do you think Masai could've got to upgrade our bench?

Of course you don't fire them over a failed season. But you do put them on notice for such a sudden, abrupt, and needless collapse.

in a nutshell: it comes down to them having passively settled early on the worst C rotation/depth in the league, and a sub-standard bench.

All else is a minor detail or things that are simply beyond their control.

Signing a more reliable center would allow Norm to stay on the 2nd unit.
Bazemore signed a 1-year deal for 2.3 M.
Keinrich Williams is having a super efficient year and would've helped us with rebounding. Also signed for cheap.
Heck even the currently unemployed Rondae played fantastic point of attack defense and played better than anything Yuta or Stanley Johnson has provided.

They shouldn't have allowed things to have gotten this bad for this long.

[fbalmeida]

Masai and Bobby are teaching a masterclass on patience and creating leverage. IF there's a fruitful market for Lowry and Powell, I'm more confident we'll see that in the coming days. If not, we do our best to keep them in the fold past this season.

No point doing something just for the sake of doing something.

I sure hope so.

[Kordic27]

Masai most likely gone next season. Bet he's laying back and relaxing somewhere. No point of doing anything major. Hand whatever is left to the next person. It was a fun run.

Can't help but feel like he's gone as well. And if he is, or if he hasn't given ownership an indication that he's sticking around, should he be allowed to do anything?

[douggood]

Masai most likely gone next season. Bet he's laying back and relaxing somewhere. No point of doing anything major. Hand whatever is left to the next person. It was a fun run.

the next person is bobby.

[Slade3]

who would do you think Masai could've got to upgrade our bench?

That's the GM's job, not ours. They're the one getting paid big bucks to figure things out.