Masai Year End Presser @ 10am

[Raptorfan2012]

Everyone thinks he is staying after that?

I got opposite vibes. He mentioned his family twice, the "three young kids".. And the amount of other things he wants to pursue.

Then again he did mention his role provides a big platform.

Then again he cried towards the end as if he was saying good bye.. Or maybe just good bye to Kyle.

He said he's leaving for Africa in a couple of days. I think he's gone, or he's so hands off now he isn't involved in the draft at all.

Lottery is a month from now, and the draft is 2 months from now. He lives in Africa too, so its no different from all the players going home to rest and start their summer.

[bboyskinnylegs]

Masai is usually very guarded in his answers, but I felt like this was one of his most insightful interviews he's given where he was very open with his answers. Definitely did not think he would be that candid about the thought process at the end of the season leaning towards the draft and giving our young players an increased role vs. trying to make the play-in. He wants ownership to deliver on some things (not related to willingness to go into the luxury tax) to raise our profile and realizing his vision for the team longterm.

[Raps in 4]

Everyone thinks he is staying after that?

I got opposite vibes. He mentioned his family twice, the "three young kids".. And the amount of other things he wants to pursue.

Then again he did mention his role provides a big platform.

Then again he cried towards the end as if he was saying good bye.. Or maybe just good bye to Kyle.

Mentioning family means he's going to Washington/Seattle/LA. Nobody wants to raise their kids in Canada.

[ruckus]

Ok so its clear hes staying
he just wants more from ownership and wants them to accept his bigger vision for this team

dont see how they say no

It really depends. I think the Leafs are still king, and that plays into the politics of things.

Masai always said Raptors and basketball will take over and hes right

yet we dont get the credit we deserve. Just look at TSN and Sportsnet , its all hockey and that hurts us

Hes 100% right. We are owned by two major media comglemerates yet we hardly talk about the Raps.

Our brand needs to get bigger !!!!

Exactly. The Leafs (and hockey) hurt the Raptors because those are guaranteed ratings for Bell and Rogers. They have no reason to push the Raptors beyond what they are. They can't see that the Raptors have the potential to be much bigger than what it has been and currently is.

[Yeezus_]

Ok so its clear hes staying
he just wants more from ownership and wants them to accept his bigger vision for this team

dont see how they say no

It really depends. I think the Leafs are still king, and that plays into the politics of things.

Masai always said Raptors and basketball will take over and hes right

yet we dont get the credit we deserve. Just look at TSN and Sportsnet , its all hockey and that hurts us

Hes 100% right. We are owned by two major media comglemerates yet we hardly talk about the Raps.

Our brand needs to get bigger !!!!

I really hope this is what he means. Not enough basketball coverage in this country. We have segments here and there but no shows dedicated to basketball. It's kind of sad. I turn on the TV after work and every show is talking hockey mostly, sprinkled in with basketball talk.

Then you get to the actual Raptors games where the games especially for Sportsnet are mostly always played on Sportsnet One. TSN does a better job of putting the game on the primary channel but it's still annoying as a whole.

MLSE needs to think bigger with basketball in general.

[ATLTimekeeper]

Masai is usually very guarded in his answers, but I felt like this was one of his most insightful interviews he's given where he was very open with his answers. Definitely did not think he would be that candid about the thought process at the end of the season leaning towards the draft and giving our young players an increased role vs. trying to make the play-in. He wants ownership to deliver on some things (not related to willingness to go into the luxury tax) to raise our profile and realizing his vision for the team longterm.

Yeah he basically laid the groundwork for his exit so that fans can blame ownership (totally normal). Let's be real, Masai would be stupid not to wait until the Clippers are eliminated and then follow Ballmer's sweat stains to the unmatchable bag of cash.

[Badonkadonk]

Masai is usually very guarded in his answers, but I felt like this was one of his most insightful interviews he's given where he was very open with his answers. Definitely did not think he would be that candid about the thought process at the end of the season leaning towards the draft and giving our young players an increased role vs. trying to make the play-in. He wants ownership to deliver on some things (not related to willingness to go into the luxury tax) to raise our profile and realizing his vision for the team longterm.

That's what makes me a bit nervous. Growing a ManU type brand implies significant investment. MLSE would be crazy not to invest in Masai's vision, but Cope left Bell and Ed Rogers is a colossal moron. Larry T. is still in his corner, but he has the smallest stake.

I hope and think he'll stay, but it's not a given these guys give him everything he asks for.

[Scott Hall]

My stream went out a few times but did the media fail to ask him about Lowry and Trent Jr. the entire
press conference?

[nestea]

Everyone thinks he is staying after that?

I got opposite vibes. He mentioned his family twice, the "three young kids".. And the amount of other things he wants to pursue.

Then again he did mention his role provides a big platform.

Then again he cried towards the end as if he was saying good bye.. Or maybe just good bye to Kyle.

Mentioning family means he's going to Washington/Seattle/LA. Nobody wants to raise their kids in Canada.

Oh stop it. Your talking for talking sakes. In no way ANYONE would make that theory from his speech

[ItsDanger]

Sounds like he's blaming ownership for his Giannis wet dream fail. Not a good look. Ownership wanted him to make playoffs at expense of long term? That's normal, Masai should know by now. Raps playing outside Toronto does have financial impact. Terrible media questions yet again.

[bozothepope]

Ok so its clear hes staying
he just wants more from ownership and wants them to accept his bigger vision for this team

dont see how they say no

It really depends. I think the Leafs are still king, and that plays into the politics of things.

Masai always said Raptors and basketball will take over and hes right

yet we dont get the credit we deserve. Just look at TSN and Sportsnet , its all hockey and that hurts us

Hes 100% right. We are owned by two major media comglemerates yet we hardly talk about the Raps.

Our brand needs to get bigger !!!!

Every single Jays game gets a 30 minute post game show on Sportsnet. The Raptors? They get a few post game sound bites from Nick and a player or two spliced in between their normal sports highlight show. It's ridiculous.

[bboyskinnylegs]

My stream went out a few times but did the media fail to ask him about Lowry and Trent Jr. the entire
press conference?

there was an early question about Kyle and whether age plays a role in deciding to bring him back (it doesn't, though there is the element of giving younger guys an increased role), nothing about Gary specifically.

[Ackshun]

Everyone thinks he is staying after that?

I got opposite vibes. He mentioned his family twice, the "three young kids".. And the amount of other things he wants to pursue.

Then again he did mention his role provides a big platform.

Then again he cried towards the end as if he was saying good bye.. Or maybe just good bye to Kyle.

Mentioning family means he's going to Washington/Seattle/LA. Nobody wants to raise their kids in Canada.

When I heard family. I thought "American wife".

He clearly doesn't care about the "blank cheque" as he stated, but wants more of something. He didn't say precisely what that is.

Either way, it's fun examining it but we did it with Kawhi and he broke my heart.

Gonna lay off it now

[PhilBlackson]

It sounded more he stay than he go imo...

I mean getting emotional about the staff that almost felt like a goodbye n why he was so touched about it but then he'd talk about future championships and how now it's time to get to work for the draft, getting better etc etc....not to mention implying he'd like everything done before he leaves in 2 days. If you're really weighing a ton of options, you'd think you'd postpone that trip until you were clear so it appears he's already offered an ultimatum that he's given them 48 hours on, when they meet again they're to give him a yes or no or he gone, literally lol

[Ackshun]

My stream went out a few times but did the media fail to ask him about Lowry and Trent Jr. the entire
press conference?

there was an early question about Kyle and whether age plays a role in deciding to bring him back (it doesn't, though there is the element of giving younger guys an increased role), nothing about Gary specifically.

Spent more time talking about playing in Tampa than actual basketball stuff. There were so many things we could have addressed there including Gary.

Sounds like Kyle is gone though. Masai said age isn't a factor but at some point, you have to allow your young guys to elevate.

[Slade3]

Ok so its clear hes staying
he just wants more from ownership and wants them to accept his bigger vision for this team

dont see how they say no

It really depends. I think the Leafs are still king, and that plays into the politics of things.

Masai always said Raptors and basketball will take over and hes right

yet we dont get the credit we deserve. Just look at TSN and Sportsnet , its all hockey and that hurts us

Hes 100% right. We are owned by two major media comglemerates yet we hardly talk about the Raps.

Our brand needs to get bigger !!!!

I hate hockey with a passion but the Leafs are still ahead of the Raptors. The reason TSN and Sportsnet promote hockey is because a) much higher tv ratings and b) the game is weeded deep into Canadian culture. It's possible for Raptors to overtake them but it won't be anytime soon.

[Danny1616]

Sounds like he's blaming ownership for his Giannis wet dream fail. Not a good look. Ownership wanted him to make playoffs at expense of long term? That's normal, Masai should know by now. Raps playing outside Toronto does have financial impact. Terrible media questions yet again.

Is this accurate? I havn't watched the presser yet, but if so, then I disagree with that.

If Giannis hypothetically did not sign with the Bucks he would only join a contender. We would need to be a very strong team as a prerequisite for Giannis joining.

[WuTang_CMB]

It really depends. I think the Leafs are still king, and that plays into the politics of things.

Masai always said Raptors and basketball will take over and hes right

yet we dont get the credit we deserve. Just look at TSN and Sportsnet , its all hockey and that hurts us

Hes 100% right. We are owned by two major media comglemerates yet we hardly talk about the Raps.

Our brand needs to get bigger !!!!

I really hope this is what he means. Not enough basketball coverage in this country. We have segments here and there but no shows dedicated to basketball. It's kind of sad. I turn on the TV after work and every show is talking hockey mostly, sprinkled in with basketball talk.

Then you get to the actual Raptors games where the games especially for Sportsnet are mostly always played on Sportsnet One. TSN does a better job of putting the game on the primary channel but it's still annoying as a whole.

MLSE needs to think bigger with basketball in general.

Yep.

And this is good news for everyone. MLSE should be happy with this for their leader to want to grow this organization even more.

LEt MAsai do his thing !!!! this is a no brainer.

The raptors deserve to be considered one of the top brands in the world with the likes oif Manchester United. Thats what Masai's vision is.

[Ackshun]

Sounds like he's blaming ownership for his Giannis wet dream fail. Not a good look. Ownership wanted him to make playoffs at expense of long term? That's normal, Masai should know by now. Raps playing outside Toronto does have financial impact. Terrible media questions yet again.

Sounded like Lewenberg didn't even know what he was asking while he was asking it.. Umm ughh ummmm ummmm.

Awful

[Ackshun]

Masai always said Raptors and basketball will take over and hes right

yet we dont get the credit we deserve. Just look at TSN and Sportsnet , its all hockey and that hurts us

Hes 100% right. We are owned by two major media comglemerates yet we hardly talk about the Raps.

Our brand needs to get bigger !!!!

I really hope this is what he means. Not enough basketball coverage in this country. We have segments here and there but no shows dedicated to basketball. It's kind of sad. I turn on the TV after work and every show is talking hockey mostly, sprinkled in with basketball talk.

Then you get to the actual Raptors games where the games especially for Sportsnet are mostly always played on Sportsnet One. TSN does a better job of putting the game on the primary channel but it's still annoying as a whole.

MLSE needs to think bigger with basketball in general.

Yep.

And this is good news for everyone. MLSE should be happy with this for their leader to want to grow this organization even more.

LEt MAsai do his thing !!!! this is a no brainer.

The raptors deserve to be considered one of the top brands in the world with the likes oif Manchester United. Thats what Masai's vision is.

But did it really have to come down to contract renewal time to achieve those things? Like, couldn't Masai have done those things while earning his salary.