Masai Year End Presser @ 10am

[Wo1verine]

He’s gone my guess is he sits out and waits for Seattle.

Masai is going to ask for the moon pretty soon you’ll see reports from the ownership mouth pieces saying that he’s asking for too much or that the Raptors will be fine if he leaves etc

[wtcantfw]

He’s gone my guess is he sits out and waits for Seattle.

Masai is going to ask for the moon pretty soon you’ll see reports from the ownership mouth pieces saying that he’s asking for too much or that the Raptors will be fine if he leaves etc

It's crazy because those same mouth pieces were the ones kissing his ass on the video call today.

[bon]

Yall are still on this "team this team that" name calling BS. I didn't even post that much this season and that's all I've seen. After the speech Masai gave that's all you're thinking about? It's like you guys don't even listen to what he's actually saying. He stressed that it's about ADAPTING to the situation that you're in and he heavily implied he didn't really consider "tanking" until that covid outbreak hit the team halfway through the season. A lot of you people wanted to blow it up after the Boston series or after the 2-8 start which is obviously NOT what he wanted so don't start quoting Masai now as if he shared your views this whole time.

Bottom line is, Masai always said he never wanted to be stuck in no man's land and we saw him pivot away from being there this season. If you don't want to be stuck in one spot you HAVE to have an ADAPTABLE mindset which this season long crusade of picking "teams" is directly contrary to. It's played out

[WuTang_CMB]

He’s gone my guess is he sits out and waits for Seattle.

Masai is going to ask for the moon pretty soon you’ll see reports from the ownership mouth pieces saying that he’s asking for too much or that the Raptors will be fine if he leaves etc

He was too transparent in this interview though. It would be a disaster if this all fell apart and look poorly on MLSE>

If he was going to walk, I don't think you go into detail like the way he did.

MLSE would be stupid not to listen and invest more time/money. Masai wants to improve the brand that just means a better return for them $$$

[Wo1verine]

He’s gone my guess is he sits out and waits for Seattle.

Masai is going to ask for the moon pretty soon you’ll see reports from the ownership mouth pieces saying that he’s asking for too much or that the Raptors will be fine if he leaves etc

It's crazy because those same mouth pieces were the ones kissing his ass on the video call today.

For sure no need not to wait until things don’t go well you'll see the flip.

[Wo1verine]

He’s gone my guess is he sits out and waits for Seattle.

Masai is going to ask for the moon pretty soon you’ll see reports from the ownership mouth pieces saying that he’s asking for too much or that the Raptors will be fine if he leaves etc

He was too transparent in this interview though. It would be a disaster if this all fell apart and look poorly on MLSE>

If he was going to walk, I don't think you go into detail like the way he did.

MLSE would be stupid not to listen and invest more time/money. Masai wants to improve the brand that just means a better return for them $$$

Agreed just don’t trust MLSE

[rocky_da_best]

He’s gone my guess is he sits out and waits for Seattle.

Masai is going to ask for the moon pretty soon you’ll see reports from the ownership mouth pieces saying that he’s asking for too much or that the Raptors will be fine if he leaves etc

He was too transparent in this interview though. It would be a disaster if this all fell apart and look poorly on MLSE>

If he was going to walk, I don't think you go into detail like the way he did.

MLSE would be stupid not to listen and invest more time/money. Masai wants to improve the brand that just means a better return for them $$$

Agreed just don’t trust MLSE

I dunno. Normally I'd agree but they've been making the right moves the last 5 years or so. All of their teams have been successful on and off the field. Raps, Leafs (relatively by leaf standards) and TFC.

[Harcore Fenton Mun]

If he's about winning, what other options are there that give him a chance at a title?

There's not many options. Not if your window's in the next 4-5 years.

[douggood]

He’s gone my guess is he sits out and waits for Seattle.

Masai is going to ask for the moon pretty soon you’ll see reports from the ownership mouth pieces saying that he’s asking for too much or that the Raptors will be fine if he leaves etc

2 years minimum, 3-4 likely for Seattle to get a team, wouldn't it better to sign a short term extension at high salary than wait for Seattle.

[VanWest82]

I'm still optimistic they'll work something out. I have to believe Bell/Rogers know what they have in Masai. The things he's talking about as being important to him (e.g. better branding and promotion, growing the game in Canada, etc.) should be perfectly in line with their own goals and objectives as owners. The fact they employ someone smart enough to see that and push them in the right direction to grow and improve their product is a godsend for them. Most people would just ask for money.

[Harcore Fenton Mun]

Seattle would have a 20 year window, it's not an option.

[canz55]

Well, blaming management for lack of promotion seems like misdirection. Maybe its to explain poor TV ratings as a result of bad record / tanking? No actual Toronto home games certainly is a unique situation. Would like to hear actual details of why he thinks promotion is weak for a sub .400 team. The current status on TSN/SN various shows is weak. You need personalities to sell a product. Lot of them have been there for 20 yrs. The younger people on the periphery lack real talent. I'd rather watch paint dry.

Misdirection on the basis of what? I don't think he's having to answer for a dip in ratings when its currently a league-wide phenomena.

I'm inclined to take him for his word because he's earned that belief from all of us and so it really comes down to MLSE matching Masai on his ambition. It could be that he's too ambitious during a time of great uncertainty - I'm sure its going make MLSE blink.

[mickie]

Seattle would have a 20 year window, it's not an option.

i don't get why Masai (arguably the best in the world) would want to start all over again in Seattle. i don't get it.

[Van_Trump]

Fundamental problem with Masai's vision is demographics.

Raptors fan base is younger, has less money, tend to stream games rather than purchase cable service. When they get older and have more money and are buying homes and cars and furniture and trips around the world, that will bring in the advertising revenue.

Leafs fan base is older, has more money (more valuable for advertisers) and purchase cable service because they are less tech savvy.

It is true, if you take the long view, that the younger fan base will grow to dominate the market,

A daily basketball chat show (during the season, weekly during off season), would help improve the brand. But you have to endure low ratings for a very long time before it pays off.

Absolute best way to improve the brand is to win another championship or two.

[NBA Sheady]

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.

Damn metric system!

[tdotrep2]

im pretty sure if mlse does what masai says he wants them to do than he stays. Its pretty obvious Masai gave them condition and if they are met he stays.

[Kordic27]

Pretty awkward position for MLSE - Masai said it's not about money and all about winning, so if MLSE doesn't resign him, it looks like theyre not all about winning.

[kirkwood]

No doubt about that one, getting emotional about staff and players is a clear sign he is leaving and it deeply hurts him due to the time and effort invested.


He will not be back, 100%

[gojoorange]

I don't think you show that level of passion toward improvement if you are planning on leaving. The comments about family lead me to believe he struggled with the move to Tampa having young kids etc. I imagine he will need to see the team back in Toronto next year.

I think he's made it fairly clear that he wants to stay, he just needs to see a higher level of commitment to his vision from ownership.

[Danny1616]

It's encouraging hearing a lot of what Masai said. Until we know what exactly the impediment with ownership is and how Masai truly wants to build this team going forward (if he stays) it's tough to draw grand conclusions.

He definitely did take a blow torch to those just happy to be here and resting on the laurels of the championship. If he himself won't coast on it (and won't allow ownership to either), why would fans?

He also said that last year's team was a true contender and that we had to adapt after Covid-19 hit the team and fell in the standings.

He literally just validated what many of us have been saying all year.