ezz_bee wrote:
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There's nothing wrong with giving this group more time to see what they can do. However, there is a COST to this decision. You lose some trade flexibility. Anyone traded before Dec. 19th, can be repackaged at the trade deadline, meaning, you have separate time frames in which you can construct a possible deal. The RISK of the giving this team more games is that you may find that the ceiling for this team IS the 7th seed, and there aren't trades to be had that either get us out of this trajectory, the longer we wait, the harder it will be to make moves that move the needle in EITHER direction.
I agree with pOOKa that we shouldn't keep our blinders on, but --as a fan-- what I won't do, is lower my expectations of management, or put another way, be an enabler of mediocrity. My expectation for the Raptors is a Finals appearance, or a hotly contested loss in the Conference Finals. IF Masai was able to pull off moves this season that would make that happen then I'd be fine with it. Heck, I'm willing to lower my standards a little bit, given how long we've been a non-factor: I'm okay with a hotly contested second round series!
Why am I willing to lower my standards for this season?
1) Winning 2-3 games in the second round would match (our pathetic) playoff best (The Raps Sixers series).
2) Most likely we play either the Heat or Pacers, and holding our own against either one would be QUITE and accomplishment.
BUT I'm not satisfied with a team either a team that can just make the playoffs (aka Bucks) OR a team whose ceiling is the second round (aka Hawks) ESPECIALLY in the East, where the gap between the top 2 and the rest of the conference is so VAST.
I have a big problem with people who argue that just by being good, we have a good chance to land an impact player, because you can literally say this about 3/4 of the league. Superstars don't want to join a team and thereby make them a contender. They want to join a CONTENDER and make them a legit CHAMPIONSHIP team. Even then a team like Dallas, which has everything you could conceivably need to lure free agents... one of the winningest teams in the league over the last decade, one of the leagues best players, willing to take a complimentary, or even a backseat role in order to win, and an OWNER who is willing to spend (a little more reasonably now, but still) and wants to WIN. Yet they have been passed over by BOTH Deron and Howard. Yes, the better your team is, and the better you play, increases your draw in free agency, but at the end of the day, there's always going to be several other teams doing that as well.
I think the real value in cap space is NOT free agency (I think pretty much every team either overpays, or loses out on the player they target, meaning free agency isn't really good for any franchises) but putting yourself in a position to absorb other teams bad contracts in CONJUNCTION with valuable assets.
Here's what I think
1) This team doesn't have enough talent to meet my minimum requirements for playoff success (win 2 or more games in the second round)
2) I think Ujiri agrees with me.
3) Based on his current moves, it is impossible to tell whether he is planning to tank OR make a playoff push, FURTHER moves will make that clear.
I'm fine with either direction so long as it meets my expectations for success this year, or puts us on the path to meet my expectations for success in future years.
In either case, MORE moves need to be made, and the SOONER the better, to magnify the effect of the trade. If we are going to get better, let's the team together long enough to actually have the 3rd best record in the league, or the 3rd worst. Doing this before 19th, would allow to use pieces gained AGAIN before the trade deadline should any tinkering be necessary or any great deals come our way.
Lastly, while I have no problem with assembling a team that can go 6-7 games against either the Heat or the Pacers in the second round, I don't see a way for Ujiri to make that happen. As such, I see the alternatives being middle of the pack, or bottom of the pack. As a fan, bottom of the pack is VASTLY preferred, even if it costs me my most dearest raptor, Mr. "you'd be an idiot NOT to want me on your team" aka "I eat advanced stats or breakfast" aka "I shave my heart into my hair" aka Amir Johnson. I am pro tank and will continue to be poor tank, until someone convinces me of a realistic way to assemble a team that can compete with the Heat or Pacers this year. If that isn't an option, I think we're better off parlaying surface sort-term success into deeper long term success in future season.
I agree with pOOKa that we shouldn't keep our blinders on, but --as a fan-- what I won't do, is lower my expectations of management, or put another way, be an enabler of mediocrity. My expectation for the Raptors is a Finals appearance, or a hotly contested loss in the Conference Finals. IF Masai was able to pull off moves this season that would make that happen then I'd be fine with it. Heck, I'm willing to lower my standards a little bit, given how long we've been a non-factor: I'm okay with a hotly contested second round series!
Why am I willing to lower my standards for this season?
1) Winning 2-3 games in the second round would match (our pathetic) playoff best (The Raps Sixers series).
2) Most likely we play either the Heat or Pacers, and holding our own against either one would be QUITE and accomplishment.
BUT I'm not satisfied with a team either a team that can just make the playoffs (aka Bucks) OR a team whose ceiling is the second round (aka Hawks) ESPECIALLY in the East, where the gap between the top 2 and the rest of the conference is so VAST.
I have a big problem with people who argue that just by being good, we have a good chance to land an impact player, because you can literally say this about 3/4 of the league. Superstars don't want to join a team and thereby make them a contender. They want to join a CONTENDER and make them a legit CHAMPIONSHIP team. Even then a team like Dallas, which has everything you could conceivably need to lure free agents... one of the winningest teams in the league over the last decade, one of the leagues best players, willing to take a complimentary, or even a backseat role in order to win, and an OWNER who is willing to spend (a little more reasonably now, but still) and wants to WIN. Yet they have been passed over by BOTH Deron and Howard. Yes, the better your team is, and the better you play, increases your draw in free agency, but at the end of the day, there's always going to be several other teams doing that as well.
I think the real value in cap space is NOT free agency (I think pretty much every team either overpays, or loses out on the player they target, meaning free agency isn't really good for any franchises) but putting yourself in a position to absorb other teams bad contracts in CONJUNCTION with valuable assets.
Here's what I think
1) This team doesn't have enough talent to meet my minimum requirements for playoff success (win 2 or more games in the second round)
2) I think Ujiri agrees with me.
3) Based on his current moves, it is impossible to tell whether he is planning to tank OR make a playoff push, FURTHER moves will make that clear.
I'm fine with either direction so long as it meets my expectations for success this year, or puts us on the path to meet my expectations for success in future years.
In either case, MORE moves need to be made, and the SOONER the better, to magnify the effect of the trade. If we are going to get better, let's the team together long enough to actually have the 3rd best record in the league, or the 3rd worst. Doing this before 19th, would allow to use pieces gained AGAIN before the trade deadline should any tinkering be necessary or any great deals come our way.
Lastly, while I have no problem with assembling a team that can go 6-7 games against either the Heat or the Pacers in the second round, I don't see a way for Ujiri to make that happen. As such, I see the alternatives being middle of the pack, or bottom of the pack. As a fan, bottom of the pack is VASTLY preferred, even if it costs me my most dearest raptor, Mr. "you'd be an idiot NOT to want me on your team" aka "I eat advanced stats or breakfast" aka "I shave my heart into my hair" aka Amir Johnson. I am pro tank and will continue to be poor tank, until someone convinces me of a realistic way to assemble a team that can compete with the Heat or Pacers this year. If that isn't an option, I think we're better off parlaying surface sort-term success into deeper long term success in future season.
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