It’s a little light here at Ye Olde Mailbag this week but I guess that’s understandable given the time of the year and the long weekend.
But there is still a lot here so enjoy.
In your estimation, what’s the top three to four priorities for Raptors management to undertake in the off-season?
-Ed H. in Auburn, N.Y.
Not sure these are in exact order but here we go:
They need size, particularly a starting four who can shoot. Playing Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Scottie Barnes, a four and Jakob Poeltl makes them big. Playing Quickley, a two, Barrett, Barnes and Poeltl makes them too small.
A backup point guard.
More shooting, particularly at the five, where Poeltl’s range is, well, non-existent.
Stock spots 10-15 on the roster with guys who can play in a pinch. We saw in the final quarter of last season that it can be important.
Hi Doug,
Longtime fan and reader of your columns and blog but first time writing to you.
Which odds are higher? That the Blue Jays tear down and rebuild by the end of summer or the Raptors whiff at the draft and free agency and move away from Masai Ujiri/Bobby Webster and co.?
Would love to hear your thoughts.
Regards,
-Lawrence
Since I am dead certain the Raptors are not moving on from management in the foreseeable future, I guess it’s the Blue Jays by default.
Given the lack of successful trades and strategic roster moves the past few seasons, I’d like to get your thoughts on the status of Masai’s position amongst MLSE ownership.
It’ll be interesting to see what type of relationship develops between new CEO Keith Pelley, i.e. short leash?
To me, it would appear that he is almost untouchable with the championship year. However, there are constant reminders in NBA news that it’s a business. Nothing lasts forever.
Do you envision a time in the not so distant future where MLSE parts ties with him if things continue to trend in a downward trajectory?
I almost feel blasphemous asking given what he has done for our city.
-DL in Richmond Hill
By “past few seasons” you mean two seasons, right? And I don’t think Ujiri and Webster can be blamed for Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl both busting their fingers or both RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley being touched by family tragedy. Because three years ago they had a 48-win season and management drafted the NBA rookie of the year.
That said, I have said for maybe five or six years that Ujiri and Webster are both young men hugely respected in their positions and Toronto is not the last job either will hold in their careers. That’s just a fact of business evolution.
But they are not going to be forced out any time soon, nor should they be.
Straightforward question. Are NBA playoff games too physical? Is the belief that a more physical game is a better game?
-Paul M.
It’s certainly verging on too physical but it’s not there yet, in my opinion. It’s hard and tough, not at all sustainable in a regular season but I enjoy it. It’s also, thankfully, not the wrestling matches of the ‘80s and ‘90s.
Not sure “better” but sure different from what we’ve seen routinely. And I like the change.
Doug — Here’s wishing you good health and thank you for publishing past queries.
I seriously mean this. Let’s organize a boycott of Rogers ownership’s sports teams and let’s start by not attending any Blue Jays games.
Why waste our money on a team firmly in control of last place? This is a last place team and that’s where they will end the season. Doug, ownership fails on every level.
They failed to do anything with the Raptors at last year’s trade deadline, the draft and through the summer, only finally cobbling together a couple of trades. The one with N.Y. with OG Anunoby was OK, the one with Pascal Siakam to Indiana, not so good. They did it when the season was shot.
Again same old Leafs, same old no-hit Blue Jays when everyone knew we needed bats. Finally they didn’t even have the vision to get a WNBA team. Thank God for Larry Tanenbaum. It’s time for a boycott of the Rogers teams and let’s start with the last place Jays and maybe Rogers will get the memo by the time trade season rolls around for the Raps and Leafs. We are the third-biggest market in the Americas next to only New York City and Los Angeles, it’s time for us to act like those cities and not like some small market team. Bring on a boycott!
Best in health to you,
-DCL
I find, in your case on the Raptors and Leafs, that you won’t once mention Bell, which has an exact same ownership stake.
So you’ll boycott both, right?
Look, the ownership is a bit of a mess, always has been, but the fact is they hire people to run their teams and maybe that’s where eyes should be cast? And when you cast it at the Raptors, you’ll find about a decade of sustained success and two down seasons. On the whole, pretty darn good.
But the point is this: Blame Rogers, boycott if you like but same of the scrutiny for Bell, too.
I recently saw for the first time a post-game interview with Vladimir Guerrero without the aid of an interpreter. It seems that most Latin and Asian baseball players use an interpreter when communicating publicly whereas international NBA and NHL players don’t. As you are a man for all seasons I’m curious as to your thoughts why.
-Curtis S.
Because there aren’t nearly as many Latin or Asian players in the NBA or NHL; and most of the international players have grown up with English as at least a second language.
Hi Doug,
Ending the week with a bunch of Game 7s, then a holiday on a Monday; not bad! Even the NHL has a few six-game series. If only our local teams were involved!
Some questions:
1) A year later, the Rudy Gobert trade and Kyrie Irving in Dallas both look like wiser moves. Do you think the same will be said of Damien Lillard next year?
2) What do you make of the wild swings in the NBA playoffs with teams alternating blowout wins? Equal and opposite reactions (high school physics!)?
3) Thanks for the NBA Combine coverage! Since Scottie impressed in his year, I’ve paid attention to that part of the draft process more intently. Do you agree with the changes made this year so that we get to see more prospects in action? Any new favourites?
4) Which playoff performances should the Raptors consider among free agents? Or is the danger of false advertising (Bruce Brown?) something to be wary of?
Enjoy the road to the finals, so far, so fun!
-Bernie M.
There wasn’t as much draft capital in the Lillard trade but I think people have been questioning it for quite some time and will continue to.
Just like in the regular season, there is so much offensive power in the NBA, games can get so far so out of reach so quickly. And, like in the season, it never carries one night to the next.
I don’t have any favourites because no one leaped out to my misinformed eyes but every executive I talked to in Chicago said the process is way, way better because every top prospect has to be there and the mandatory sharing of medical is big.
I’m on the record solidly that, among the legitimate possibilities, I’d look at Obi Toppin.
Copyright © 2024
Leave a Reply