it wasn't them having Dinner together - it was them speaking at the same Dinner Event. The reason we can say that so confidently is tampering rules. Masai gets only a little more leeway - specific to NBA Africa/Basketballwithout borders/GiantsofAfrica but he still has supervision and Team permissions in each instance he uses another teams player. And on recruitment - As much as it sounds cool to get Embiid while in his prime - Cap math says really damned unlikely - Embiid is a 50M player and when Scottie's 50M Contract kicks in next season Raps are Cap bound. Toronto is all in on their Mini-Big 3 in Toronto with a couple good vets in Kelly and Jak - and all these kids that have some serious potential to be worked out. Raps only hope to get another star is the expiring contracts of Brown ( Surgery) and Boucher for 36M in swapped salary this year which could still happen but isn't looking promising. Once those guys Expire - Raps Cap flexibility and special provisions around keeping players under contract etc expire with them and Scottie just eats their cap hit. So the investment in the Mini-Big3 becoming a real Big 3 by next season latest - It HAS to work. I think it will work - that's a very safe bet. I think the pundits are ( understandbly or expectedly perhaps) sleeping on the Raptors - I think they can be playoff (not play-in) this year. The core starters are too good - the top of the rotation isn't bad - and the kids getting 6-10 mins a game if nothing else are fast AF. I say .500 team in the mix around a similar level as IND and ORL.
Really hoping we start out with a hard tank. Obviously I want competitive basketball but right now is not the time to looking for wins. We need to tank and maybe even move off of Poeltl as well so we can grab one of the elite comin up in this draft.
@@5plus4 and that means what?... nothing! Rogers wanted Masi out already but hadn't succeeded. Tan and Masi are friends. Both contracts are done in 2026. But I see your point.
If either jakobe or mogbo ends up being a splash, our bench might be ok, davion, one of those 2, and Boucher would be enough, playoffs either one of RJ , Barnes , or IQ would have to be on at all times
What winning are you supposed to do with brick Simmons, triple single Tobias Harris and a washed and out of shape Harden? Jokic could barely get out of the first round without good players around him and as their key role players started to leave. Denver was barely relevant in the West. Especially when Murray was injured.
NBA comes down to a combination of two things - the core 3 and the helpers. Winning in the NBA can be built around 3 players. The Raps core 3 - Barnes, IQ, and RJ are young and will bang with the best, stepping into stardom, you can see their improvements last year, and with RJ in the Olympics - he is running down hill at will towards the basket. Him and Scottie plowing threw down low is going to be hard to defend. Jak to clean it up! Which brings me to where the Raps will live or die. Between IQ and Mitchell they have a stout PG rotation of 2 guys (3 however would be ideal) great ball handling with outside threat is huge - the wild card, are the Raps helpers. Gradey looks like he took a step, last years playing time was vital. Jak is steady, but can he stay healthy? Brown wasn't great, and barely good last year, and now has a knee issues. Kelly is steady, but not at all an ideal back up C. And Agbaji can play D, watch him, but will his shoot start to fall in the NBA? IF the bench can be a great support cast, the Raps will no only be fun to watch, they will surprise. The ingredients are there, it's up to the B and C squad to step up! Boucher might be able to work his way back in, Walter might surprise (I doubt it!) and Comonche remains a potential dark horse...he's interesting.
Agreed that it comes down to the core three, and unfortunately, while I like all the players in the Raptors core 3, they do not remotely compare with the core three of the good teams around the league. They need more high level talent. Period.
It's good that IQ is looking and feeling good but I really don't buy in to that much in the offseason. Ben Simmons looks and feels great every offseason lol
Sure, maybe you right. But Ben Simmons is brought up to describe EVERY SINGLE PLAYERS SUMMER for the last 4 years. Because he didn't improve, every other player since can't improve over the summer all of a sudden (yet they do)
@@YakDPOYI'm sure IQ will improve. I'm just saying if you ask 99% of players in the offseason they'll say they're feeling great, and 99% of players look good when they're practicing in the offseason
@@chad_b@chad_b Yep, but you can look at certain things that tell a different story. IQ put on a few lbs of muscle, he young and putting in a ton of work or so we are told. Ben Simmons hit a few rico heins runs and put them on tiktok lol, i just don't think he is a good example for everyone yet you see his name thrown in everytime a summer improvement discussion happens. Scottie Bs jumpshot looks different, quicker release and he been busy too. I did put too much weight into your last part though, I just see Ben Simmons name throen sround too much for my taste in these discussions. I was all for it till seeing it so often. Plus theres more to go off of with these two this year. RJ having good Olympics too plus some great quotes, sounding like a dogg, I putting more faith in that than the most other times people hype up summer dudes. Anyway, all good.. I still think we desperate for depth so going to ve a long season either way
IQ gonna earn that contract! Bruh van score. I wanna see that assist total consistently high and im more than good. Meh. Embiid former NBA mvp. Masai always there for international bball. Just really good to collab and rep for all sorts of bball w/of borders type progress. This is just a story gor a slow nba news cycle lol Do you ever sleep? Keep doin work Ben!
Buuuuuutttttt. Maybe Embiid's experience with the US Olympic team left a bad taste in his mouth and he would like a change of venue to Canada. Longshot I know.
He hasn't given you any reason to think that though. He profiles as what, a Tyrese Maxey at best? Damn good player, but not a "star". Just a good All star player.. it's ok to like the guy and all.. I just don't think he has the same ceiling as a Scottie could have. If Scottie doesn't get there, we won't have a top 10 guy Again, not that you are wrong about IQ, I just don't think his ceiling is that high, I would argue RJs ceiling is atleast as high as IQs but I don't think he will realize it either. Man was playing like an All Star in a raps uniform though and he has the strength at the 2 guard that can make him a bully on both ends. Anyway, again, just feel like you made a bit of a stretch on that one
@ScottieDPOYY like I said.. I think he will be for the raptors.. not saying he will be top 5 in the league. How do you know he has not give me any reason to think this.. so what YOU think is right?
@@MrNutz52 I was pretty clear with everything I said? Said multiple times you could be right that he ends up being the best player on the team, very little of what I said was MY opinion, just kind of facts. Its just scouting wise, there is nothing that has been shown this far or more importantly, BODY wise that would suggest he has a higher ceiling than Scottie. I essentially just took your "our star player" in the wrong context but everything I said basically still applies. You don't generally look at Lou Williams and say he has more potential than a young Lebron James type thing (not a direct comparison, just highlighting my point). Also depends on what you define as a star player. I will take the all world defender and highest passer over a guy who simply scores a bit more and takes the last shot. Giannis is the star, not Kris Middleton type thing. I dunno, just felt like you said "I like IQ better therefore I think he will be better"
@@MrNutz52 I would argue the only way to have your opinion is to be down on Scottie B, but he gets better all the time so I not sure why you would be down on him? Or if you think scoring is the only thing the leader / star player does? (not trying to offend you, hard to say that while being peachy about it lol)
Guess you going to have to stay miserable, everyone already knows how you feel about him and he still here. Good luck complaining about the same things going forward
I can’t watch Embiid in a Raptors jersey. I can’t do it man. That dude is the scum of the league. One of the biggest PPG drop offs from regular season to playoffs. Keep him away from Toronto.
Guess you going to have to stay miserable, everyone already knows how you feel about him and he still here. Good luck complaining about the same things going forward Also, name us some GMs with better eyes for talent over the last 12 years. I would be curious to hear who has had a better track record
Bobby has been molding the team... he is the GM working with Masai. Bobby is the mastermind behind the trades with SA - the good one and the other bad ones.
Jeebus. This is going to be an ugly period for the Raptors if this is what we are calling "BETTER"... in all caps too, ffs. The Championship is a distant memory by now, and the Raptors are basically the post 1969 Leafs. Sad.
You are right if Bobby Webster can draft with out massai . Bobby Webster wanted to draft quigly and r j but he fixed with trades because massai draft crap
????????????? We been rebuilding for 6 months. The leafs been rebuilding for 40 years. WTF you talking about lol. You thought the Raps were different than every other franchise and would jsut magically stay good for decade after decade and never have to bottom out like every other team ever has?
@@YakDPOY Rebuilding? You've got to be kidding. The Masai was very nearly not signed in 2020 because Eddy (MAGA) Rogers hates the dude and thinks he is overpaid. Now, with his contract up at the end of next season, it is 100% clear for anyone with a brain, that Masai (and his boy, Bobby) will be gone after that. Now tell me how team building works when the GM is on his way out. Then tell me about how this video reports on anything positive for the team? As a Raptors fan, this is what I have to be excited about?? Basically, we have a lame duck front office, a team filled with G-Leaguers and mid-talent and a cheap owner who pals around with Trump. Help me out... where the F is the silver lining here? Edit: I should have added above that with Tanenbaum gonzo, and Eddy Rogers now majority owner we have a Harold Ballard-level situation to deal with. Go look at how good the Leafs were under Harold Ballard and tell me how Eddy Rogers is any different? I'll wait...
@@jimmystax3578 Webster will be gone along with Masai. When a MAGA minority owner hates your African arse, and then he becomes majority owner, your days are numbered. When your days are numbered, you start focusing on what's next, not building something up for the future. If folks can't see this, they haven't been paying attention. The gig is up, people.
The Raptors will be contenders when Chomche is a starter
The dinner was probably in relation to Giants of Africa.
Hes an american now
@@OctoMatoe once African always African
it wasn't them having Dinner together - it was them speaking at the same Dinner Event. The reason we can say that so confidently is tampering rules. Masai gets only a little more leeway - specific to NBA Africa/Basketballwithout borders/GiantsofAfrica but he still has supervision and Team permissions in each instance he uses another teams player. And on recruitment - As much as it sounds cool to get Embiid while in his prime - Cap math says really damned unlikely - Embiid is a 50M player and when Scottie's 50M Contract kicks in next season Raps are Cap bound. Toronto is all in on their Mini-Big 3 in Toronto with a couple good vets in Kelly and Jak - and all these kids that have some serious potential to be worked out. Raps only hope to get another star is the expiring contracts of Brown ( Surgery) and Boucher for 36M in swapped salary this year which could still happen but isn't looking promising. Once those guys Expire - Raps Cap flexibility and special provisions around keeping players under contract etc expire with them and Scottie just eats their cap hit. So the investment in the Mini-Big3 becoming a real Big 3 by next season latest - It HAS to work. I think it will work - that's a very safe bet. I think the pundits are ( understandbly or expectedly perhaps) sleeping on the Raptors - I think they can be playoff (not play-in) this year. The core starters are too good - the top of the rotation isn't bad - and the kids getting 6-10 mins a game if nothing else are fast AF. I say .500 team in the mix around a similar level as IND and ORL.
I like your assessment and hope you are right. At the very least I hope they are exciting to watch
Really hoping we start out with a hard tank. Obviously I want competitive basketball but right now is not the time to looking for wins. We need to tank and maybe even move off of Poeltl as well so we can grab one of the elite comin up in this draft.
Imagine getting Embid. That would skyroket the raptors into contention. IQ is already all star in my books.
You are really optimistic...
Ppl are missing the importance of Embiid having dinner with Masi. Masi contract is up in 2026. Embiid might be trying to lure him to Philly.
No. They have known each other for years
Right for them to get rid of Daryl Morely. Not likely
Who's to say you aren't overhyping it too? People eat
@@5plus4 and that means what?... nothing! Rogers wanted Masi out already but hadn't succeeded. Tan and Masi are friends. Both contracts are done in 2026. But I see your point.
True
RJ Barrett might be allstar
I rather have the Raptors be like the Wizards for 10 year then having Embiid coming to our city.
If either jakobe or mogbo ends up being a splash, our bench might be ok, davion, one of those 2, and Boucher would be enough, playoffs either one of RJ , Barnes , or IQ would have to be on at all times
Everybody could be an All Star in the off season...
We need IQ to score. He needs to be an alpha scoring threat off the catch and off the bounce.
Love ya Ben but you gotta do something with that hair man
I don’t want Embiid on this team. Dude isn’t a winning player and he always blames his costar when he fails.
Me either. He's a crybaby
I would argue, the whining and literal crying is even worse than what you just said lol. I not down with the child like tendancies
What winning are you supposed to do with brick Simmons, triple single Tobias Harris and a washed and out of shape Harden? Jokic could barely get out of the first round without good players around him and as their key role players started to leave. Denver was barely relevant in the West. Especially when Murray was injured.
He hasn't matured into a leadet and for how high his contract will be that would tear the team apart.
NBA comes down to a combination of two things - the core 3 and the helpers. Winning in the NBA can be built around 3 players. The Raps core 3 - Barnes, IQ, and RJ are young and will bang with the best, stepping into stardom, you can see their improvements last year, and with RJ in the Olympics - he is running down hill at will towards the basket. Him and Scottie plowing threw down low is going to be hard to defend. Jak to clean it up! Which brings me to where the Raps will live or die. Between IQ and Mitchell they have a stout PG rotation of 2 guys (3 however would be ideal) great ball handling with outside threat is huge - the wild card, are the Raps helpers. Gradey looks like he took a step, last years playing time was vital. Jak is steady, but can he stay healthy? Brown wasn't great, and barely good last year, and now has a knee issues. Kelly is steady, but not at all an ideal back up C. And Agbaji can play D, watch him, but will his shoot start to fall in the NBA? IF the bench can be a great support cast, the Raps will no only be fun to watch, they will surprise. The ingredients are there, it's up to the B and C squad to step up! Boucher might be able to work his way back in, Walter might surprise (I doubt it!) and Comonche remains a potential dark horse...he's interesting.
Agreed that it comes down to the core three, and unfortunately, while I like all the players in the Raptors core 3, they do not remotely compare with the core three of the good teams around the league. They need more high level talent. Period.
@@highdough2712 Like who? who couldn't they bang with?
It's good that IQ is looking and feeling good but I really don't buy in to that much in the offseason. Ben Simmons looks and feels great every offseason lol
Ben simmons is the best businessman of all time!!!
Sure, maybe you right. But Ben Simmons is brought up to describe EVERY SINGLE PLAYERS SUMMER for the last 4 years. Because he didn't improve, every other player since can't improve over the summer all of a sudden (yet they do)
@@YakDPOYI'm sure IQ will improve. I'm just saying if you ask 99% of players in the offseason they'll say they're feeling great, and 99% of players look good when they're practicing in the offseason
@@chad_b@chad_b Yep, but you can look at certain things that tell a different story. IQ put on a few lbs of muscle, he young and putting in a ton of work or so we are told. Ben Simmons hit a few rico heins runs and put them on tiktok lol, i just don't think he is a good example for everyone yet you see his name thrown in everytime a summer improvement discussion happens. Scottie Bs jumpshot looks different, quicker release and he been busy too.
I did put too much weight into your last part though, I just see Ben Simmons name throen sround too much for my taste in these discussions. I was all for it till seeing it so often. Plus theres more to go off of with these two this year. RJ having good Olympics too plus some great quotes, sounding like a dogg, I putting more faith in that than the most other times people hype up summer dudes. Anyway, all good.. I still think we desperate for depth so going to ve a long season either way
Sane dude said Ben Simmons would be a problem this year... so yeah
Same trainer said Ben Simmons will be at a all-star level this season. I expect improvement from IQ, but I'm a seeing is believing type person.
IQ gonna earn that contract! Bruh van score. I wanna see that assist total consistently high and im more than good.
Meh. Embiid former NBA mvp. Masai always there for international bball. Just really good to collab and rep for all sorts of bball w/of borders type progress. This is just a story gor a slow nba news cycle lol
Do you ever sleep? Keep doin work Ben!
7 assists per game in a Raps uniform so far. If he maintains that, plus Scotties 8 and RJs 4. That's a ton of ball movement from BBQ
Ayeeeee
Ayeeeee
We need Gradey to grab a hold of that starter spot. If we can get Tyler Herro as his ceiling we’re in a good position
They should trade Bruce brown for Harrison Barnes
Buuuuuutttttt. Maybe Embiid's experience with the US Olympic team left a bad taste in his mouth and he would like a change of venue to Canada. Longshot I know.
Its not possible. Also masai doesnt care about Canada basketball
Man U delusional raptor fans are embarrs😢
I would rather have the Raptors be like the Wizards for 10 year then having Embiid coming to our city.
I think IQ will be our star player the leader.. Not dissing Scotty or RJ.. i just feel IQ will be the big difference
He hasn't given you any reason to think that though. He profiles as what, a Tyrese Maxey at best? Damn good player, but not a "star". Just a good All star player.. it's ok to like the guy and all.. I just don't think he has the same ceiling as a Scottie could have. If Scottie doesn't get there, we won't have a top 10 guy
Again, not that you are wrong about IQ, I just don't think his ceiling is that high, I would argue RJs ceiling is atleast as high as IQs but I don't think he will realize it either. Man was playing like an All Star in a raps uniform though and he has the strength at the 2 guard that can make him a bully on both ends. Anyway, again, just feel like you made a bit of a stretch on that one
@ScottieDPOYY like I said.. I think he will be for the raptors.. not saying he will be top 5 in the league. How do you know he has not give me any reason to think this.. so what YOU think is right?
@@MrNutz52 I was pretty clear with everything I said? Said multiple times you could be right that he ends up being the best player on the team, very little of what I said was MY opinion, just kind of facts. Its just scouting wise, there is nothing that has been shown this far or more importantly, BODY wise that would suggest he has a higher ceiling than Scottie. I essentially just took your "our star player" in the wrong context but everything I said basically still applies. You don't generally look at Lou Williams and say he has more potential than a young Lebron James type thing (not a direct comparison, just highlighting my point). Also depends on what you define as a star player. I will take the all world defender and highest passer over a guy who simply scores a bit more and takes the last shot. Giannis is the star, not Kris Middleton type thing. I dunno, just felt like you said "I like IQ better therefore I think he will be better"
@@MrNutz52 I would argue the only way to have your opinion is to be down on Scottie B, but he gets better all the time so I not sure why you would be down on him? Or if you think scoring is the only thing the leader / star player does? (not trying to offend you, hard to say that while being peachy about it lol)
@ScottieDPOYY thanks for your opinion but I will disagree..
Talking about African Ball or maybe just having diner and catching up. Yall gonna stop with the soap opera convo's.
Only way Embid is coming to Toronto is through a trade, no way would he come here as a free agent.
Aiiiiii
Aiiiii
embiid would be to expensive for the raptors
We don't need another star
nonsense ..we last
Masai gotta go ngl. We got nothing for fred, nothing for gary, nothing for pascal.
Guess you going to have to stay miserable, everyone already knows how you feel about him and he still here. Good luck complaining about the same things going forward
Casual take...smh
@@YakDPOY good luck watching this team not make the playoffs
@@infamous1ao i forgot letting free agents walk for nothing always turn out good for franchises mb
@@jordanne03 welcome to rebuilding teams. You are about to witness one of the shortest rebuilds ever and you still that impatient 🤦
I can’t watch Embiid in a Raptors jersey. I can’t do it man. That dude is the scum of the league. One of the biggest PPG drop offs from regular season to playoffs. Keep him away from Toronto.
Let massai go give Bobby Webster the team and let's see if he can draft because massai is not a drafter he is a fluke
Guess you going to have to stay miserable, everyone already knows how you feel about him and he still here. Good luck complaining about the same things going forward
Also, name us some GMs with better eyes for talent over the last 12 years. I would be curious to hear who has had a better track record
Bobby has been molding the team... he is the GM working with Masai. Bobby is the mastermind behind the trades with SA - the good one and the other bad ones.
Jeebus. This is going to be an ugly period for the Raptors if this is what we are calling "BETTER"... in all caps too, ffs. The Championship is a distant memory by now, and the Raptors are basically the post 1969 Leafs.
Sad.
You are right if Bobby Webster can draft with out massai . Bobby Webster wanted to draft quigly and r j but he fixed with trades because massai draft crap
How.. I was in person at the NBA finals and those memories will never fade. What Toronto fans bring in support to the raptors is phenomenal
????????????? We been rebuilding for 6 months. The leafs been rebuilding for 40 years. WTF you talking about lol. You thought the Raps were different than every other franchise and would jsut magically stay good for decade after decade and never have to bottom out like every other team ever has?
@@YakDPOY Rebuilding? You've got to be kidding. The Masai was very nearly not signed in 2020 because Eddy (MAGA) Rogers hates the dude and thinks he is overpaid. Now, with his contract up at the end of next season, it is 100% clear for anyone with a brain, that Masai (and his boy, Bobby) will be gone after that. Now tell me how team building works when the GM is on his way out. Then tell me about how this video reports on anything positive for the team? As a Raptors fan, this is what I have to be excited about?? Basically, we have a lame duck front office, a team filled with G-Leaguers and mid-talent and a cheap owner who pals around with Trump. Help me out... where the F is the silver lining here?
Edit: I should have added above that with Tanenbaum gonzo, and Eddy Rogers now majority owner we have a Harold Ballard-level situation to deal with. Go look at how good the Leafs were under Harold Ballard and tell me how Eddy Rogers is any different? I'll wait...
@@jimmystax3578 Webster will be gone along with Masai. When a MAGA minority owner hates your African arse, and then he becomes majority owner, your days are numbered. When your days are numbered, you start focusing on what's next, not building something up for the future. If folks can't see this, they haven't been paying attention. The gig is up, people.
Nothing is looking good for the raptors. They’ll be at the bottom for a decade or more
Ayeeeee