WARNING: The following intro contains political commentary. Everybody happy now? Don’t worry, it’ll be quick and painless. Or not.
Other than coming across as being obsessed with how he’s portrayed to the masses, why is Donald Trump spending so much time trying to shove his “Fake News” narrative down our throats? Could it be an attempt to stay two steps ahead of a potential disaster?
Put it this way: Before he started motivating Journalists to dig even deeper into his past, what were the odds they’d eventually find something worthy of impeachment? Well, the best way to limit a future uproar is to lay the groundwork/blur the lines of truth well ahead of time.
Bottom Line: Don’t always take what people say (especially those in power) at face value unless they’ve earned it.
So with the big picture in mind, the Trade Deadline just a little over 24 hours away and another meaningful matchup with the Celtics waiting in the wings, let’s deviate from the current news cycle and look at the grand scheme of things while we have the chance—a reflection before the storm, if you will. And contrary to what’s going on in the Political world, the overall view of the Raptors has a positive outlook.
But before we get started, I need to rant about something:
WARNING/REST ASSURED: The rest of this article will have nothing to do with whether the Earth is round or flat or whether or not Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have “made amends.” Also: There won’t be any references to the Dunk Contest other than it being a colossal mishandling of an opportunity to capitalize on last year’s momentum. Well, alright, one more thing: Unless a player decides to jump over an alligator pit, all usage of props that only come off as trying to a hide a dunk’s level of difficulty (so yeah, all of them) need to be outlawed ASAP.
But hey, all was not lost on Saturday night: As every Raptors fan fell prey to putting their money where their rooting interest was, I made out like a bandit thinking Lowry was at an off-the-rack disadvantage. I did end up losing it all playing poker afterwards, though, so perhaps Karma stepped in. The big picture is real.
My apologies, I had to veer off the path there for a sec. Ok, I feel better now. Where were we…
Let’s rehash the past, bask in the present, and prepare for the future:
Remember the days when “Delon Wright vs. Bobby Portis” caused numerous concerns?
If not, here’s the short version: Why would a team pass on drafting a player who by all accounts has the potential to fill the club’s annual void? All the while adding to an already crowded backcourt?
To keep an even keel, the big picture also means we shouldn’t hesitate to question those in charge when questions are warranted. Better yet: Hold them accountable for their actions.
In the days and weeks after the 2015 draft, considering the sting from the Wizards’ series sweep was still fresh, it was only natural for this fan base to be skeptical of the pick.
But an even keel is supposed to work both ways. Considering Masai Ujiri hadn’t made a false step beforehand, and taking into account what the Raps currently look like on paper, faith should have been kept and patience should have prevailed. Masai earned it.
In the almost two years since, not only have the Raps acquired a non-project power forward in Serge Ibaka, but they’ve managed to be equipped with a backup plan that a still-crowded backcourt now needs.
Even if the recent reports of Lowry being all but a shoo-in to re-sign n the offseason are air-tight, Delon has been the definition of prospect progressing through the ranks. Which is the opposite direction of the aforementioned Portis.
Was it just me or did the kid’s perimeter defense put on a show against Charlotte. Point is: He’s progressed to a level where he can fluctuate between the two guard spots and possibly help out at the three in a pinch. Hell, while getting ahead of ourselves is a dangerous practice, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Raps pulled the trigger on a deal even if Cory Joseph’s name had to be involved.
Is there confidence in Wright to hold down the fort when it comes to allowing Lowry to roam off the ball in an effort to ease the loss of T-Ross’s shooting? If there isn’t any yet, it’s on its way.
As for the Ibaka acquisition, where do I start:
Despite the growing list of writers/pundits out there that are pumping the brakes on what he’ll ultimately mean to this team, there’s going to be numerous opportunities for him to shine—and for the rest of us to keep our foot on the gas.
You can point to his declining numbers, but you can also point to him becoming a multifaceted player as part of the reason. With how the Raps are built, would you rather have an asset in a select few categories or a versatile weapon that can essentially contribute across the board? How much chaos can Ibaka and Patterson bring to opposing defenses when on the court together? And the kicker: How much more space will Ibaka give Jonas Valanciunas to operate? With JV trending in a direction where his limited/awkward skill set was transforming into an athletic/adaptable way of life before the break, it’s gonna be a blast finding out just how much.
Unlike Trump, the true beauty of Masai’s master plan lies in the blueprint. If there was any set of events (excluding the Rudy Gay trade and shipping Andrea Bargnani to the Knicks, of course) to officially silence the reoccurring sentiment that he was lucky enough to reap the benefits of the players already brought in under Bryan Colangelo, here’s a rundown:
1. Go against the grain (and the calls from this fan base) by drafting Delon.
2. Proceed to flip Greivis Vazquez to the Bucks in order to draft Norman Powell.
3. Decline to make any moves at last year’s deadline which allowed this team’s core members to gain valuable experience.
4. Give T-Ross an early yet trade-friendly extension.
5. Let Powell develop then wait until the time is ripe where dealing Ross makes sense.
6. Makes his move.
If you want to play devil’s advocate, have at it. But it’s hard to argue that Masai hasn’t put this franchise in a position to capitalize on a win-now window while still owing enough flexibility to recover from any potential downfall—either on the court or at the negotiating table.
Even if nothing happens tomorrow, his already-in-motion master plan deserves our appreciation.
Now, since we started on a sour note, it’s only right to end with an inspirational one:
In case you missed it, or just because this deserves to be on repeat: Jarrius Robertson, the hilarious kid from plenty of All-Star interviews, was the star of the weekend. The fact that’s he’s battling Chronic Liver Disease makes this clip that much more inspiring:
Jarius Robertson was the real celebrity. Sweet shot, young Lowry! #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/V2o9RXShtz
— Mike TJ Nelson (@thethirdjersey) February 18, 2017
By the way, Jarrius, my bad for spelling your first name wrong in my tweet. Stay strong, Kid!
Note to self: Always remember the big picture.
