Highlights and Translations from the Bobby Webster Year-End Press Conference
Forever and for always, fans will partake in an infinite swirl of opinions and arguments and speculation. Why wouldn’t we? We have nothing else to go on but our beliefs.
That said, when we do get that very rare opportunity to actually hear the thoughts and reflections straight from the decision-maker’s mouth, we must listen. Anddddd, then get back to the complaining and commanding and arguing.
Below are a few of the highlights from Bobby Webster’s thoughts on the season past and intentions for what’s to come.
With translation for clarity.
On this season’s expectations:
“A step in the right direction. Doesn’t mean that the next step or the next few steps aren’t going to be even harder. And, I think that was a lot of our messaging the next couple of days to the team…both things can be true: you can sort of be proud of what you did, but also have a hunger and grit this summer to advance beyond that or do more than you did this year.
And so, from a pre-season there’s always that internal expectation to get to the Playoffs and the players were all for leading that and that was a belief they had. And once we got there, the circumstances of the season, some injuries, but I think the fight and grit was representative of that group and this season.”
Translation:
Let’s not rejoice to the Gods with such revelry for merely a Round 1 exit; buttttt, also, fuck everyone because let’s be honest, but for a few pundits [shoutout Michael Pina from the The Ringer], most considered us a plummeting submarine heading to imminent implosion. Suck it.
On how to evaluate this team based on the Regular Season versus the Playoffs:
“I’m not going to over index the Playoffs. It’s very important to see the young players in roles they might not have gotten. That was more illustrative for us. Typically, you don’t get to see first- and second-year players play that many minutes in those types of roles.
We looked at it, we were the youngest team in the Playoffs this season. That speaks to the growth and trajectory of this group can go. We’re excited about it; we’re also not going to sort of say ‘wow, those seven games spoke volumes about the next 3 or 4 years.'”
Translation:
Okay, cool, fun times. But all those guys I paid lots of money to reallly get us where we want to go, weren’t totally, entirely, the ones who did. Sooooo…[Bobby trails off and looks wistfully into a distant alternative future where $110 million is not owed to three guys that did not play or did not play well in the Playoffs.]
On RJ Barrett in the Playoffs and future contract discussions:
“You always knew he was going to play a big, physical style of basketball and that was on full display. Him getting to the paint, getting to the rim. So, ya, I’d say he had a little bit of a tough stretch going through injuries, but he got back to full health and you saw that on full display in the Playoffs.
We’re keeping those conversations [contractual ones] private. I spoke to him at the end of the season. He’s under contract next season and that conversation can be at the end of next season.”
Translation:
Thank God, RJ balled out. Because down in Neeyew Yowk, Owh Jee Anunobee is balling the fuck out while IQ can’t even stay on the floor. It was all starting to look like a total dumpsta fyah. Especially, with RJ regressing to his inefficient self of old. Hooping against primed Playoff defences as a secondary option is a Goddamn blessing for this team and my [Bobby, if you haven’t caught the drift yet] career.
On Scottie Barnes in the Playoffs and building the team around him moving forward:
“We’ve been having this conversation for five years with Scottie [annoyed smirk by Bobby for the question]. Even back to his rookie year, there’s moments where he’s on the ball and orchestrating and directing traffic; he affects the game hugely on the offensive end.
And, there’s probably not one answer to what the final product or version of Scottie, but what you saw was playing with force on both ends. That’s our push for him over the course of 82 games. It’ll be this summer; it’ll be this pre-season. But really playing with that level of force and engagement for the whole season.
Translation:
Is Scottie here? Scottie!? Scottieee!? Are you watching this? That. That was what we’ve been talking to you about every year since you’ve been here. That’s what we’ve been saying. That level of intensity. That seizing of responsibility. That physicality. That meanness. That aggression. That leadership. We want that. ALL. THE. TIME. Please and thank you.
On the team’s Financials and Ownership’s willingness to spend cashola:
“It’s been the same here. We timed it perfect when we won the Title and went into the Tax. But there’s always been that notion, which is: when the time is right, come ask and we will deliver.
But going into this season we realized, this might not be the championship-contending team, so we held off. But going forward, I think it will be a bit more on how does this group grow but also what moves we make over this summer. But we have full support and whenever the time is right, we’ll be ready.”
Translation:
I hate you for asking this. My team is owned by a bunch of soulless, corporatized, profitmaxxing succubusses. Or succubi? Is that Latin or Greek? Or, maybe, it’s Germanic?
Anyway, I don’t know what you want me to say. I dunno, it depends? Is the Strait of Hormuz still open? Cause if not, I feel like, I’m probably going get Tom Dundoned here soon and have to layoff miniature Raptor, or maybe, they’re going to pull a Maple Leafs and hire Vince Carter and Bryan Colangelo to replace me. TBD.
On what this team needs to take that next step:
“Our philosophy here has always been getting two-way players. I said this summer, we’re in talent acquisition. We still need more better players. There will be a time where it feels like, okay, this specific piece will put us over the top. But no, I think this summer will, whether it’s the draft, free agency, or trades, we’ll just be looking at the best two-way players available.”
Translation
If you expected any modicum of spacing or shooting for this team…THINK AGAIN. WE HAVE A PHILOSOPHY. OKAYYY?
What made you think that whoever we draft or sign next will be any different than Stanley Johnson or Pascal Siakam or Bruno Cabocolo or Patrick McCaw or CMB or *insert basically anyone the Raptors have ever acquired here*? If their arms aren’t the span of Doug Ford’s belt [no, not the Green one he stole, the one holding up his pants], then they won’t play here, got it?
On evaluating Jakob Pöltl’s season and the logic on extending him:
“Coming off last year, he had a career year, one of his best years. Really, I think what happened, he got a little bit behind the 8-ball in training camp with his back. Going into the preseason it was already bothering him then. So that didn’t allow him to prepare for the season. But at the same time, I think down the stretch there’s going to be some recency bias, but I think of some of the big games down the stretch against Detroit and Denver…so…
With Jakob, he’s high IQ, high instincts. People know when he’s at his best what he means to this team. Whether it’s walking him on the court or even analytically. But know the message to him was, he needs to get healthy and get back to the Jakob that we know. And we think he’s embracing that challenge. And, we’ll be on him this summer.”
Translation
He’s a Top-15 centre when healthy. He DAMN WELL GET HEALTHY…
On the young guys and evaluating the depth of this team:
“In some ways, yes, [a question on if their success affects offseason decision-making], in other ways, contracts dictate when you make decisions and all those guys are under contract. And, so, there’s a natural growth and development we’ll get to see next year. You’re sort of taking notes and filing it away what some of these guys were able to do in the Playoffs. But we have 12 guys under contract going into next season so…
Really, you’re looking at two approaches which is: do you let it organically grow, did you see enough this year that this group can continue? Or, what I talked about at the trade deadline, when you start to cash in your chips, when you start to consolidate? We have all our first round picks, we have future flexibility, we’re under the tax. A few years we’re really far under the tax. The question will be when those opportunities come around where the price is right and it also fits from a basketball stand point, but also culturally.
That was really unique about this team, they played for each other. They’ve all grown up with us. I always say the telling points of this season were when our backs were against the wall. Whether it was early in the season when we were 1-4. The Houston/New Orleans road trip. We bounced back from those. The Orlando game was big. Those two Miami games. When we were down 2-0. That was a testament to the character of this group.
Translation
Man, what a good problem to have. So, many young, gritty, fun prospects. They’re so goddamn lovable and have so much potential. And, Man, their new gleam shines so bright anyone trying to figure out where Gradey Dick or Jonathan Mogbo or Ron Harper Jr. or Dalano Banton or Christian Koloko are, can’t see shit. Phew.
On Brandon Ingram’s fit and if he is a long-term fit:
“Return to health was a big one. That was a big check. He got back to his All-Star form…By all accounts Brandon fit in him. This is a time for him to continue to improve: shooting, get bigger, get stronger. But, ya, I think have two All-Stars in Brandon and Scottie, it was a great season.
Translation:
Dude’s talented as Hell. And BIG UPs to him being healthy. But he’s got a wayssss to go to prove that I shouldn’t ship him at the first sign of a net-positive return.
On Gradey Dick’s role and his struggles:
“Gradey was good. The conversations throughout the year, he knew what was going on. He was good coming out of training camp and preseason. It’s natural for a player to have ups and downs over the course of their season, especially, for someone at age 22. But talking to him last couple of days, he’s motivated by this. He’s using this as motivation to get better this summer. And, fully expect a great summer from Gradey.
I thought he had a good second year. He had a development with us. He played 76 games this year. It might be a bit more recency bias. What we’ve seen in the Playoffs and heard Darko say: that level of defensive intensity and focus was on full display in the Playoffs and we’ve seen that with a number of players who have come through here and through our number of Playoff runs. I would say that’s the one, he’s gotta be able to defend when he’s on the court.”
Translation:
Big year for, ya, Bucko.
On areas of improvement:
“We were a Top 5 defence and, probably, an average offence. In this league, you need to be a Top 10 in both to be a contender and Top 5 in both to be a real contender. The challenge is how do you improve one with out taking away from the other. That is probably the big picture as opposed to specific skillsets.
The foundation of this team is on defence. You play if you play defence. Darko set that in very early. And, so that was on display. At the same time, the reality of the NBA is that having a good offence and defence is what succeeds.
There’s a lot more of iterations to go. We’ve had a lot of stings in the past. I don’t get too caught up on what is the team look like from a year from now or two years from now. We need to incrementally get better. We need to win all of our trades. We need to pick the right player. Getting caught up in ‘what the final team is’ isn’t super helpful.”
Translation:
I wonder if Masai still loves Brandon Ingram as much as he said he did before he deserted me?
On building around Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles:
“Clearly, the defensive ability of those two is special. Whether it’s switching or them being disruptive and guarding multiple positions, what do you surround that with? You could surround it with more defence. You could put more elite defenders around that and figure out the offensive end. But I think we’re gonna focus on the strength of those two. Which is a defensive pairing and how are you making that Top 5 defence into an even better defence.”
Translation:
Everyone else, better get to it!
On evaluating Darko Rajaković and contract extensions:
“Darko did a great job. The first two years we always said he’s a great communicator, great energy, great development. But 30 wins to 46 wins is a huge improvement. To make the adjustments in the Playoffs when some of our main guys were down. Darko had a great year.
No comment on financial situations here…
Translation:
Why the fuck do I get three questions every press conference about stuff I one-thousand percent cannot and will never disclose? Does my low-tenor-Dad’s-disappointed mumble and side-eye not clue them in?
On Sandro Mamukelashvili and how his skillset fits here:
“Very rarely does it fit like you play in the summer. And even from Darko’s perspective, whether it was from on the court or off the court, great personality, loved this city, he fit in really well here. We knew the financial realities of signing the contract, but that was sort of one of the reasons he picked us was because of the fit. Even thought it wasn’t as much money as other places. But no we’ve been looking for a stretch big for years and to see it with the bench but also with the starters was nice to see. And, this summer, we’ll talk to his reps and Mamu. He obviously wants to be here. There’s financial realities of the NBA but we’ll do everything we can to retain him.”
Translation:
But also, is he a two-way guy? Cause, like, he’s gotta be a two-way. I said it above. If they’re not a two-way, they’re not a Raptor. I didn’t say toupee, Mamu, I said two-way.
On the Draft:
“This was always going to be a good draft. We identified that a couple of years ago. At 19, we’ve had a pick in this range for a number of years. And it’s a testament to all the scouting we do this season. Guys are in the back watching film right now. We’re confident we’ll get a player at 19, but it’s too early to say these are the 5 or 6 guys we’re focused on.”
Translation:
If I stare straight forward and just think “two-way”, “two-way”, “two-way”, “two-way”, do you think they’ll quit asking me obvious answers I can’t disclose/they already know!?
On Masai Ujiri and Dallas Mavericks “trade chats”:
“We know all the players he likes, he knows all the players we like. It’s sometimes tough to do deals.”
Translation:
YOU’RE NOT MY FATHER.
On Trade Discussions and confidence on making a significant trade:
“Can you make a bigger step with one of those deals? We’re always going to be opportunistic in any trade market. It’s the reason why we’ve kept all of our first round picks. Financially we’re well-positioned to take on money if we have to. But it gets back to what the profile of this team is. So, if you want to double-down on defence or the offence needs help, it would have to materially move us ahead from a contender-standpoint.”
Translation:
Mostly just waitin’ for Jaylen Brown to demand a trade. T-Minus number of Twitch streams until Joe Mazulla knocks on his front door and lectures him about the self-entitlement of his younger generation [they’re the same generation, but not in Joe’s mind, they’re not] and challenges him to a seven-day hunger strike…
On Garrett Temple’s Free Agency:
“Garrett is probably one of the guys I talk most with. He’s similar age. He cares about the right things for the team. That’s great to have him. To see his relatioship with Scottie, but to see him with Collin, but you’ve probably watched, players are looking to him on the bench, players are talking to him at half-time. That’s invaluable. But there’s only 15 roster spots; he knows that. We’ve been fortunate to have one for him every year and we’d love to have him back, but we’ll have to see how summer plays out.”
Translation:
Time to put the suit on, [player development] Coach.
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