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Next week: We’re live from Vegas.

Hi, Doug. Hope you had a great Canada Day. I was going to send some Masai questions last week, but I figured you’d have a bunch of them. Some of what I was going to ask got answered. But a couple of questions still remain in my mind.

1) Caught a good chunk of Keith Pelley’s rather brilliant circumlocutory obfuscation. I noticed you were the first one called upon to ask a question. Just wondering if you were chosen first because of seniority or luck of the draw? How do reporters get chosen to ask questions?

2) I understand that Bobby Webster will be interviewed for the president’s job. But doesn’t this just set up more management turmoil? If he doesn’t get it, he now has to answer to someone above him and I can’t imagine that being without … some hard feelings.

3) Have you heard any whispers about how the players feel about this? I assume many of them were supportive of Masai if for no other reason than the strength of his personality. I do wonder if this will make it harder to recruit players to the team in the future (no disrespect intended to Webster et al). Any whispers among the league you can share?

4) Not a question, but the Raptors as a team and ɫɫ�� as a city are poorer for the loss.

Thanks for all you do.

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Basically, I got my hand up to catch the eye of the news conference moderator first, I think. Maybe he was looking that way, I don’t know. But subtle waves or gestures to the moderator gets a questioner in the queue, and I don’t think anyone who wanted to ask something was missed.

If they do hire someone over Bobby, and I don’t think they should, it will absolutely create an odd dynamic. Everyone will say the right thing, but it’ll be odd, for sure.

I haven’t had a chance to talk to any players yet, so I can’t speak to how they feel. That’ll be one of the big jobs next week in Vegas when I’m sure a few of the vets will be hanging around.

And your fourth point is dead on.

Hey, Doug. Hope all is well.

Just when I thought I finally understood the salary cap and luxury tax, there is now a new wrinkle: first and second aprons. Assuming this has nothing to do with an NBA/Food Network partnership, can you please explain it in simple terms?

And I’m wondering what you think of Sandro Mamukelashvili, the one new face to join the Raptors who isn’t just out of college?

Appreciated as always.

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Oh, man. Simple explanation? The aprons are levels over the luxury-tax threshold that exist to further penalize teams that overspend. They limit the kinds of transactions teams at each apron can make; the second is far more Draconian and an absolute hard cap. The Raptors, ever so slightly into the tax right now with about 11 months to get under, are not concerned yet with even the first apron, and if they get close we’ll explain what it limits them in doing. But until then, no sense clouding every salary story. Besides, I’m not sure all 30 GMs fully understand them.

Mamukelashvili is an intriguing three-point shooting big who some scouts tell me is quite underrated. I haven’t seen nearly enough to say more than that right now, though. And since I’ve now memorized how to spell his name and am close to nailing the pronunciation, I can’t wait to hear Matt, Alvin and Jack deal with it.

Great piece on Masai’s inspiration and the indelible mark he left on the city, nation and culture. I have never been as upset by a front office move as this. It felt like a slap. To have someone so passionate, not only about the sport but the people it touches, someone so invested in the growth of everyone around him, someone with vision and morals who wasn’t afraid to speak his mind on important issues, to have someone like that and lose them without fanfare or logic, all over a petty interpersonal beef and corporate greed. I spent many hours contemplating my fandom for this organization. I still am.

While I love the players and I am excited to see how this group comes together (or doesn’t), I am less inclined to buy a ticket this season. Not because of the on-court product, but because I am less comfortable giving my money to MLSE. As many often say, it’s not what happened so much as how it happened. I woke up excited to hear Masai speak on the new draft picks and the direction of the team coming into what should be a competitive season.

Instead I was greeted with a shock I didn’t expect, and I have been feeling wounded, sore and a little sickened ever since.

With all that said, given the shakeups in the East due to movements, injuries, etc., do you think the Raptors have a shot not only at a playoff spot, but let’s aim high, a top-four finish?

Have an enjoyable summer!

—B����Գ�

I certainly understand the issues that exist with the new group in place — or about to be in place — with MLSE, and far from me to tell you how to spend your money and time. But the product is the players, the coaches and the front office. And I think they probably deserve support and a look to see how it works on the court. There needs to be separation between ownership and the team, as difficult as that might be to reconcile.

Nothing that’s been done so far this summer has changed my mind that this group is a playoff team.

Zach Kram of ESPN wrote an article on June 30 about seven underrated players available as free agents. He said this about Chris Boucher: “Only two players with at least 800 minutes last season averaged 20 points, nine rebounds and 2.5 three pointers per 36 minutes, one was Chris Boucher.

The other was Victor Wembanyama.

If this is correct, you truly have to wonder why the Raptors would not reach a deal to have him come back.

He also had the best plus-minus figure of all the regular players at plus-five. The next regular on the list was Jakob Poeltl at minus-39. Boucher achieved that against second-string players, but unless you are planning on playing the first string all the time, it is useful to have someone capable of competing successfully against the opposing team’s second string.

I think you said something like “if he goes I will miss the big fellow.” Me too, and many more.

—Geoff Holland

I don’t care how much anyone appreciates Chris Boucher’s skills, to put him in the same category of Victor Wembanyama proves my point that you can manufacture, splice, make up numbers to make any point you want. And if you put any weight in that one, well, that’s wrong. Same with individual plus-minus.

That said, I am going to miss Chris. I liked talking with him, appreciate his efforts on the court and totally understand that an early-30s veteran backup is not what this iteration of the Raptors needed. I hope he’ll catch on somewhere; I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t.

First, a pox on any sports outlet that mentions a hot dog eating contest.

Is there a specific thing you can point to, to explain the continuing influx of French players in the NBA? Or did it just happen organically?

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I think we can just chalk it up to the vagaries of fate and eras. We saw it with Spain, we’re seeing it with Canada, now it seems to be France’s time. And to complete a circular story, back in the early 2000s it looked like Argentina — Manu Ginóbili, Luis Scola, Carlos Delfino, Andrés Nocioni, Walter Herrmann — was the hot country.

But as for a single reason? I can’t think if one, nor can I see which the next country will be.

Hey Doug, loved your article today about the state of the team and the challenges this presents for coach Darko.

My question is, given the trove of decent starters and young prospects the Raps have assembled now, who are you eyeing next season to make the biggest “surprise” impact. It seems there are a quite a few bench players who could take a leap if given more of an opportunity (i.e. a starter goes down with injury or others play their way out of the rotation).

—Bellevue Joe

My guess, and that’s all it is at the moment, is that fans should pay particular attention to Ja’Kobe Walter. Despite the various injury setbacks last season, there’s just something about him. And I know the biggest job this summer was to work on his body so that injuries don’t continue.

Happy summer, Doug.

Considering he inherited everything, I guess Edward Rogers showed us he doesn’t like people who achieve greatness through hard work, intelligence, dreaming big and charisma.

The real disaster of losing Masai Ujiri is not his absence in the minutiae of running the basketball team. It lies in the fact that the Raptors franchise is no longer represented by his presence in the basketball world. Masai is the dude in the growing global basketball world of player development and business. Not to mention his status in Africa as the conduit for many to start their journey to the best levels of pro basketball.

This short-sighted decision reeks of ill will and lack of understanding of what it takes to be great in international business. Since the dust has settled, what are the followup questions you’d like to ask of Raptors’ management?

The Canadian under-19 boys team gave it their all in a 108-102 loss to the U.S.A. in the quarterfinals of the World Cup on July 4. Some promising play and players.

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Yeah, the under-19 men were good, and so were the young women’s group at the AmeriCup. As of this writing, I don’t know what happened Saturday night against the U.S.A. obviously — I’ll say now I think Canada could win — but there are some good kids on that team. And the women’s under-19 team that starts next week in Czechia could be pretty good, too.

Hi, Doug.

A week later and many are still stunned by Masai’s sudden dismissal. I know there’s still going to be a lot of questions and head scratching despite your recent article about our current state of affairs. Still, I gotta ask:

1) Going back to draft night, moments before the ninth selection, all the TV pundits and on-air personnel are expecting, like many of us, to hear the name Khaman Maluach. Do you think time will eventually reveal how a sure thing never came to pass? Did Masai see the writing on the wall and decide to go another direction?

2) Speaking of Masai, there was some speculation that he could end up in Atlanta. I was surprised to learn that they already have a recently hired GM. But I was more surprised to hear of his Canadian roots! What do you know of Onsi Saleh? Based on the Hawks’ recent moves, he seems like a guy who would make a great GM here!

3) A quick glance at the Raptors’ Summer League roster (to date) reveals three centres, five forwards and eight guards (one combo forward-guard). Given the regular lineup, doesn’t it seem like we have too many guards and not enough centres (or forwards)? The Blazers had five centres until letting go of DeAndre Ayton, but will only have two in Summer League. Shouldn’t ɫɫ�� be trying to balance out our roster in a similar way?

4) It was suggested prior to last week that the Raptors wanted to be major players in the NBA this season, but no big trades to date. I know you mentioned why in an article this week, but do you think the major shakeup means no one can truly make moves until a new GM is in place? Or is it more likely that no compelling offers came out way, so no trades?

Bonus question: Do you get to attend Summer League in person? Do you think we’ll find another Branden Carlson this year? (BTW, congrats to the former Summer Raptor on his championship ring!)

Viva Las Vegas!

—Bernie M.

As the draft approaches, I didn’t think for a second the Raptors would take an unproven centre with the No. 9 pick who would, at best, be a backup to Jakob Poeltl, whose extension was in the works. And there’s no way Masai would have done anything other than make — in discussion with Bobby Webster and Dan Tolzman — the best pick for the team right now. There’s nothing there.

I don’t know a lot of Onsi Saleh except that he grew up in Edmonton and is a product of the San Antonio and Golden State programs, and that’s damn good. But one thing I do know is that Masai’s next job, wherever it is in whatever field it is, is not going to be solely running a basketball team. And Atlanta carries no interest, I don’t think.

The makeup of Summer League rosters has no bearing on the makeup of any regular-season team. Pay no attention to it and recall this, my adage: Summer League doesn’t tell you who can play in the NBA, but it tells you who can’t.

No, if a move comes up that Bobby Webster thinks will make the team better, he will be allowed to make it.

I am in fact off to Vegas, leave Tuesday. It’s going to be about 45C all week and, whoopee, can’t wait!

Doug, before the Raptors dealt away their core of Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, etc., I recall there was talk about management calling certain players, or their style of play, selfish. During this year’s playoff run, Siakam mentioned getting his passion back during his time in Indiana. One can look at these two statements and infer that there was some sort of issue between management and certain players, with Siakam likely included in that group.

Can you go into more detail as to what the behind-the-scenes issues were at the time and how bad (or not so bad) it really was? For example, what was the reason (other than a disappointing end to a disappointing season, which happens) that would prompt a team’s president to talk about his team in that way?

Was Masai targeting Siakam specifically with his comments? What was the issue, if not this, that Siakam was experiencing towards the end of his ɫɫ�� run that caused him to lose some of his passion for the game?

Thanks.

—Justin, ɫɫ��

I really think we might want to finish revisiting the 2020-22 period, but here we go one more time. Nothing was ever put to the feet of one player, coach or front-office big shot. As we’ve said since about 2021, the fraying of that group was just personalities not meshing and becoming increasingly dysfunctional. Some of it was money, some of it was on-court role, some of it was petty jealousy. We’ve said they were all part of it: coach Nick Nurse, Pascal, Fred, Scottie, Masai, OG, as were COVID, the Bubble, the Tampa Tank — there is no one culprit. No one moment.

Hi, Doug. As a long-time Raptors fan, and a 1981-82 high school basketball coach in remote Bihawana, Tanzania, I have one question: The Indiana Pacers have given everyone a different model to think about. Instead of building around a superstar trio, success in the NBA can be achieved with a team of really good players who can play multiple roles, great chemistry, great conditioning, fast pace, energetic defence, lots of minutes for players coming off the bench, etc. Could the ɫɫ�� Raptors learn a thing or three from what the Pacers have just shown us in these playoffs?

Thanks.

—David Rain

They should; everyone should. But will they is the question, and finding that perfect fit of personalities, egos and skills is far easier said that done.

I understand that the NBA requires that salaries must be equal going in both directions when teams trade players. Draft picks are often included in trades. Are these future picks assigned a dollar value and, if so, how is this determined?

—David Ash

Draft picks, before they’re made, have no financial value in transactions.

Hi, Doug. Been a fan since ‘95. Just a couple of questions:

From what you know, have the Raptors actively been trying to trade RJ Barrett, and if so why would they be considering the great relationships he has in the city and his fairly strong play of last season?

This roster seems so hodgepodge to be honest. A lot of young potential and some older B+ players … but where is the chemistry on this team? I imagine a whole bunch of starting units mixing and matching to see what fits this year. I don’t know if the playoffs are realistic.

Brandon Ingram playing a full season healthy is unlikely. The Raptors are at a really interesting period in their development. At some point they need a dynamic A1 player, but will they be able to compete at a high level before that happens?

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I don’t think they have actively sought to trade RJ in the least. His name comes up because of his play and his contract and what they would have to put in a big-time blockbuster. That’s it.

This group has better chemistry than any team for about 10 years, and that includes the 2018-19 championship team. And who knows, maybe a current player emerges as a dynamic A1 player. I know everyone says you’ve got to have “one” and OKC showed that, but tell me honestly: Who was the clear-cut A1 player in Indy? Tyrese Haliburton? Maybe. Siakam? Possibly.

And I’m not interested in debating the grade marks, but when you say “some older B+ players” do you realize that, aside from Poeltl and Garrett Temple, the oldest player on the roster is Ingram and he’s a ripe old 27.

Barnes, 23; Barrett, 25; Immanuel Quickley, 26; Walter, 20; Jamal Shead, 22; Gradey Dick, 21; Ochai Agbaji, 25. These are kids.