If all that matters is getting to the right destination, the bobbing and weaving it takes to get there really shouldn鈥檛 be a concern.
So with聽the Raptors deciding to go all-in Monday and give Bobby Webster the run of basketball operations, calling him president or general manager or vice-chairman or chief cook shouldn鈥檛 matter a lick.
What Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment did was very much the logical end of what turned out to be a convoluted process. And logic needs to trump the play every time.
The title? Who cares? Not Webster.
鈥淭he title, to me, probably isn鈥檛 as important as the responsibilities,鈥 Webster said in a conference call with a half-dozen reporters after the announcement that his contract had been extended but that MLSE was not appointing a president at this time.
鈥淚鈥檓 really thankful for this opportunity. I鈥檒l make the most of it and that鈥檚 not something that concerns me.鈥
The 40-year-old Webster will continue doing what he鈥檚 done since MLSE聽let Masai Ujiri go on late June. He has the final say in basketball matters, he has a staff in place that he doesn鈥檛 expect to add to in the short term and he has the blessing of ownership to do what he sees is needed to return the Raptors to relevance in the NBA.
Does it look good on MLSE鈥檚 ownership? Probably not, but multibillion dollar sports monoliths are low-hanging fruit to the braying masses and MLSE is not averse to it. No matter what it ultimately did, there would be criticism.
From current GM Bobby Webster to former head coach Dwane Casey, we look at five candidates who could be 色色啦’s next head of basketball operations.
From current GM Bobby Webster to former head coach Dwane Casey, we look at five candidates who could be 色色啦’s next head of basketball operations.
But taking a step back should reveal this: MLSE thought the idea of a presidential overseer made sense but, when it came time to find one, no one leaped across the table in the interview process.
The organization talked to the obvious and well-reported. Sources say the Detroit Pistons’ Dwane Casey and the Indiana Pacers’ Kevin Pritchard were told of the final decision minutes before someone leaked the Webster news to ESPN. Other sources say a handful of former general managers and a couple of player agents had thrown their names in the hopper.
When push to came to shove, though, none was outstanding, so MLSE took a step back.
鈥淲hen we weighed the many considerations, including roster construction, team culture and competitive landscape, it made perfect sense to officially hand the team to Bobby and give him the time and support to allow his plan to develop,鈥 MLSE president Keith Pelley said.
Not giving Webster the title right off the bat is in part to see if he can prove his mettle as the final arbiter of basketball decision. Sure, saving on paying a high seven- or eight-figure salary isn’t an unwise decision either.
There may be a point when MLSE wants to name a president聽鈥 and it may eventually be Webster if he shines as the undisputed leader of the organization聽鈥 but that point isn鈥檛 now.
Webster now must put his stamp on the franchise. He is a highly respected executive around the NBA and, not insignificantly to MLSE ownership, he won鈥檛 cast a huge shadow over the franchise. He is also familiar with the fact his responsibilities are wide-ranging.
鈥淭o me, there’s 30 of these jobs in the NBA, but this one, to me is one of one, for all the reasons: the platform you have here, the opportunity we have with Canada, with Canada Basketball, with all the kids growing up in Canada playing,” Webster said. “I just really think that there’s not a more unique basketball job in the world.鈥
The Hawaii native won鈥檛 stand on a stage and shout 鈥淔—- Brooklyn鈥 and he won鈥檛 go all fire and brimstone insisting 鈥渨e will win again in 色色啦鈥 at every chance. To know Webster is to know his understated manner. And maybe that鈥檚 what is needed, a 40-year-old who might better connect with players and their agents.
鈥淥bviously, Masai was incredibly inspirational and motivational 鈥 but I鈥檓 going to be Bobby and I think people know who that is,” Webster said. “I鈥檝e been around the industry for a while, so I鈥檓 not too worried about it.鈥
And being Bobby means being a bit more introspective than his predecessor.
鈥淚鈥檝e certainly thought a lot about this 鈥 in many ways I鈥檓 ahead of my time,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 finished university at 20, GM at 30, we win a title at 32, I鈥檓 here in this position at 40.
鈥淪o a lot of it is leading people that are older than you, leading people that are in often cases more experienced. Now I鈥檓 transitioning to be that person where maybe I have more experience, but I am still sort of relatable and young. I鈥檓 not going 鈥 to be this authoritarian corner-office type.”
MLSE has given Webster the power聽鈥 they鈥檝e given him more time (no one is sure of the term but he had a year left and, this deal probably adds another two years to that. And they鈥檝e given him a bump in salary that鈥檚 good, to be sure, but not bank-breaking.
Now all that matters is if the Raptors can start winning again. The day Ujiri was let go, it was obvious to many that giving Webster the job was the logical move. It took some time but MLSE came to the right decision. Webster has聽a wide array of experience and a track history of success.
鈥淚 think with this team and with this specific point in time, it is ready 鈥 to make the next step,鈥 he said.
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