The Hiring of Ed Stefanski and Why The Raptors are Missing the Point

by Adam Francis on Oct 27, 2011 12:00 PM EDT in Feature Stories

With the hiring of Ed Stefanski, the Toronto Raptors add another very experienced NBA exec. But did they miss the boat on grabbing a potential franchise culture changer? The HQ gives their take.

To the casual sports fan, yesterday's announcement that the Toronto Raptors had hired former New Jersey Nets and Philadelphia 76er exec Ed Stefanski, was probably met with nods of agreement, and thoughts of "seems like a good idea."

After all, perusing through the various local media takes on the hiring, lines like "wealth of experience" and "feel for the game" dominated the coverage, and so at first glance this hiring may seem like a very solid move.

Add in the fact that Toronto's front office is currently quite lean after the departure of Masai Ujiri, and a little "isn't this the guy who stole Vince Carter??!!" and yeah, bring on the Ed era!

And then I read the Raptors' official press release on the hiring.

From Raptors' GM and President Bryan Colangelo:

"Ed Stefanski embodies everything I was hoping to attain when the search began for a top level basketball executive to join our staff," said Colangelo. "Ed brings to the table experience, smarts and a great feel for the game and of people."

Here we go again.

I'm not going to say this is Hedo part II, but "embodies everything I was hoping to attain" scares the hell out of me. We're not talking about an executive with three rings courtesy of NBA championships here folks. We're talking about someone who tried bringing back Allen Iverson and who had a hand in drafting the following players from 2002 to 2007:

Nenad Krstic, Zoran Planinic, Antoine Wright, Marcus Williams, Josh Boone, and Sean Williams.

We're also talking about an executive who decided to dish out mammoth deals to an injured Elton Brand, and a non franchise piece in Andre Iguodala.

So Bryan Colangelo then was looking for another exec to help back him up on overpaying for mediocrity?

Because to me, that's what this signing amounts to - continued mediocrity.

Yes, as the presser noted, the Raps are bringing on someone who held "upper management positions with the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets, where his teams qualified for the NBA playoffs in eight of the past nine seasons."

But where's the beef?

Isn't this exactly what Liberty Ballers blogger Michael Levins warned us about when he noted that Stefanski "seemed to be constantly building to make the playoffs, and nothing else?"

And to me that's the real issue here.

Maybe Bryan Colangelo is indeed calling all the shots still, and Stefanski will simply represent another voice in the war room, but Toronto had a chance to hire someone completely different in terms of basketball beliefs and approach to the game.

And instead, they went for the known entity, someone that wouldn't rock the boat, and likely someone that passed the "oh we know him" test with MLSE.

The whole thing reminded me last night of a scene in the recent Hollywood adaptation of Moneyball, where at the start of the season, Brad Pitt, playing the role of Oakland GM Billy Beane, listens to his other front office execs evaluate potential free agents based on inane things like how attractive their wives are, and their locker room swagger. To me, Stefanski represents one of those types, touting years of NBA experience that have hardly shook the NBA to its core.

Yes, there are Jrue Holidays and Kenyon Martins to volley the other way, but it's hard not to think of both selections as no-brainers considering their draft classes, and overall Stefanski's resume reads a bit like the average GM.

Which is just about the return on investment I'm expecting from this move.

Doug Smith asked in his blog this morning, "what can it hurt," in relation to the hiring and I'd argue that it's that exact type of thought process that DOES hurt. The Toronto Raptors are not the LA Lakers. This team needs to start thinking outside of the box and looking for competitive advantages wherever they can find them, especially considering the lengthy, and perhaps"fan-base compressing rebuild ahead.

I firmly believed that guys like Kevin Pritchard and even Jeff Bower, represented steps in that direction.

Instead, we're left with someone who solicited the following reviews from our colleagues at NetsDaily.com:

Dumpy, Nets Daily Blogger: "For me, it's hard to properly assess Stefanski's contributions to the Nets in part because it is impossible to correctly recognize his role with the Nets. Where did Stefanski start and Rod Thorn end? All we have are rumors and suspicions. I believe that during Stefanski's time in New Jersey, Thorn continued to make all the important decisions, and he simply delegated the day-to-day stuff to Ed, but who really knows. All we know is that during Stefanski's time in the Nets' front office, the Nets gradually degraded from a strong playoff team to a marginal playoff team to an also-ran to a laughingstock. Was it Stefanski's fault, or was it Thorn's doing? Who knows? It was all so forgettable."

Ghoti, Nets Daily Blogger: "The Nets announced they were leaving NJ in 2004 and until Bruce Ratner sold the team winning wasn't the main priority. They were trying to sell tickets and placate what little fanbase they had.

I don't believe Rod Thorn had full autonomy and Stefanski likely had none. If it wasn't for Lawrence Frank, I think the whole thing would have fallen apart much sooner.

Personally, I always got the sense that Stefanski was a nice person who people liked but lacked intelligence. He had a cozy relationship with the beat writers and he was always good for a quote, which led to him saying a lot of things I found to be baffling, incomprehensible or just plain stupid. He also struck me as somewhat unprofessional.

Anyway, he probably has good relationships around the league, so as long as someone else does the heavy lifting he should be able to make the calls."

Does a lot of this sound familiar?

Now there's no guarantee of course that Pritchard or Bower would have amounted to better selections, especially if BC is still holding the magic wand of power.

Hell, for all we know, they might not have accepted the position in the end.

But as the Toronto Sun's Ryan Wolstat noted in his article regarding Stefanski, at least Bower was in the running up until the end and based on tweets from his agent, simply wasn't the team's final choice.

Why, we'll probably never know but what's certain is that BC now has indeed another set of eyes and ears, and Toronto has one less front office position to fill.

Beyond that, who knows, as much like his association with Rod Thorn, it will likely be hard to tell which personnel decisions should be associated with Stefanski, and which with Colangelo going forward.

Well...unless Allen Iverson becomes the Raptors' marquee free agent if/when the season resumes...

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After all, perusing through the various local media takes on the hiring, lines like “wealth of experience” and “feel for the game” dominated the coverage,

should read..

Ed will have a ‘experience of wealth’ in TO, and should be ‘game for the feel’…

I also believe that BC has purchased himself a scapegoat…. and a master of creating ‘amnesia’ with a side order of ensuring that fan-base is pacified by this guy…

Doesn’t mean we can’t have a ‘successful young team’…. in fact we will all be drinking that Kool-Aid whenever B-Ball returns….

'....as a child, I dreamt of being a baseball.'

by Jenge on Oct 27, 2011 12:44 PM EDT reply actions

I had the same thought about the scapegoat thing but BC only has 2 years on his contract and I do not see him making enough moves between now and then, combined with this club can only get better and you have a very difficult sell to anyone that BC isn’t to blame. Besides, if Steffani goes due to poor on court performance you can’t believe that BC will be absolved.

by McGateway on Oct 31, 2011 8:42 AM EDT up reply actions

Eric Smith Interviews Stef

coming on Sportsnet 500 THE FAN

http://player.rogersradio.ca/cjcl/on_air

by Buddahfan on Oct 27, 2011 1:05 PM EDT reply actions

Doug Smith

I don’t read a lot of his blogs but when I do, I usually cringe at what he says… He’s usually cool with the status quo, never seems to put management on the hot seat… It’s honestly to the point where I think BC pays him off or something to ALWAYS (at least when I read it) write positive reviews of the raps, even tho the team finished 22-60

by superAD on Oct 27, 2011 2:16 PM EDT reply actions

It’s a tad frustrating is it not? I mean, he’s not an employee of Raptors.com, or MLSE, so why do we constantly get stuff like this:

I’m sure there will be gaffes in the front office and successes, some deals will be good and some will be bad. It’s the way the game operates and anyone who thinks one guy is going to make some immediate impact or prove to be the difference-maker doesn’t quite understand how the game works.

Huh?

First off, you’re telling me one guy, like a Billy Beane, can’t make an impact in the face of dissentors?

And second, let’s say in basketball, that is the case.

Should it be?

Why shouldn’t the team STRIVE to bring someone in that WILL make a difference???

Adam Francis - Publisher - RaptorsHQ.com

by Adam Francis on Oct 27, 2011 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions

It Will Be Interesting To See

what transactions the Raptors make once they are allowed to

by Buddahfan on Oct 27, 2011 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Why shouldn’t the team STRIVE to bring someone in that WILL make a difference???

+ Infinity

by superAD on Oct 28, 2011 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Why shouldn’t the team STRIVE to bring someone in that WILL make a difference???

Just to play devil’s advocate here.

MLSE is a big corporation and BC mentioned in the presser how he wanted to hire someone who had previous experience as a GM who he thought could one day replace himself with regard to his Raptors related job responsibilities.

Stef talked about the importance of consensus decision making and even mentioned Tanenbaum as I recall a couple of times.

So maybe a lot of consideration was given here to a person that Tanenbaum and BC think will fit it with the MLSE culture as well as the person’s experience at the GM level.

As has been discussed previously more than once on RaptorsHQ maybe there needs to be a change in mentality and/or people at the top of MLSE with regards to the Raptors and management style.

The person could be the smartest GM in the world but if he/she clashes with the MLSE culture and people at or near the top like Tanenbaum and BC they will fail in their job no matter how smart they are with regards to basketball.

Maybe until their is a change in Raptors ownership or a change in people at and near the top ranks of MLSE this type of hiring is what Raptors fans can expect whether we like it or not.

by Buddahfan on Oct 28, 2011 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions

BTW when execs say consensus they actually me “I speak and you agree with me”.

by McGateway on Oct 31, 2011 8:44 AM EDT up reply actions

I think Doug Smith actually just uses random word generators until something resembling a blog comes out.

by McGateway on Oct 31, 2011 8:43 AM EDT up reply actions

We really have to wait and see

A report I read last night suggest there still might be an additional hire. But we should really wait and see how things play out in terms of responsibilities. How eager were the other candidates to take the VP position? No one seemed to be making this much of a fuss when the guy he replaced (Ujiri) left.

I can draw a baseball analogy if you want. Gord Ash was Pat Gillick’s assistant GM for eons, in particular during those really good world championship years. When the time came for Ash to assume the lead role, the results were meh at best. Some perspective is needed – he’s VP of basketball operations, not the GM. If his role within the organization capitalizes on his strengths then great.

He is reported to have some good knowledge of people around the league, what if this knowledge makes starting trade negotiations easier? We like to think that everybody likes everybody equally and thus deals with every other person in the same way but relationships still matter, there is competitive advantage in having good relationships with people you want to deal with. Don’t put it past Colangelo to use this as a strategic hire – i.e giving Stefanski this role sets the table for future discussions that could bring them Turner or Holliday for Bargnani.

And as for the Moneyball reference. In baseball nowadays every team seems to be using advanced stats to the point where I don’t think we can call them “advanced” anymore. The Oakland As, the posterchild organization for the movement, are no more competitive than they were before the onset of advanced stats use. My point is that type of knowledge exist in such abundance that I don’t think it’s fair to tear into the hire until all of the supposedly ongoing front office reconstruction is complete.

Happiness is that which gets lost in the details of its pursuit.

by HQ Interloper on Oct 27, 2011 2:24 PM EDT reply actions

Burn the descenter!

Wait and see?! Speculate about possible benefits of a BC move?! Imply that other candidates weren’t interested in the role that was being offered?! Suggest that the same ‘advanced stats’ ordinary fans look up on websites are commonly used by all teams in the Association – possibly even the Raps?! Listen HQ Interloser, BC is an idiot and hiring an experienced GM to sit at the board table with him is just more evidence to prove it. I hope you know I am being sarcastic. It seems that nearly everyone on this site wants a new GM. Everone got their hopes up that this hiring was our chance to get a guy like Pritchard (He drafted well with all those top 5 picks! So much better than what Stef drafted while the Nets were going deep into the playoffs).

I’m just sick of constantly fighting. End of the day, the Raps suck and have done for years – well forever actually. No point in me always trying to convince people to be more positive, it isn’t working anyway. And since the Raps suck, why bother being positive. It only means that people think that I am happy with mediocrity.

I just disagree with most on here about how to fix the Raps. Most here seem to think that if we fire BC, we’ll have to choose between RC Buford or Sam Presti to take over. Remember, it was a real coup when we signed BC. No one around the league thought he would join this organisation. Just attaching his name to our organisation added clout. Since then, he has made some good moves and some bad moves – but I dare say his standing around the league hasn’t changed. I don’t know that the Raps would be able to hire another GM with as much league wide clout. The reason why I think that is important, is that the Raps need a GM that will not be bullied by MLSE.

As I started, I’m sick of the fighting and negativity. I hope that my opinion is right and that BC is the best candidate to improve the Raps. I am luckier that most on this site because I get to find out. If we come out of this hellish stretch with a few good players and start winning some games and maybe even a few play off series, then I dare say the general tone in Raps kingdom will improve.

I am curious however, if the Raps do start winning, will the most negative commenters on this site continue to post? Or is there a ‘reverse bandwagon’ type of fan that only likes to be negative? There are folks on here that bug the hell out of me because all they do is dump all over BC, Bargs and pretty much every decision the team makes. I sincerely look forward to chatting with these same folks if/when the Raps turn the corner. Despite disagreeing with you, most of you are intelligent fans, it would be nice to be talking about how much better the Raps are rather than it ALWAYS being how shite they are. I don’t even care if it is BC or John Doe that turns this team around, its not about saying I told you so. I just hope that that talk is actually possible.

Walker McKenna

by Robert Archibald on Oct 27, 2011 7:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Don’t try to tell me Oden over Durant or trading Rajon Rondo for Brandon “no knees” Roy is good drafting at this point – I’m not buying it, plain and simple!

Fire Johnson and hire Van Gundy - I'm telling you Thorn was smoking something when he let Van Gundy slip away in the night.

by diehardNFFLbarnone on Oct 27, 2011 8:13 PM EDT up reply actions

I was still in sarcastic mode there

Walker McKenna

by Robert Archibald on Oct 27, 2011 8:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Really? When did Pritchard trade Rondo for Roy? He traded Randy Foye for Roy not Rondo. Boston acquired the pick they used for Rondo from Phoenix via the Lakers, Atlanta and Boston. Not sure how that all worked but the point is don’t say things that are not true to make a point about someone else being dumb as well frankly it just destroys what little credibility you have which is none.

by McGateway on Oct 31, 2011 8:52 AM EDT up reply actions

BC Said All You Need to Know About The Raptors Future

It is a business and we will continue to maintain cap flexibility,

In other words, profit before winning.

If you can win without spending a lot of money great, but we are not going to spend a lot of money in the hopes that we will win and still make a profit.

by Buddahfan on Oct 27, 2011 8:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Well

You can’t pin MLSE not spending money on BC’s ability to GM. During his tenure so far the Raps have never really been in a position where they really should be spending over the cap. Who knows what the next CBA will bring, but a hard cap or close to it will benefit the raps.

Walker McKenna

by Robert Archibald on Oct 27, 2011 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Highly Unlikely There Will Be A Hard Cap

We might have a deal tomorow Friday for Halloween.

by Buddahfan on Oct 27, 2011 10:01 PM EDT up reply actions

The Raptors will start winning eventually but like a lot of Raptor Fans you are not getting our point. BC has all the tools to turn this team into a playoff team but he has shown either no ability or desire to turn the Raptors into a Championship Caliber team and it is highly unlikely, given the state of the current roster, that will change in his remaining years as the GM. His best chance to turn things around would have been to bring in someone to rock the boat here. If that person doesn’t fit with MLSE’s culture then it is his job as the President to act as a buffer between them. Remember, there was a strong dissenting voice coming from the Teachers Pension Fund (the majority holder) to not re-sign BC just this past spring. BC should have taken the opportunity to try and get someone to compliment him with skills he lacks instead of someone who will compliment him on his tie.

P.S. I cannot help but connect some outside dots here and wonder how much Steffani’s experience with teams being sold, played into BC’s decision. Not like the Raptors are up for sale or anything right?

by McGateway on Oct 31, 2011 8:57 AM EDT up reply actions

"BC should have taken the opportunity to try and get someone to compliment him with skills he lacks instead of someone who will compliment him on his tie."

LOL, that was f’n brilliant!

by MAS11 on Oct 31, 2011 9:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Nervous

I was nervous about this choice until I heard that Doug Smith is all for it. If Doug Smith says it’s ok, then rest assured…grrr

He is not a journalist, he is a yes man and it’s sad he has such a big stage from which to speak.

This hire is not exciting and it does not change my feelings towards BC or the front office. But, if Ed can help make a few trades by using his relationships with other GMs, than it might be a great hire. Especially if he can move Andrea for something positive in return.

Truth be told, some people would have traded Andrea for Ed straight up; thus marking the only time in sports history that an average front office guy was traded for a franchise player straight up.

by defensive rap on Oct 27, 2011 2:38 PM EDT reply actions

He is not a journalist, he is a yes man and it’s sad he has such a big stage from which to speak.

Sad, yes. Not surprising though. How do you think he got the stage in the first place?

by dhackett1565 on Oct 27, 2011 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions

It is sad. And it’s funny to read that Stefanski is so good with the media etc because guess who that will appease…

Adam Francis - Publisher - RaptorsHQ.com

by Adam Francis on Oct 27, 2011 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Ahhh the paradox of media access. You need access to cover the team as a beat writer. However, if you’re like Doug Smith you feel you have to sacrifice your journalistic integrity to continue to be granted access. Sad…

by MAS11 on Oct 27, 2011 9:37 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Barney is not a franchise player. Not even an Olive Garden Franchise.

by McGateway on Oct 31, 2011 8:59 AM EDT up reply actions

+1 To this entire article

One of the best of the prolonged offseason so far Adam. Absolutely nailed it. Especially where you referenced how only the casual (I would say uninitiated or naive) fan could be anything but disappointed with this hire. I feel kind of sorry for those fans. They keep eating BC’s garbage, smile and ask for more. “just give bc one more chance. He’s started to get it” It’s like some so called Raptors fans have Stokholm syndrome…

by MAS11 on Oct 27, 2011 9:33 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

sheridanhoops Chris Sheridan
Lockout talks have ended for the day. More tomorrow. Hunter says sides within “striking distance of a deal.”
1 minute ago

by Buddahfan on Oct 27, 2011 9:59 PM EDT reply actions

Just A Coincedence That Amir and DeMar Have Arrived in T-Dot?

by Buddahfan on Oct 27, 2011 10:03 PM EDT up reply actions

They missed the strippers.

by McGateway on Oct 31, 2011 9:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Almost There

Sounds like once they agree which could happen this weekend then one week to write it up and about three weeks for pre-season.

82 games might still be possible using anyone or more of the three approaches below

1. Playing some back to back to backs
2. Condensing the playoffs
3. Extending the end of the season possibly into the first week in July

I wonder if the players will be able to talk with management before the agreement is actually signed

by Buddahfan on Oct 27, 2011 11:57 PM EDT reply actions

No way they extend the playoffs into July – too many of the big teams’ arenas are already booked into that time period.

They’ll have to stick to the days originally given to them as options by the teams last spring for booking. Each team provides the league with a certain number of dates (I think about 100, maybe more) that would be available for home games there, from which the league generates a schedule with 41 home games for each team. Those hundred or so dates will not have changed, so the league will have to schedule within those limits, perhaps with a few extra dates that simply haven’t booked yet.

Option 1 is very likely, but I doubt option 2 happens. More likely we’ll see a lot of 4 games in 5 nights stretches, 6 games in 8, and back-to-back-to-backs.

by dhackett1565 on Oct 28, 2011 8:20 AM EDT up reply actions

SamAmicoFSO Sam Amico
NY Times reports NBA has been calling arenas for dates in late April. So league likely trying to replace canceled first 2 weeks at end.
5 minutes ago

by Buddahfan on Oct 28, 2011 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions

Oh God I hope they get this resolved… I’m getting fantasy withdrawl!

by MAS11 on Oct 28, 2011 9:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Awesome if we have a season

looks likely and I think it will be a great season.

Should Toronto sign Iverson? Before you go nuts, think about it for a second. Minimum contract, one year with a team option for a minimum second year……I will elaborate later but I think it is a bad idea……….but it is worth considering and with Ed in the ear of BC, I could see an argument for this move.

My bet, we won’t do it and shouldn’t but it is more interesting than most people will think.

by defensive rap on Oct 28, 2011 5:00 AM EDT reply actions

I argue no. Last thing we need on a young team like this is an attitude like that. We talking about practice?

by dhackett1565 on Oct 28, 2011 8:21 AM EDT up reply actions

I can't believe you guys are even talking about this...

by MAS11 on Oct 28, 2011 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions

If you thought Bargnani was bad...

… a 36-year-old, under-six-foot Iverson (who probably still thinks he’s an All-Star calibre player) would be an unmitigated disaster. Think of a slower, over-the-hill version of Raptor-era Mike James.

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Oct 28, 2011 10:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Iverson

If you believe age caught up to A.I. and he can’t play anymore than no one should sign him. My guess, the way he plays, time caught up to him and his body took too much of a pounding and he just can’t do it anymore. I truly feel he is of no use to Toronto or any team in the league.

But we have a different brain trust with BC and I wondered if they considered this option. I hope they do not.

But if you believe he had marital trouble and he has turned his personal life around, maybe he is worth a minimum deal. Maybe he can regain some of his past glory. I don’t think so, but it’s not out of the question.

What amazes me is how quickly people forget how good he was and how fearless he was. I would love to see him play a few minutes a night and see if he is really willing to work his way back to play good basketball. Let’s just make sure it isn’t on our team. But wouldn’t you find it more entertaining to have him play on Minnesota than to just watch the Timberwolves. I find him exciting and would love to see him on another team, though I doubt he can even achieve that goal due to his past behaviour. But some people around the league are still considering take a flyer on him and I hope some sukka GM takes the bait if for no other reason it would be fun to watch. I doubt he can make it, but I doubted when he came out of University that he would ever lead the NBA in scoring, and he proved me wrong there, it would be fun to see him try to do it again.

by defensive rap on Oct 29, 2011 12:18 AM EDT reply actions