<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> TORONTO -- Wayne Embry, the consultant rarely consulted by the Toronto Raptors, was brought on board to help Rob Babcock ease his way through his rookie season as a National Basketball Association general manager. Now, after a tumultuous first season in which the Raptors underperformed dramatically and missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season, Embry's power base is being expanded. As first reported in The Globe and Mail 11 days ago, Embry will take a much more active role in the Raptors' basketball operations. It was announced yesterday that he has been appointed as the club's senior basketball adviser. </div> Source
I think when I read about it in the Star, they said it was a blatant slap to Babcock's face. That Embry was rarely consulted and now he will be watching any move that Babcock makes.
Embry has tonnes of experience, so I don't know why Babcock would want to consult his brother first, who got fired by the Atlanta Hawks as GM. Personally, I think this move is a warning to both Peddie and Babcock. Promoting Embry shows that the board is losing confidence in Babcock, but also shows that they know Peddie doesn't know jack about basketball.
I like this move. It finally gives the Raptors some sort of credibility at the president position. It also puts him more in charge of Rob Babcock. Trip hit in right on the head when he talked about Rob getting advice from his brother Pete. Pete was known throughout the Hawks organization as one of the worst GM's ever. Another thing I like about this move is the fact that Mitchell and Embry have a very close relationship with each other. Mitchell has stated that the only people he turns to in the organization is Embry and his assistant Jim Todd. Hopefully this can bridge the communication with himself and Babcock as well as give himself more power on who to add/drop on this team.
