Former longtime Raptors team president Masai Ujiri, promoting his non-profit youth basketball organization Giants of Africa, opened up on “Good Morning America” about the end of his Toronto run this summer (YouTube video link).
The Raptors claimed their one and only franchise title with Ujiri running their front office in 2019, but in the intervening six years they have only made the playoffs twice.
“12 incredible years with the Toronto Raptors and I’m so grateful and thankful for the opportunity,” Ujiri said (h/t to Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca for the transcription via Twitter). “I love you, Toronto. A great part, great journey in my life. It’s time. Great things come to an end.”
Toronto and Ujiri’s divorce was reportedly a mutual decision.
The Raptors remain on the hunt for a long-term Ujiri replacement, even with the 2025 offseason well under way. Recently extended general manager Bobby Webster is slated to interview for his former boss’s old job.
There’s more out of Toronto:
Raptors center Jakob Poeltl inked a massive four-year, $104MM contract extension to remain in Toronto through 2029/30. A source tells Lewenberg that the final season is partially guaranteed. The 29-year-old big man has become one the league’s most underrated players, Lewenberg opines in another piece. Lewenberg acknowledges that Poeltl is more of a traditional five man, without a three-point shot, but has been a solid two-way contributor, and is clearly a building block Toronto hopes can steward the team into its next era of contention.
The Poeltl extension points to the Raptors’ need to pay a bit of a premium for quality talent, notes The Athletic’s Eric Koreen. Koreen considers the Poeltl deal to be something of an overpay for a mid-career, non-All-Star center with Poeltl’s aforementioned offensive limitations, but acknowledges it may just be the price of doing business for a Toronto team hoping to claw its way back to respectability. Given that Poeltl, Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett are all signed to significant eight-figure contracts, Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca notes that Toronto is hopeful the club’s more cost-effective young players can help give it a major depth edge soon.
In case you missed it, Raptors assistant coach Sergio Scariolo will wrap up his tenure as Spain’s national team head coach after EuroBasket this summer.