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What’s the long-term plan for Masai Ujiri’s Raptors?

By Brian Boake

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We seem to receive almost daily notices from the Toronto Raptors about new players signing contracts, and there’s been a pressing need to cover that news. Perhaps it’s premature to step back and ask “where’s all this activity leading us to?” – but I’ll do it anyway. I’m maintaining my view that the 2015-2016 NBA season is not the one GM Masai Ujiri plans to “push”. However, eventually he and his team need to win big, and I think Masai knows when and how to get into championship mode.

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Apr 14, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens (left) and Toronto Raptors head coach Dwane Casey watch from the sideline as they take on the Boston Celtics in the first half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

The importance of our team’s playoff flameout cannot be overstated. Everyone involved with the Raps hoped the squad could win one or even two series, thus cementing themselves as a serious contender. However, the Washington Wizards had other ideas, and the confidence-building exercise failed miserably. The disaster convinced Masai (who probably was already sure) that his roster wasn’t ready for the ultimate challenge. He had already made the non-decision to retain his coach, Dwane Casey, and now needed to flush the remnants of the Bryan Colangelo era. UFAs Chuck Hayes and Landry Fields were certain to be cut adrift, and Amir Johnson left for Boston of his own accord.

We need to bear in mind that the acquisition of DeMarre Carroll via free agency was by no means a slam dunk. Carroll had scheduled meetings with other teams, but cancelled them after hearing the Raptors’ pitch. Shortly thereafter, our new man signed a contract. Bismack Biyombo and Luis Scola were then offered, and accepted, professional lifelines. What if only one, or none, of these worthies decided to become members of #We the North? The same principle applied last summer, when Masai targeted our UFAs (Kyle Lowry, Patrick Patterson, Greivis Vasquez), all of whom returned. Whatever elixir Masai is selling, players he wants are buying. Contrast that with NBA swamps like Sacramento, or New York, or the Lakers, where free agents don’t dare to tread.

Here’s the point of the brief history lesson: Toronto is now an acceptable, even desirable, city for NBA players. We finally have all the boxes checked. The team is a (regular season) success, the coach is well-regarded, the GM is revered, our building and (finally!) our practice facility are first-class, there’s a nearby D-League team for young guys to hone their skills, the fan base and city are admired around the league – what’s not to like? If all that isn’t enough, the future hasn’t been mortgaged to pay for the present. We haven’t swapped away our precious first-round draft picks; in fact, we have two next summer.

Let’s assume next season unfolds as it should. With the trade deadline approaching, and the Raptors playoff-bound, Masai convenes his brains trust and asks “Where are we?” If the consensus is “good, but not great”, he can leave well enough alone, hope for a deep playoff run, and target ’16-’17 as the go-for-it season. However, should the Eastern Conference be without a favourite [LeBron is limping, Miami doesn’t mesh, Atlanta falls back, Boston isn’t ready – anything can happen], Masai might decide to make a few last-minute moves. One never knows when opportunity will knock.

The beauty of our team’s situation is that our GM has enough draft picks, and useful players on reasonable contracts, to take the conservative stand-pat stance, or sacrifice a piece or two of our future to grab that one Paul Pierce-type guy to contend for a championship. There are precious few teams in the NBA in our position, and it is a tribute to Masai that we’re here.

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