Power Ranking the Toronto Raptors’ Six General Managers

#2: Masai Ujiri (2013-Current)

Sep 29, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri during a media interview at Raptors Media Day at The Real Sports Bar Toronto. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports

Sure, this may be a premature pick. Masai Ujiri has only been around Toronto for a year, but it seems like everything he has touched so far has turned to gold. He is credited with transforming the roster last season, turning the team into the squad that earned a franchise best record and finished third in the Eastern Conference. This season, they are right back at it, currently sitting in third in the East.

There are two moves worth mentioning here. First, after only a month of the job, Ujiri did what so many Raptors fans had been asking for for years: he got rid of Andrea Bargnani, allowing the team to finally rebuild without their most disappointing ‘star’. The Bargnani move freed up space for future deals, none of which have been more important and consequential for the team’s success than the Rudy Gay trade.

Gay was traded on Dec. 8, 2013, to the Sacramento Kings alongside Aaron Gray and Quincy Acy. Ujiri successfully found a team willing to take on the nearly $38 million left on Gay’s contract. In return, the Raps received Patrick Patterson, John Salmons, Greivis Vasquez and Chuck Hayes. These supporting players helped the Raptors tear up the league after Christmas, vaulting into the third spot in the East.

Ujiri helped the Raptors become a far more team-focused group. While the team has stars (Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan), no one player is looked force to take the ball every time a basket needs to be made. The Raptors share the ball and actually enjoy playing together. This is a credit to Ujiri’s managing.