Raptors: Bobby Webster officially extended, is Masai Ujiri next?

As good as the Toronto Raptors have been on the court over the last few seasons, they owe a great deal of success to the front office, as the dynamic duo of Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster helped the Raptors draft well, remain aggressive in free agency, and pull off some huge trades that gave Toronto their first-ever NBA championship.

Amid some rumors that Ujiri, currently serving as the president, could leave Toronto and take on the monumental task of rebuilding the Washington Wizards, the Raptors decided to lock up one-half of the brain trust to try and keep Toronto competitive.

After Doug Smith hinted that Webster has agreed to an extension, the Raptors made the move official this afternoon, agreeing to a contract extension with their 36-year-old whiz kid general manager that keeps him north of the border for the foreseeable future.

“I think everyone knows what Bobby brings to our organization: intelligence, poise, and creativity,” Ujiri said. “I’m very pleased that our team will continue to benefit from his many skills for seasons to come.”

Bobby Webster could keep the Toronto Raptors a consistent winner

Ujiri came to the Raptors after working in the NBA’s legal office for years. Since arriving in 2017, he has helped negotiate the Kawhi Leonard deal, facilitated the hiring of Nick Nurse as the next head coach, and secured extensions for players like Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby. While getting free agents to choose Canada can be tough, Webster has built quality teams every year he’s been here.

Webster said that he is excited to “continue the work of building the next Raptor championship team – a goal which is part of our organizational DNA.” Webster also thanked Larry Tanenbaum, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, and the Raptors organization for believing in him as they entrust him with even greater power moving forward,

While an executive like Ujiri leaving for Washington would be a potentially destabilizing event for most franchises, having someone like Webster, who is just getting his executive career started, able to take on an increased role should give nervous Raptors fans an extra sense of security.

Webster might not have the pedigree or visibility of Ujiri, but he has been helping make the Raptors one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference for years. With or without Ujiri, the Raptors should be in good hands as long as Webster’s fingerprints are all over this roster, coaching staff, and organization.

Time will tell if Ujiri follows suit, or if he decides to head back to America and try to fix the grease fire that is the Wizards.

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