3 reasons for Toronto Raptors fans to be thankful this season

1. Masai Ujiri

Ujiri’s contract was up at the end of last season, opening the window for what would’ve been a genuinely shocking departure. The prospect of Ujiri leaving the Raptors for other opportunities within the NBA sounded genuinely unnerving for this fanbase. Luckily, Ujiri took measures to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Ujiri not only returned to the Raptors, but he did so while earning a nice little title change that deems him both the president and vice-chairman. His fingerprints are all over this franchise on and off the court, and that asset alone makes Ujiri one of the most valuable decision-makers in the league.

Masai Ujiri is back in charge of the Toronto Raptors.

While the Raptors’ roster is lacking in centers and bench shooters, Ujiri drafted Barnes, signed Gary Trent Jr. to a very reasonable contract, and resisted the temptation to blow it up and rebuild by trading away the starts. Fans should feel more than confident with him at the helm.

Ujiri and Bobby Webster have built this team into champions, meaning that there is no duo more qualified to guide this organization back to the mountaintop. Ujiri did what no other Raptors executive before him managed to pull off when he won that title, and that should give him carte blanche to do as he pleases as he tries to pull off a rebuild.