Could Masai Ujiri make ‘explosive’ moves if Raptors don’t improve?

Masai Ujiri and the Toronto Raptors have already been put through quite a difficult series of challenges this season, as they stand at 11-11 despite some significant injuries to star players, a handful of starters regressing, and one of the league’s most difficult schedules to start the year with.

The Raptors figure to be a very active team in trade talks, as an impending contract extension for Pascal Siakam twinned with ownership’s desire to remain financially flexible could lead to some moves in the name of being fiscally savvy. There are some on-court issues that could also be corrected in hypothetical trades.

Just a few weeks ago, Doug Smith of the Toronto Star intimated that the Raptors were not going to make a ton of “explosive” moves until the 20-game or 25-game mark. Toronto is starting to cross that Rubicon, which could get the trade wheels spinning.

The Raptors have some very clear needs that will hold this team and make it very difficult for them to compete with some of the other elite teams in the conference. Ujiri has made a Hall of Fame career out of plugging holes as soon as they open up, and he may do so again this year.

Will the Toronto Raptors make major changes?

There have been some major rotation changes, but that’s been due to necessity rather than Nurse’s tinkering. Toronto went into the year expecting Precious Achiuwa and Otto Porter Jr. to be big contributors, yet both of them have missed weeks worth of games due to ankle and toe injuries.

Trading Trent has been the move that has been the most discussed, given the fact he can opt out of his contract. While those suggesting Thad Young get moved have been silenced due to his excellent play of late, he likely can’t be ruled out as a potential

While the Raptors will be in the play-in race, at the very least, Ujiri has been very open in his distaste for hovering around the middle of the NBA. He is clearly eyeing a second championship, and that means he won’t sit idly by and watch the Raptors continue to try and fit square pegs in round holes with an iffy roster.

The Raptors need some sort of system shock, and that could come by getting some new faces in the building. Ujiri committed to Siakam and Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes with the goal of becoming a champion, and he isn’t going to twiddle his thumbs why rivals in the division zoom by him.