When I think about how Raptors President Masai Ujiri carries himself, I don't see him as a pessimistic or nervous person. He tends to maintain a positive mindset and is straightforward about the steps needed to elevate his franchise to the next level.
While he's the chief of operations at the top of the Raptors' hierarchy, he's still part of a larger team, especially when it comes to the owners of the franchise, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE). Ujiri's strong relationship with the MLSE group, particularly with Larry Tanenbaum, is well-known. Given this positive dynamic, one might assume that Ujiri's time in Toronto is set to last a while.
Ujiri's future with the Raptors has been in a bit of limbo since the championship run, yet he’s stayed in the city despite all the chatter. However, with recent rumors of a potential ownership change, Ujiri's time to make an impact may be limited now more than ever.
Masai Ujiri's bold moves must pay off to secure his job
Bobby Marks from ESPN shared his insights on the Raptors' future in his detailed NBA offseason 2025 guide. He noted that the top priority for the front office is:
"The draft, roster evaluation and health. This is only the third time Toronto has had a lottery pick since 2016. The highest they have drafted since Ujiri took over was when the team took Barnes at No. 4 in 2021."Bobby Marks on Raptors' priorities
Ujiri proved he isn't afraid to make bold moves when he went all-in to acquire Brandon Ingram from the New Orleans Pelicans at this year's trade deadline.
Since Ingram was recovering from an ankle injury, he sat out the rest of Toronto's season, which means the Raptors won’t see how he fits into the team's dynamics until next season starts. Putting in the effort to bring in a high-caliber talent was just the first step for Ujiri. Now, the real challenge is determining how well Ingram fits into a winning Raptors core.
Perhaps even more crucial is the fact that the Raptors will be in the lottery for the 2025 NBA Draft. Although their chances of snagging the first overall pick dipped with their late-season success, they'll still have a good shot at landing a solid prospect. Ujiri needs to bring in a prospect with significant potential to change the franchise’s future, while also ensuring this player can contribute immediately to Toronto's playoff hopes.
For Ujiri, he cannot afford to be a lottery team for another five years. He must prove that these significant moves were the right decisions, or it could ultimately cost him his job.
I’m not saying this is a championship-or-bust season. Clearly, this core isn’t quite ready to contend for a title just yet, but they do have the right pieces to build toward it.
Bobby Marks notes in his ESPN article that:
"[Bobby] Webster and president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri have taken the approach of not bottoming out and building solely through the draft. Instead, the goal has been to add established young players... "Scottie Barnes is 23, Immanuel Quickley is 25, RJ Barrett is 24, Brandon is still just 27. So I think even from that perspective, it's a young core," Webster said. "We'll continue the rebuild, I think this is a progress. No change in progress or timeline.""Bobby Marks on Raptors' direction
If this team, along with the addition of Ingram and a top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, makes up the final roster, then the Raptors need to show they’re significantly better than the 30-52 record they posted this year. As long as injuries or unforeseen obstacles don't derail their progress, fans should have high hopes for this team moving forward.
A middle-of-the-pack seed in the Eastern Conference seems like a realistic goal, at the very least. While landing a play-in spot isn't the ideal situation, it's up to Ujiri to continually adjust the lineup and find the best strategies to elevate the Raptors beyond mediocrity. Whether it involves seeking another surprise star trade or making lateral moves with the current roster, only time will tell.
If Toronto can deliver a surprise season turnaround, similar to what we’re seeing with the current-day Detroit Pistons, it would definitely be a significant achievement for Ujiri and company.
The stakes are high for Masai Ujiri moving forward. It’s clear that Toronto can’t keep coasting along and being lackadaisical anymore. Ujiri made a decisive win-now move, the offseason has more in store, and now it’s time to deliver on those decisions.