The title might have you a little flustered at first glance, but rest assured, as his current contractual agreement states, you'd have every reason to believe that Brandon Ingram is locked down with the Raptors for the next three years (and worth $120 million at that).
Ingram signed that deal shortly after joining Toronto in a shock trade deadline move that was arguably the Raptors' biggest roster splash in quite some time. But the motivations behind such a deal made a lot of sense. Sure, he's a guy who hasn't achieved much NBA winning success in his career, but he's still a former All-Star, a proven 20-plus point per game scorer, and seems to be a pure hooper at heart (who doesn't really pay much attention to all the stardom and hoopla that comes with being in the NBA).
But as Raptors beat reporter Josh Lewenberg outlined in his recent TSN article titled "Search for new Raptors president is underway, but the best candidate could be in-house," he revealed this:
Brandon Ingram faces uncertain Raptors future in the post-Masai Ujiri era
"However, the idea that he’s [referring to Bobby Webster] simply a Ujiri disciple is a misconception. Just because two people work closely together over a long period of time doesn’t mean they share the same tendencies ... According to multiple sources, Ujiri was the “driving force” behind the Brandon Ingram deal at last February’s trade deadline, while others in the room were less convinced about the fit and the timing. To just assume that [Bobby] Webster would pick up where Ujiri left off might be misguided. They could use a fresh perspective after missing the playoffs in four of the past five seasons, but they don’t necessarily need to look outside of the organization for that. The grass isn’t always greener."Josh Lewenberg, July 16, 2025
Based on recent reports, the Toronto Raptors are still actively searching for a successor to Masai Ujiri as president, with Bobby Webster currently serving as the figurehead in the interim. If Webster eventually assumes full presidential-esque responsibilities (whether he's given that title or remains as GM), he could significantly alter the team's roster management and strategic direction, potentially shifting Ujiri's previous influence.
And with that, the Brandon Ingram experiment could be the primary point of emphasis to address, especially if the results do not turn out as desirable as Masai Ujiri once hoped. There's definitely substance to Webster being a Masai Ujiri protege, but as Lewenberg mentions, it would be narrow-minded to assume he would simply revert to the old regime's ways, even if those ways align with his mentor's.
What will the new era of Raptors basketball look like? Will it be largely defined by how the future successor can salvage the roster and moves that Masai Ujiri made famous, or will the next generation represent a fresh chapter in Raptors history? That’s still a major question for Raptors fans moving forward, but it’s safe to say that Brandon Ingram’s time in Toronto might not be as relaxed as his contract suggests.