Report: Raptors close to extending GM Masai Ujiri's contract
This is an important move for Toronto
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2 min read
The Toronto Raptors and general manager Masai Ujiri are in "advanced negotiations" on a contract extension, according to ESPN's Marc Stein and Brian Windhorst. The report indicates Ujiri, whose original contract ran through the 2017-18 season, will stay with the Raptors "for the foreseeable future." This is an important move for an organization that wants to be seen as not only successful, but stable.
Ujiri arrived in Toronto in the summer of 2013. The Raptors had finished 34-48 the year before, and they did not have a draft pick. His first move was trading away Andrea Bargnani for a first-round pick and two-second round picks, a deal that seemed unbelievable at the time and looks even more unfair in retrospect. After that came the Rudy Gay trade and a completely unexpected -- even to Ujiri! -- turnaround. Since then, Toronto has:
- Hosted the All-Star Game, with two of its own players on the Eastern Conference squad.
- Re-signed those two players -- Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan -- in free agency.
- Signed key complementary players -- Jonas Valanciunas, DeMarre Carroll, Cory Joseph, Patrick Patterson, Terrence Ross -- to reasonable contracts.
- Found a gem with the No. 46 pick in the draft by selecting Norman Powell (after acquiring that pick in an excellent trade that also gave the Raptors a first-round pick in exchange for Greivis Vasquez).
- Set a franchise record for wins three years in a row, including 56 this past season.
- Won a playoff series for the first time since 2001.
- Advanced to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in franchise history.
- Opened a new, state-of-the-art practice facility.
You can fairly criticize the Raptors' approach to roster-building by pointing out that they're not on the same level as the Cleveland Cavaliers or Golden State Warriors and there is no obvious path to get there. It is impossible, though, to argue that they are in a worse place than when Ujiri took over. Just three years ago, Toronto was mired in mediocrity. Less than three months ago, it took two playoff games from the eventual champions. The culture and the perception of the team have both completely changed.
Back in April, the New York Daily News' Frank Isola reported that Ujiri represented a backup plan for New York Knicks owner James Dolan: should president Phil Jackson decide to leave New York, Dolan could throw a ton of money at Ujiri to replace him. The Raptors never wanted the Knicks or any other team to have a chance to poach him, and now it appears they don't have to worry about that.
