Toronto Raptors General Manager Masai Ujiri is entering the 2024-25 NBA season as the still-sitting Raptors front office leader. Yet, with the recent developments considering Rogers Communications, MLSE, and Bell Canada, one of the NBA’s best GMs might be on shaky ground as the new season approaches.
Mastermind Raptors GM Masai Ujiri Has Unknown Future Ahead
Masai Ujiri and Raptors Ownership Aftermath
The Toronto Raptors struck gold with Masai Ujiri in 2013 when he agreed to be the team’s new GM. Under Ujiri, Canada’s only living and surviving NBA franchise experienced its most competitive years. Now, eleven years later, the man responsible for much of the Raptors’ success prior to the team’s fall has an unknown future ahead of him in Toronto.
The ownership shake-up saw Bell Canada sell its shares of the Toronto Raptors team—more than a third of the total team shares. With Bell Canada now out of the picture, Rogers Communications, which already owned 37.5 percent of the team, now holds 75 percent of the Raptors to its name, becoming the majority owner. Ujiri comes into play here as it relates to his job security and who owns Rogers Communications—Edward Rogers.
Rogers and Ujiri have endured a shaky and uncomfortable relationship over the years. Certain roster moves and front-office salary issues were prevalent in the two executives’ professional relations. Considering this, speculation is that Ujiri isn’t so safe in his GM chair at the moment.
Ujiri Leaving Toronto isn’t a New Rumor
Since Ujiri moved to trade beloved Raptor star DeMar DeRozan during the summer of 2018 for Kawhi Leonard, and subsequently, a Finals run and win that same season, the Raptors have taken a significant step backward. Leonard departed Toronto for Los Angeles following the championship run. Kyle Lowry, another beloved Raptor, was also shipped out by Ujiri. With Lowry gone, it was ushering in a new era with Scottie Barnes as the focal point. Despite Barnes’s enormous upside and potential, the last several years have not been kind to the Raptors. The team has only made the playoffs once since their 2019 title win.
Since then, Ujiri made some questionable roster and draft decisions (insert Fred VanVleet, minus Scottie Barnes), and his name was floated around to take other vacant GM positions with other teams. However, nothing has ever martialized, and he has remained with the Raptors. The Washington Wizards are the most recent franchise to take a serious run at Ujiri following Toronto’s championship. The New York Knicks have also attached themselves to Ujiri in the past.
Revamping the Raptors NBA Popularity
Despite Ujiri’s missteps as of late, he was instrumental in resetting the Raptors image and popularity in the NBA, especially in their home nation. Under Ujiri, Jurassic Park was born—one of the NBA’s most prestigious, eventful, and one-of-a-kind NBA fan experiences. Ujiri is also the architect who brought Toronto’s only NBA championship to Canada. Moving DeRozan was a bold move—one that paid dividends in the end. Since taking over the Raptors in 2013, Ujiri has been considered one of the league’s top executives. Teams have been chomping at the bit to lure him away from Toronto. However, Ujiri’s workmanship has dipped in recent years, so the powers that be may see enough reason to move on from him.
Ujiri’s Future in the Air
It’s possible that Masai Ujiri’s time up North may be coming to a close. The Raptors may do well to have a change of leadership up top. With Scottie Barnes considered as the franchise’s future and his own career barely begun, it could be the right time for a change. Not to mention a young head coach going into his second year, Darko Rajaković, factored into the equation.
On the flip side, if Ujiri stays one more year, the Raptors will need to excel this season. Scottie Barns will also have to take his development to a whole other level. Perhaps a playoff appearance would give Ujiri a little more room to breathe.
