Raptors boss Masai Ujiri on titles, tanking, drafting, Brandon Ingram and more
'We want to win. And I believe we'll win here again.'
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Masai Ujiri is now a dozen years into his tenure as boss of the Toronto Raptors and it doesn’t sound like he’s ready to slow down or is any less passionate about Canada’s only NBA franchise.
Ujiri, now the club’s president and vice-chairman, held court with the media Wednesday for his annual season-ender and with many topics, including the team’s improved on-court chemistry — “A-plus,” Ujiri said when asked about how this group compares to the one referenced in previous comments that the old Raptors were too selfish. “We have that focus of playing together and playing the right way … it’s really built our culture.”
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Topics also included the future outlook for the franchise, both on the floor and on the cap-sheet.
Ujiri said he’d “go with what he said,” referencing comments by Scottie Barnes on Monday that the Raptors should get back to the playoffs next season.
He did say the end goal is bringing another championship to Toronto and Canada and that’s how he and his staff measure progress, how much closer are they to getting there.
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In terms of the ballooning payroll, which could go over the luxury tax if the Raptors get some lottery luck at the May 12 draft lottery, Ujiri said: “I think it depends on the kind of talent we have on the team and the kind of players you have on the team. So, we’ll see how the draft goes and where we are.
“I think ownership will be fine with it, depending on the type of talent we have on the team. It’s our job to say and project where this team is going to go.”
In short, if they get Cooper Flagg or Dylan Harper, ownership will probably OK a hefty payroll.
Ujiri was asked by Postmedia whether looming ownership changes — Rogers has already agreed to buy out Bell while the other longtime owner of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, Larry Tanenbaum, can be bought out by Rogers by the summer of 2026, according to numerous reports — will impact how he or the Raptors operate.
“I don’t see anything (changing),” he said. “People kind of see it as new, but it’s almost kind of the same being that we have had Edward Rogers and Tony (Staffieri, the CEO of Rogers) and these guys for how many years I’ve been here, so no relationships have changed. Everything has been normal.
“I think having a unique CEO like Keith (Pelley, the new president of MLSE), you know, like that, really takes on the leadership and really communicates with all the teams and sees the growth of all the teams. It’s different in some kind of way, but it’s what you want in the organization.
“So I’ve had the same relationships with all these people. Keith was new, but it’s honestly been great, but it’s been the same relationship and been the same way and the same communication, which I am happy about.”
A key theme of Wednesday’s availability was whether the Raptors “tanked” hard enough, given the extremes teams like Utah, Philadelphia and Brooklyn, amongst others, went to in terms to maximize their shot at Flagg and the other top prospects.
“Yeah it’s tough. That’s the toughest question. We’re always going to build from within,” he said.
Ujiri said he likes to instil winning habits to prep players for the future and, without mentioning tanking specifically, said: “I think sometimes it’s a little bit overrated with the teams’ approaches (to going scorched earth for lottery balls.
“It’s a good draft. And honestly, wherever we fall, we feel very confident. Our (scouting staff) have done a lot of work all year. We’re extremely excited. It’s a good draft.”
He could have added they struck gold with a bevy of far-later picks last year, so even if they land seventh or eighth and not in the Top 4, they have a good chance at adding a big piece.
As for Ingram, the former all-star who came over from New Orleans and is pegged to help solve Toronto’s issues on offence, particularly late in games, the gist was when a player of Ingram’s talent becomes available for the low-ish cost it took to acquire him, it’s wise to pounce.
“We focused on getting better and I think talent acquisition is big for us,” Ujiri said.
“And trading for Brandon Ingram and then signing him, extending him, I think just in a tiny little way of where we are this kinds of helps us head towards our goal, which is getting better and adding more players and building this team and growing to be a championship team. A championship is the end goal of all of this and when that comes, we don’t know but we have to identify those players and build with those kinds of players.”
Ujiri also spoke about how the addition of Ingram fits into the team’s rebuild.
“Maybe by expediting (the rebuild, which is a fair point since Ujiri said the word patience about 10 times at this gathering a year ago) you’re talking about the Brandon Ingram trade. Young player still, young in the league, very talented and kinda fits — we hope fits, he hasn’t played yet, but we think he fits — the mold of how we play and what we need on this team,” he said. “At the end of the day, you have to acquire talent, we have to do it in a unique way in the market that we’re in (meaning top free agents aren’t signing in Toronto or many other markets that aren’t New York Los Angeles or Miami), and we’ve got to jump on opportunities that come our way, sometimes after we really study them.
“We felt this was a unique opportunity for us, it fits but it doesn’t stop our rebuild, it didn’t mess with it so we continue on that path.”
Finally, Ujiri made it clear that after 12 years in charge, plus time heading Denver and a few years in a lower managerial role prior in Toronto, plus his time as a scout, he still has a passion for basketball and team-building.
“Every day I wake up, I sleep, I drink, I eat, is to come and trying to win. You know, nothing else. There’s nothing else that I think of in terms of sports than trying to win,” Ujiri said after noting that, even after winning the NBA title, he didn’t get to enjoy it the way he would want to because of the unfortunate incident with the clueless security guard in Oakland and because he was immediately thinking about if he could re-sign Kawhi Leonard.
“There’s no time to enjoy it. There’s nothing. And yeah, I guarantee you, I’m going to enjoy it. And I guarantee you, we are going to win here. That’s like, where my mind is in terms of the day to day job,” he said.
“There’s nothing like hanging out with my guys and talking about players and trying to figure out systems innovation and making us bigger and bigger. That’s for me. That’s how I how I see it.
“I also see this league and where this league is going. And every day you try to envision what the advantages are going to be for you as a team, that’s for me, that’s competing every day, those 29 other teams, when they kick our butts, we want to kick their butts too.
“We want to win. And I believe we’ll win here again.”
@WolstatSun
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