“I Was a Little Unfair”: Masai Ujiri Breaks Silence on Pascal Siakam & Others’ Departure, Contemplates Raptors’ Past Errors

Toronto Raptors President Masai Ujiri is still contemplating the departure of the players he had a bond with, like Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet, among others. Raptors was the home team for Siakam and VanVleet. Ujiri’s bond with the former was quite warming considering he teared up before announcing his trade to the Indiana Pacers in a three-team deal mid-season. Siakam was not the only gem Ujiri lost. VanVleet left the Raptors during the off-season and joined the Houston Rockets as it was “time for a change of scenery.”

Looking back on the absence of players like Siakam from the team, Ujiri opened up with Raptors analyst Blake Murphy sharing, “Maybe I was a little unfair[to former players]. Maybe it came off wrong how I used that.” The Raptors President feels guilty about the harsh measures that he took in the past. However, there was a bigger motive behind his aggression and discipline. Explaining his reasoning, Ujiri continued, “I was trying to be very aggressive with our team, trying to get us back to who we are, playing for each other, and winning.”

Toronto Raptors’ 2019 NBA title victory was a major breakthrough and Ujiri wanted to continue with the same attitude. However, the Raptors got dropped off the playoffs in 2021 for the first time since 2013-14. Ujiri’s efforts to revive the Raptors backfired, and he notably lost 2x NBA All-Star Siakam and Fred VanVleet. In his conversation with Murphy, the Raptors President hinted that few All-Stars always come from each draft, and it’s on them to find those guys. Seemingly he is looking for someone to fill the shoes of Siakam.

Loyal Gem Raptors lost apart from Pascal Siakam

Players like Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet are not the only ones that the Raptors could not get hold of. DeMar DeRozan was the franchise icon for the Raptors before anyone and spent nine seasons with them. Being one of the most resilient players in the NBA, he helped the Raptors to a record-setting 59-win season in 2018. However, he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs in the middle of the night for Kawhi Leonard. Klaw led the Raptors to the title in 2019 and delivered the best individual season in the franchise’s 28-year history, further clinching the Finals MVP title.

Leonard also left the Raptors in 2019 to sign with the LA Clippers. The rumor around the reason for him leaving the Raptors just after the Championship win was moving close to his hometown, Los Angeles, California. Losing such key players from the team was “not easy for anyone,” and “unwatchable at times,” as Ujiri mentioned in his conversation.

Despite facing challenges of all sorts in past years due to errors, Ujiri focused on how the Raptors are still holding strong. He shared, “I think the culture is one of the things that has held us from falling apart in tough times like this. I’m very proud (of everybody) staying with this and grinding it through.”

As it goes in Alchemy, one has to exchange something equivalent to get something of the same value. Raptors have gone through the same thing. After losing pivotal players, the team is rebuilding itself again with young stars like Scottie Barns under the supervision of Masai Ujiri. What do you all think the future holds for the Raptors?