Now that Ujiri has been (rightfully) fired, can we talk seriously about how awful his GMing has been
Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 12:58 pm
Let's start with the most recent move, Brandon Ingram.
Brandon Ingram is the culmination of the Pascal Siakam trade. Toronto sent Siakam to Indiana for Bruce Brown, Kira Lewis, Jordan Nwora, and 3 first round picks. With that pick they selected Jakobe Walter. They flipped Kira Lewis Jr. into Ochai Agbaji and Kelly Olynyk.
With Olynyk and Bruce Brown and one of the picks they flipped that into Brandon Ingram. Btw, Indiana got that pick back from the Pelicans.
Masai immediately extends Ingram, who is injured btw, 3 years $120 million.
Brandon Ingram has never played 65 games in his career. He's never played 65 games for his career while also almost never making the playoffs, oh and Masai got him while he was injured. He's going to be 28-30 on that contract as an injury prone player.
Now let's move onto another more recent move, the return for OG Anunoby. OG was shipped out with Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and a 2nd round pick. Indiana and Memphis offered them 3 first round picks, but Masai wanted real players, not to rely on his drafting ability. Btw, those Memphis picks, could have been quite juicy.
Obviously Masai can't just trade for guys, he has to EXTEND them, because he has PTSD from the legendary Kawhi Leonard trade where he got his guy and then Kawhi walks immediately. Masai is so concerned that teams will be biting at Immanuel Quickley so he gives Quickley $175 million (btw Quickley was exclusively coming off the bench for a majority of his career, but hey it worked for JAMES HARDEN) and thankfully RJ Barrett was already locked up @ a nice $107 million extension so Masai was ecstatic to have his 53% career TS non playmaking, mediocre defensive wing! Did you know RJ Barrett is below 70% on his career FTs?
Oh and we cannot forget about Scottie Barnes, so many teams were willing to offer him the max extension as a RFA, Masai was so worried that he would piss off his superstar SCOTTIE BARNES, so he flat out offers the extension without waiting for anyone else to speak up. Can't risk seeing him walk just like Fred Vanvleet or Kyle Lowry.
Oh yeah, let's talk about the guys that had value that Masai let walk. Obviously there's the infamous Kawhi Leonard situation, but let's not forget that Kyle Lowry was supposed to be traded, but ultimately was denied because Masai wanted TALEN HORTON TUCKER included in the deal and the Lakers refused to give him up.
Oh yes and Fred Vanvleet, your undrafted gem who miraculously makes an All Star team, well he's a clear culture setter, part of what we're trying to do, no need to ever trade him, we're not worried about the fact that he could decline his PO 2 years after his All Star selection and try and force his way elsewhere, no need to consider trading him.
Oh and in case you forgot, Serge Ibaka had a career year on the Raptors prior to walking as an FA. Serge had Toronto on a 15-8 season shooting 38% from 3, but nah, we don't him trade him in the middle of his obvious attempts to get a payday, we'll hold him. He's not tight with our former fun guy Kawhi Leonard, they wouldn't want to play together again. A contender wouldn't have overpaid for an expiring $21 million guy. Remember when Serge Ibaka returned Domantas Sabonis and Victor Oladipo in a trade with the Magic?
This dude sucks, Toronto is screwed, $600 million guaranteed to RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Scottie Barnes, and Brandon Ingram. I like Scottie, maybe one day he makes an All NBA third team, is he ever going to lead them to 50 wins in a regular season? I would wager that if Scottie Barnes is the #1 option they will not get 50 wins.
BY THE WAY, Scottie Barnes was the only player in Toronto to make 65 games last season. I guess the future of Toronto rides on Dick.
Brandon Ingram is the culmination of the Pascal Siakam trade. Toronto sent Siakam to Indiana for Bruce Brown, Kira Lewis, Jordan Nwora, and 3 first round picks. With that pick they selected Jakobe Walter. They flipped Kira Lewis Jr. into Ochai Agbaji and Kelly Olynyk.
With Olynyk and Bruce Brown and one of the picks they flipped that into Brandon Ingram. Btw, Indiana got that pick back from the Pelicans.
Masai immediately extends Ingram, who is injured btw, 3 years $120 million.
Brandon Ingram has never played 65 games in his career. He's never played 65 games for his career while also almost never making the playoffs, oh and Masai got him while he was injured. He's going to be 28-30 on that contract as an injury prone player.
Now let's move onto another more recent move, the return for OG Anunoby. OG was shipped out with Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and a 2nd round pick. Indiana and Memphis offered them 3 first round picks, but Masai wanted real players, not to rely on his drafting ability. Btw, those Memphis picks, could have been quite juicy.
Obviously Masai can't just trade for guys, he has to EXTEND them, because he has PTSD from the legendary Kawhi Leonard trade where he got his guy and then Kawhi walks immediately. Masai is so concerned that teams will be biting at Immanuel Quickley so he gives Quickley $175 million (btw Quickley was exclusively coming off the bench for a majority of his career, but hey it worked for JAMES HARDEN) and thankfully RJ Barrett was already locked up @ a nice $107 million extension so Masai was ecstatic to have his 53% career TS non playmaking, mediocre defensive wing! Did you know RJ Barrett is below 70% on his career FTs?
Oh and we cannot forget about Scottie Barnes, so many teams were willing to offer him the max extension as a RFA, Masai was so worried that he would piss off his superstar SCOTTIE BARNES, so he flat out offers the extension without waiting for anyone else to speak up. Can't risk seeing him walk just like Fred Vanvleet or Kyle Lowry.
Oh yeah, let's talk about the guys that had value that Masai let walk. Obviously there's the infamous Kawhi Leonard situation, but let's not forget that Kyle Lowry was supposed to be traded, but ultimately was denied because Masai wanted TALEN HORTON TUCKER included in the deal and the Lakers refused to give him up.
Oh yes and Fred Vanvleet, your undrafted gem who miraculously makes an All Star team, well he's a clear culture setter, part of what we're trying to do, no need to ever trade him, we're not worried about the fact that he could decline his PO 2 years after his All Star selection and try and force his way elsewhere, no need to consider trading him.
Oh and in case you forgot, Serge Ibaka had a career year on the Raptors prior to walking as an FA. Serge had Toronto on a 15-8 season shooting 38% from 3, but nah, we don't him trade him in the middle of his obvious attempts to get a payday, we'll hold him. He's not tight with our former fun guy Kawhi Leonard, they wouldn't want to play together again. A contender wouldn't have overpaid for an expiring $21 million guy. Remember when Serge Ibaka returned Domantas Sabonis and Victor Oladipo in a trade with the Magic?
This dude sucks, Toronto is screwed, $600 million guaranteed to RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Scottie Barnes, and Brandon Ingram. I like Scottie, maybe one day he makes an All NBA third team, is he ever going to lead them to 50 wins in a regular season? I would wager that if Scottie Barnes is the #1 option they will not get 50 wins.
BY THE WAY, Scottie Barnes was the only player in Toronto to make 65 games last season. I guess the future of Toronto rides on Dick.