Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
But that’s the Ujiri playbook. Sources within MLSE insist that Webster has full autonomy and is under no pressure to take a big swing in his first at-bat. But in declining to elevate him to the president’s role and dangling the title over his head like a carrot, this was always going to be a make-or-break season for Toronto’s GM, as well as several others on his staff and in the organization.
They’ve already checked in on another Mavericks centre, Daniel Gafford, per a source, while Orlando’s Goga Bitadze and Brooklyn’s Day’Ron Sharpe are other names to monitor. That way, they could see how this group holds up in meaningful games during the spring before reassessing in the off-season, when it’s easier to make significant change. But that’s the Ujiri playbook. Sources within MLSE insist that Webster has full autonomy and is under no pressure to take a big swing in his first at-bat. But in declining to elevate him to the president’s role and dangling the title over his head like a carrot, this was always going to be a make-or-break season for Toronto’s GM, as well as several others on his staff and in the organization.
New Toronto Raptors head of basketball operations Bobby Webster put his Brandon Ingram description succinctly in calling him a “hooper’s hooper.” Asked about the potential fit with Scottie Barnes, Webster simply stated Barnes likes to pass the ball while Ingram likes to shoot the ball. Plainly, the Raptors traded for Ingram, who was acquired in February but has yet to suit up for Toronto, to see him do what he does best. “I want Brandon to be himself, to be comfortable in his own skin,” head coach Darko Rajakovic said. “He’s 27 years old and he’s now entering his prime.”
Michael Grange: "He's one of those guys who can go get his own shot pretty efficiently which is something we haven't had ... he's a hooper's hooper ... he has a high, high, level of skill," Bobby Webster on Brandon Ingram.
Advertisement
Josh Lewenberg: Bobby Webster says no current load management plan for Ingram going into the new season, despite being limited to 18 games last year. Sounds like he's fully recovered from his ankle injury and is good to go.
Josh Lewenberg: Bobby Webster on Masai Ujiri: "He's incredibly supportive. He wants us all to succeed... I kept him up to date on the process. Looking back, it was a really good pairing. A kid from Africa and a kid from Hawaii worked really well for a while."
Josh Lewenberg: Bobby Webster says that all of the Raptors' players are healthy and available going into training camp next week. Specifically: "Brandon (Ingram) is healthy"
It didn’t come as a surprise to people around the NBA that the Raptors ultimately named general manager Bobby Webster their permanent head of basketball operations, Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report said in a live stream on Wednesday (YouTube link). In fact, according to Fischer, the only surprise during the process was that Toronto publicly announced a search for a new top executive after parting ways with president Masai Ujiri. “Someone I consult with who is involved in (executive) search firm stuff was taken aback by the fact that was even put out publicly,” Fischer said. “He was taking it – and the league was taking it – as a foregone conclusion that Bobby Webster would be running the show.”
Advertisement
The Raptors, who traded away Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby during the 2023/24 season, have missed the playoffs for three straight seasons, but the expectation is that they’ll be more competitive going forward, per Fischer. “The Raptors have definitely been given some type of formal pressure, some type of direction from their new leadership of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment to end this sort of rebuild era they’ve been in,” Fischer said, adding that the team will be aiming to claim a top-six playoff spot this season, not simply make the play-in tournament.
This offseason, the Raptors discussed trades for Kevin Durant, Jrue Holiday and Derrick White, which followed their February acquisition of Brandon Ingram. "This group under head coach Darko [Rajakovic] expects to really be a player in the playoff conversation here in the Eastern Conference," reports Jake Fischer. "They don't just want to be a play-in team. They want to be a team that really pushes for the postseason for the first time in quite some time. "So, what does Bobby Webster have in store now with this full endorsement as head of basketball operations to continue to upgrade this roster? We shall see. But I have the Raptors earmarked already entering this year. It's super early—it's August 20th—but when we get closer to December 15th and we get closer to the February trade deadline, I have the Raptors already earmarked as a buyer."
Josh Lewenberg: Bobby Webster on a conference all with the Toronto media: "There’s 30 of these jobs in the NBA but, to me, this is 1 of 1... There’s not a more unique basketball job in the world... I grew up playing basketball as a small kid and to have it lead all the way here is unbelievable"
Michael Grange: MLSE has put off search for a president and extended Bobby Webster as GM. He will have runway and leeway to grow/develop team as he sees fit, per sources. Presidents title could follow over time.