Toronto Raptors Wiretap

Masai Ujiri posted a six-minute tribute video to Toronto just over a week he and the Toronto Raptors parted ways after more than a decade together. Ujiri helped lead the Raptors to the NBA championship in 2019 and transformed the reputation of the franchise.

“Toronto, Canada, I love you. Country that welcomed me. The city that became home. This bond we share will last forever,” Ujiri says as the video begins with Ujiri walking onto the court at Scotiabank Arena.

“As I look back at more than a decade of heartfelt moments, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude. For my family, our incredible players, the dedicated staff, and the Raptors fans. Now a new chapter begins, but your love will always be with me,” Ujiri says.

“Basketball brought me here, but beyond this beautiful game, we are always connected.  And for that, I am so thankful.”

Ujiri first worked for the Raptors in 2008 under Bryan Colangelo before leaving in 2010 to run the Denver Nuggets. Ujiri returned to the Raptors in 2013 after winning NBA Executive of the Year with the Nuggets. 

Jakob Poeltl and the Toronto Raptors have agreed to a four-year, $104 million contract extension that runs through the 2029-30 season. Poeltl will pick up his 2026-27 player option at $19.5 million and add three more seasons to his deal.

The Raptors acquired Poeltl back from the San Antonio Spurs at the trade deadline in 2023 when he was on an expiring contract. Poeltl then re-signed with the Raptors on a four-year, $80 million deal.

Poeltl averaged 14.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks in 29.6 minutes across 57 games last season for the Raptors. 

Poeltl, who is represented by Michael Tellem, turns 30 before the start of next season.

Sandro Mamukelashvili and the Toronto Raptors have agreed to a two-year, $5.5 million deal. Mamukelashvili is represented by George Roussakis.

Mamukelashvili averaged 6.3 points and 3.1 rebounds in 11.2 minutes across 61 games last season of the San Antonio Spurs.

The Toronto Raptors and veteran guard Garrett Temple have agreed to one-year $3.6 million contract. The deal is expected to be for the veteran minimum and will carry a cap hit of $2.3 million.

The 15-year veteran guard has spent the last two seasons with the Raptors. Temple is a well-respected veteran locker room leader, who is valued for his off-court impact with his teammates. Temple has appeared in 55 total games during his two seasons in Toronto.

Masai Ujiri was considered a potential candidate to become president of basketball operations of the Atlanta Hawks, but the team is believed to have now moved on from the idea. Ujiri was linked to the Hawks in May before they hired Bryson Graham and Peter Dinwiddie to work under newly promoted general manager Onsi Saleh.

The Hawks are now operating as though Saleh will be the top basketball executive for the foreseeable future. Saleh's deals for Kristaps Porzingis and the better 2026 first round pick between the New Orleans Pelicans and Milwaukee Bucks as earned praise from his fellow decision-makers across the NBA. 

The Hawks hired Saleh away from the Golden State Warriors during the 2024 offseason.

Ujiri had been with the Raptors since 2013 and has previously been linked with other jobs such as the Washington Wizards and New York Knicks.

Bobby Webster will remain as general manager of the Toronto Raptors despite the departure of Masai Ujiri and the team's plan to hire a new team president.

“As we plan for the franchise’s future, and its return to the NBA Playoffs, a search for the successor as president of the Raptors, led by CAA Executive Search, will begin immediately," said MLSE President & CEO Keith Pelley.

“We are confident that the Raptors organization, under the guidance of Bobby and his team, is in a great place,. They have a plan in place for next season and beyond as the team continues its rebuild, and we have confidence in their ability to execute and ultimately, to excel. We feel the team is in a strong, stable place, and we believe the addition of a new president will continue to move the Raptors forward, towards our next NBA championship.”

Webster was Ujiri's first hire with the Raptors upon his arrival from the Denver Nuggets in 2013. Webster replaced Jeff Weltman as general manager in June 2017.

The Toronto Raptors and president Masai Ujiri have agreed to part ways. Ujiri had one season left on his contract with the Raptors. The Raptors will retain key members of the front office such as general manager Bobby Webster.

Ujiri took over the front office in Toronto before the 2013-14 season. In 12 seasons, he helped lead the Raptors to nine playoff berths. That includes winning the 2019 NBA Finals after swinging a big trade for Kawhi Leonard.

The Raptors have missed the postseason the last two years. They haven't appeared in the playoffs since 2022 and overall have missed out on the playoffs in four of the last five years.

Ujiri was linked to the Atlanta Hawks in May, which was a suggestion he could be moving on from the Raptors this offseason.

"During his 13 seasons with the Raptors, Masai has helped transform the organization on the court and has been an inspirational leader off it," MLSE president & CEO Keith Pelley said in a statement. "He brought an NBA Championship to Toronto and urged us to believe in this city, and ourselves. We are grateful for all he has done and wish him and his family the very best.

"We are confident that the Raptors organization, under the guidance of Bobby and his team, is in a great place," Pelley added. "They have a plan in place for next season and beyond as the team continues its rebuild, and we have confidence in their ability to execute and ultimately, to excel."

Chucky Hepburn has agreed to a Two-Way contract with the Toronto Raptors. Hepburn went undrafted out of Louisville.

Hepburn, who was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, averaged 16.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.4 steals in 34.9 minutes as a senior. Hepburn spent his first three collegiate seasons with Wisconsin.

The Phoenix Suns acquired the No. 31 overall pick and selected Rasheer Fleming out of Saint Joseph's to begin the second round of the 2025 NBA draft.

2025 NBA Draft, Round 1 Results
31. Phoenix Suns: Rasheer Fleming, F, Saint Joseph's
32. Orlando Magic: Noah Penda, F, France
33. Charlotte Hornets: Sion James, SF, Duke
34. Charlotte Hornets: Ryan Kalkbrenner, C, Creighton
35. Philadelphia 76ers: Johni Broome, C, Auburn
36. Los Angeles Lakers: Adou Thiero, PF, Arkansas
37. Detroit Pistons: Chaz Lanier, SG, Tennessee
38. Indiana Pacers: Kam Jones, PG/SG, Marquette
39. Toronto Raptors: Alijah Martin, SG, Florida
40. New Orleans Pelicans: Micah Peavy, SG/SF, Georgetown
41. Phoenix Suns: Koby Brea, SG/SF, Kentucky
42. Sacramento Kings: Maxime Raynaud, C, Stanford
43. Washington Wizards: Jamir Watkins, SG/SF, Florida State
44. Oklahoma City Thunder: Brooks Barnhizer, SF, Northwestern
45. Minnesota Timberwolves: Rocco Zikarsky, C, Brisbane
46. Boston Celtics: Amari Williams, C, Kentucky
47. Milwaukee Bucks: Bogoljub Markovic, PF/C, Mega Superbet 
48. Memphis Grizzlies: Javon Small, PG, West Virginia
49. Cleveland Cavaliers: Tyrese Proctor, G, Duke
50. LA Clippers: Kobe Sanders, SG/SF, Nevada
51. New York Knicks: Mohamed Diawara, F, France
52. Golden State Warriors: Alex Toohey, SF/PF, Sydney
53. Utah Jazz: John Tonje, SF, Wisconsin
54. Indiana Pacers: Taelon Peter, G, Liberty
55. Chicago Bulls: Lachlan Olbrich, PF/C, Illawarra
56. Golden State Warriors: Will Richard, SG, Florida
57. Boston Celtics: Max Shulga, G, VCU
58. Cleveland Cavaliers: Saliou Niang, SG/SF, Trento 
59. Houston Rockets: Jahmai Mashack, G, Tennessee

The Dallas Mavericks have opened up the 2025 NBA draft by selecting Cooper Flagg out of Duke with the first overall pick. Flagg will wear No. 32 for the Mavericks after wearing No. 2 at Duke The Mavericks won the lottery with just a 1.8 percent change, which is the fourth lowest in NBA history.

The San Antonio Spurs selected Dylan Harper out of Rutgers with the No. 2 pick. San Antonio has the two most recent Rookies of the Year in Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle.

The Philadelphia 76ers then selected V.J. Edgecombe out of Baylor at No. 3 followed by Kon Knueppel to the Charlotte Hornets at No. 4.

The first real surprise of the draft came when the Utah Jazz selected Ace Bailey. Bailey had an unorthodox lead up to the draft in which he didn't work out for any teams. Bailey had hoped to be selected by the Washington Wizards, New Orleans Pelicans or Brooklyn Nets.

2025 NBA Draft, Round 1 Results
1. Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg, SF/PF, Duke
2. San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper, PG, Rutgers
3. Philadelphia 76ers: V.J. Edgecombe, SG, Baylor
4. Charlotte Hornets: Kon Knueppel, SF, Duke
5. Utah Jazz: Ace Bailey, SF, Rutgers
6. Washington Wizards: Tre Johnson, SG, Texas
7. New Orleans Pelicans: Jeremiah Fears, PG, Oklahoma
8. Brooklyn Nets: Egor Demin, PG, BYU
9. Toronto Raptors: Collin Murray-Boyles, PF/C, South Carolina
10. Phoenix Suns (via PHX/BKN/HOU): Khaman Maluach, C, Duke
11. Memphis Grizzlies (via POR): Cedric Coward, SF, Washington State
12. Chicago Bulls: Noa Essengue, PF, Ratiopharm Ulm
13. New Orleans Pelicans (via SAC/ATL): Derik Queen, C, Maryland
14. San Antonio Spurs: (via ATL): Carter Bryant, SF, Arizona
15. Oklahoma City Thunder (via MIA/LAC): Thomas Sorber, C, Georgetown
16. Portland Trail Blazers (via ORL/MEM): Yang Hansen, C, China
17. Minnesota Timberwolves (via DET/NYK): Joan Beringer, C, Cedevita Olimpija
18. Utah Jazz (via MEM/WAS): Walter Clayton Jr., PG, Florida
19. Brooklyn Nets (via MIL/NYK): Nolan Traore, PG, Saint-Quentin
20. Miami Heat (via GSW): Kasparas Jakucionis, PG, Illinois
21. Washington Wizards (via MIN/UTA): Will Riley, SF, Illinois
22. Brooklyn Nets (via LAL/NOP/ATL): Drake Powell, SG/SF, North Carolina
23. Atlanta Hawks (via IND/NOP): Asa Newell, PF/C, Georgia
24. Sacramento Kings (via LAC/OKC): Nique Clifford, SG, Colorado State
25. Orlando Magic (via DEN): Jase Richardson, PG/SG, Michigan State
26. Brooklyn Nets (via NYK): Ben Saraf, PG/SG, Ratiopharm Ulm
27. Brooklyn Nets (via HOU): Danny Wolf, PF, Michigan
28. Boston Celtics: Hugo Gonzalez, SG/SF, Real Madrid
29. Charlotte Hornets (via CLE/UTA/PHX): Liam McNeeley, SG/SF, UConn
30. LA Clippers (via OKC): Yanic Konan Niederhauser, C, Penn State