It took five postseasons with no title before Masai Ujiri had seen enough.
With DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry anchoring the backcourt, the Toronto Raptors had tapped out. In five seasons out of 2013-14 into 2017-18, the Raptors won more regular-season matches than any other Eastern Conference team, but the Raptors watched more first-round exits compared to trips to the Eastern Conference finals, never reaching the NBA Finals.
And therefore, last July, Ujiri made his movement. The Raptors traded DeRozan — the leading scorer in franchise history at the summit of his career — along with Jakob Poeltl along with a top-20 shielded 2019 first-round pick into the San Antonio Spurs for Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green and cash considerations. The Lowry-DeRozan backcourt was divided, the Coach of the Year Dwane Casey was let go after seven seasons, and a new age in Toronto had started.
The results have, up to now, been optimistic. Despite Leonard missing about a quarter of the season, the Raptors now have better championship chances than they did at this time last year. As Ujiri’s home run swing effectively put the rest of the league on notice. If DeRozan is not secure, who’s? Just like Miami’s Big Three triggered the era of player bureau, the Raptors could have broken the seal for additional perennial underachievers to follow suit.

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