After yet another disappointing first round flameout, Toronto Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri had a difficult choice in front of him: re-tool for another run at the Eastern Conference in 2015-16, or make drastic changes to the roster under the impression that this core had reached its ceiling.
After a summer of tweaking and focus on improving the defensive end of the floor, it’s clear that Ujiri isn’t quite ready to abandon the feel-good group from 2013-14 that surprisingly surged after trading away Rudy Gay.
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It’s hard to fault him for doing so; the East is one or two injuries away from being up for grabs. Canadian basketball fans haven’t ever had a team this good to root for and moving Kyle Lowry or DeMar DeRozan to begin another rebuilding effort would’ve been a tricky proposition.
But just like he did in Denver, Ujiri has assembled a balanced and talented roster without a bonafide superstar to lead the charge in Toronto. That wasn’t likely to change in free agency no matter what path the Raptors chose, but the question still stands: Did Ujiri do enough this summer to change his team’s fate from the last two postseasons?
Here’s a look at the Raptors’ summer with complete offseason grades.
Next: The Draft