Raptors cleaned out championship team in less than five years

Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri. John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Raptors cleaned out entire championship team in less than five years

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 1/17/24

The Toronto Raptors won their only championship during the 2019 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors.

Now, less than five years later, the last remaining piece of the title-winning team is being traded to the Indiana Pacers.

There it is. End of an era in Toronto. Siakam was the last remaining piece from the 2019 championship core, and now it's official: his iconic Raptors tenure is over. https://t.co/x33bE4jq2y
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) January 17, 2024

Not only have the Raptors said goodbye to all players from the 2019 championship team, but the head coach from that season, Nick Nurse, has departed as well.

Nurse was fired after five seasons at the helm (and 10 with the organization) in April 2023 and replaced Doc Rivers as the Philadelphia 76ers' new lead man last May.

Team president Masai Ujiri is one of the few holdovers left from the historic squad, joining the organization in 2013 and holding his current role since 2016. Pascal Siakam was one of Ujiri's first draft picks as president, as the Cameroonian was selected 26th in that year's event.

Siakam leaves Toronto as one of the best players in franchise history, ranking inside the top five in numerous categories.

Pascal Siakam's franchise ranks (reg. season totals):
Games: 5th
Wins: 3rd
Points: 5th
Rebounds: 3rd
Assists: 5th
Threes: 8th
Triple-doubles: 2nd
30-pt games: 3rd
Double-doubles: 5th
— Keerthika Uthayakumar (@keerthikau) January 17, 2024

Pascal Siakam leaves the Raptors ranked top-5 in games, wins, points, rebound & assists.

He joins Kyle Lowry as the only Raptors to be top-5 in all 5 categories.
— Keerthika Uthayakumar (@keerthikau) January 17, 2024

Pascal Siakam in Toronto:
- 1 of 6 Raptors to be named to an All-NBA team
- 1 of 5 Raptors with multiple All-Star selections
- top-5 in wins, points, rebounds & assists
- only Raptor to record a 20/5/5 season
- NBA Champion, 19.8 pts, 40.1 min in 2019 Finals vs Golden State
— Keerthika Uthayakumar (@keerthikau) January 17, 2024

While big men like Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka are currently playing abroad, several key contributors from the 2019 roster are with other NBA squads. Five-time All-Star small forward Kawhi Leonard played just one season with the Raptors but made it count, earning Finals MVP honors.

He's been with the Los Angeles Clippers since the 2019-2020 campaign.

Where are they now?
Kyle Lowry - Miami
Pascal Siakam - Indiana
Fred VanVleet - Houston
OG Anunoby - New York
Norman Powell - LA Clippers
Marc Gasol - Europe
Serge Ibaka - Europe https://t.co/NLGgvbLVlB
— Keerthika Uthayakumar (@keerthikau) January 17, 2024

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