Toronto Raptors insider reveals real reason behind Masai Ujiri’s sacking, successor Bobby Webster is different

Josh Lewenberg names the Brandon Ingram trade as one of the reasons behind Masai Ujiri’s firing

Ujiri will always hold a special place in the hearts of Raptors fans as he constructed the team’s 2019 NBA Championship-winning roster.

However, since then, the Raptors have struggled to compete in the Eastern Conference. They did trade for Brandon Ingram last season to build a new core, but that move reportedly backfired for Ujiri.

“What I was told was that a number of the external candidates that came in really, really pushed back on some of the moves that Masai and company made over the last few years.

“One of them went as far as calling the Ingram trade a desperate Hail Mary, and that’s not surprising, right?” Raptors insider Josh Lewe nberg said on TSN’s Overdrive.

The Raptors have promoted general manager Bobby Webster to the new president of basketball operations. Lewenberg explained how Webster is different than his predecessor.

“Where I do expect to see some changes, or at least some differences, is a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff that might not be reflected in the roster, in the sense that while their vision might not be entirely different, these are two very, very different people,” he stated.

Bobby Webster can’t replicate Masai Ujiri’s ‘larger-than-life persona,’ says Josh Lewenberg

Despite Webster being Ujiri’s first executive hire for the Raptors, the two reportedly have polar opposite approaches in terms of their approach to basketball.

Per Lewenberg, it’s imminent with Webster and Ujiri’s personalities as well.

“Like, Masai’s, you know, larger-than-life personality and persona. Bobby’s not that guy, and I don’t necessarily mean that that’s a bad thing.

I think he’s more understated, down-to-earth, certainly easier to relate with. But Masai, I mean, over the years, he became a celebrity, and I think there are just certain things that go with that,” Lewenberg continued.

While Webster doesn’t possess a flashy personality, that doesn’t mean he’s any less respected by his peers.

“Whereas Bobby, like, he can dress down, he’s still young enough to relate to a lot of the players and fans and just people around.

“Like, he can chop it up with anybody. Whereas he can also put on the suit, and he’s highly regarded and respected by his peers. I think he’s shown over the years,” the Raptors insider concluded.