The “strong rumble” in the Walt Disney World bubble was that the Raptors were nearing new long-term extensions for president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri, general manager Bobby Webster, and head coach Nick Nurse, according to Marc Stein of The New York Times (Twitter link).
Toronto announced a multiyear extension for Nurse earlier this week, but Ujiri told reporters today that he hasn’t engaged in contract discussions with Raptors ownership yet. As Tim Bontemps of ESPN relays (via Twitter), Ujiri said he wanted to prioritize new deals for his leadership team, including Nurse and Webster. He said an extension for Webster is “close,” per Blake Murphy of The Athletic (Twitter link).
As for his own contract, Ujiri offered the following assessment, according to Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca (Twitter link): “I think it will come. When it comes we’ll deal with it face on. But as for now I’m focused on other things. When that time comes I will deal with it.”
Ujiri and Webster have one year remaining on their current contracts.
Here’s more on the Raptors:
- Re-signing unrestricted free agent Fred VanVleet will be a “big-time priority” for the Raptors this offseason, Ujiri said today (Twitter link via Murphy). He added that the club has a good sense of where its free agents still have room to grow or develop.
- Ujiri also called free agent big men Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol priorities for the Raptors, though he acknowledged the challenges inherent in balancing the club’s short-term interests and long-term flexibility (Twitter link via Lewenberg). Toronto is expected to try to maximize its cap flexibility for the summer of 2021 as best it can.
- Eric Koreen of The Athletic ranks the players on the Raptors’ roster by trade value, starting with Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby.
- In case you missed it, we explained on Wednesday how Siakam’s All-NBA Second Team berth will affect the forward’s earnings going forward. Because Siakam’s extension will begin at 28% of the 2020/21 cap instead of 25%, the Raptors now project to have about $3.5MM less cap space during the summer of 2021, assuming the cap for ’20/21 stays the same as in ’19/20.
Both VanVleet and Ibaka want long term contracts
Should Knicks offer Ibaka 3 years 50 million and VanVleet 4 years 120 million?
Sillivan Ik the Knicks like overpaying players but u smoking something really strong to think vanvleet worth a max. Also that contract for Ibaka is a little 2 much and the Knicks will continue with 1+1 deals unless it’s vanvleet someone who can stay and improve
Knicks need to stay far away from VanVleet and IBaka would look great in Dallas. Dallas needs some toughness.
Why would anyone in their right sense of mind especially a Raptors propose an insulting 50m/3yr deal for Ibaka? And propose 120m/4yr for FVV? Are you mentally okay or just being an Ibaka hater? SMH. This is one of the reasons I don’t want Ibaka to come back as a Raptors; he is taken for granted.
Ibaka currently is earning over 23m/yr, signed when wasn’t this good, 3 yrs ago. As starting center this season over 35 games Gasol missed, he averaged 21pts+/11reb/2ast/2blks in 28 mins, half of that as the primary or second scorer, had the best shooting efficiency overall on the team in the regular season, we went 29-6 franchise record with him starting, 15-game franchise winning streak, 2nd in defensive ratings, and was easily the best scorer on average and once again best shooting percentage in the playoffs.
You think he is a 50m/3yr? Stop insulting this dude. Dude has sacrificed so much to his own detriment to come off bench. Had he started in the playoffs given his season record with Gasol out over 85% of the regular season, we would have made it to the finals.
I’m calling it now: teams interested in Ibaka will be offering him nothing less than 75m/3yr or 80m/3yr. And his role next season will change, expect to see more offensive role for him and will average 20pts/10reb/2ast/2blks next season as an all star. Raptors have held him back for long all because we wanted to cater for Gasol.
You’re going to be really surprised at years and dollars offered, for both. FVV 4/$70, Ibaka 2/$26. Only about five teams available to bid strongly, and their GMs are talking about spending moderately!