Raptors Part Ways With Team President Masai Ujiri
9:05 am: The Raptors have put out a press release officially confirming that they’ve parted ways with Ujiri.
“During his 13 seasons with the Raptors, Masai has helped transform the organization on the court and has been an inspirational leader off it,” MLSE president and CEO Keith Pelley said in a statement. “He brought an NBA Championship to Toronto and urged us to believe in this city, and ourselves. We are grateful for all he has done and wish him and his family the very best. As we plan for the franchise’s future, and its return to the NBA Playoffs, a search for the successor as president of the Raptors, led by CAA Executive Search, will begin immediately.”
According to the announcement, the Raptors’ other top executives, including Webster, remain in place and have received contract extensions.
“We are confident that the Raptors organization, under the guidance of Bobby and his team, is in a great place,” Pelley continued. “They have a plan in place for next season and beyond as the team continues its rebuild, and we have confidence in their ability to execute and ultimately, to excel. We feel the team is in a strong, stable place, and we believe the addition of a new president will continue to move the Raptors forward, towards our next NBA championship.”
8:11 am: Longtime Raptors president and vice chairman Masai Ujiri is leaving the franchise, according to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter links), who reports that the two sides have decided to part ways with Ujiri entering the final year of his contract.
There were some warning sides that Ujiri and the Raptors might be headed toward a split at some point, but it’s a little surprising that it’s happening right before free agency begins next week and the morning after the two-day NBA draft, notes Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca (Twitter link).
Last fall, Rogers Communications bought out BCE (Bell)’s stake in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, the parent company of the Raptors. Previously, Rogers and Bell had each owned 37.5% of the company, but that deal gave Rogers majority control.
Reporting in the wake of that move noted that Ujiri and Rogers chairman Edward Rogers III have had a “strained relationship” in the past. The Rogers chairman reportedly opposed the terms of the contract extension that Ujiri signed with the club in 2021.
According to Ian Begley of SNY.tv (Twitter link), rival teams have speculated for months that the ownership change might eventually lead to Ujiri exiting the franchise. Some rival executives had described Ujiri as “hard to deal with,” citing his ego, according to Lewenberg (Twitter link). The 54-year-old is reportedly making $15MM per year, Begley adds.
Marc Stein reported in May that the Hawks were interested in having Toronto’s longtime president of basketball operations run their front office. It’s unclear if he actually interviewed, but the fact that Ujiri was cited as a potential candidate was certainly noteworthy.
It’s also worth pointing out that the Raptors have largely struggled over the past half-decade, missing the playoffs in four out of the past five years. Ujiri acknowledged the team was in rebuilding mode last fall, but after going 30-52 in 2024/25 and making a major trade for Brandon Ingram in February, he said in April he was determined to bring Toronto another championship.
After starting his career as a scout, Ujiri worked his way up to assistant general manager with the Raptors in 2008 before leaving to become the GM in Denver in 2010. He was named Executive of the Year with the Nuggets in 2013, then returned to Toronto as executive vice president.
Ujiri bolstered his reputation as one of the NBA’s top executives when he built the Raptors team that captured the franchise’s first-ever NBA title in 2019. Toronto won between 51 and 59 games each season from 2015/16 through 2019/20, advancing to at least the semifinals of the Eastern Conference in each of those five years. The final piece of the puzzle was a bold move to trade for San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard, who was entering the final year of his contract and only spent one season in Toronto.
Ujiri was promoted to president and vice chairman in 2021, with Bobby Webster, Toronto’s general manger since 2017, having focused more on running the team’s day-to-day operations in recent years. Webster will likely lead the basketball operations department for now.
As for Ujiri’s next move, it’s unclear whether or not he’ll seek a new position with an NBA franchise in the short term. Steve Popper of Newsday (Twitter link) notes that an executive from another team told him Ujiri has aspirations beyond running a team, including focusing on charity and political work.
Izan Almansa To Sign Exhibit 10 Contract With Sixers
Undrafted free agent Izan Almansa has agreed to sign an Exhibit 10 contract with the Sixers, reports Adam Aaronson of PhillyVoice.com.
Almansa just turned 20 earlier this month but has already put together an impressive basketball résumé, having spent time with Overtime Elite, the G League Ignite, and – most recently – the Perth Wildcats in Australia. In 29 games for Perth this past season, he averaged 7.6 points and 4.3 rebounds in 17.2 minutes per contest, making 51.1% of his field goal attempts but just 53.4% of his free throws.
The 6’10” forward/center has also represented the Spanish national team in several competitions, including at the 2023 U19 World Cup, where the Spaniards won gold and he earned MVP honors.
Almansas was the only one of 12 prospects in the green room for Thursday’s second round who didn’t get drafted, but it didn’t take him long to catch on with an NBA team.
His non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contract could be converted to a two-way deal before the season or would put him in line for a bonus worth up to $85K if he’s waived and then spends at least 60 days with the Delaware Blue Coats, Philadelphia’s G League affiliate.
Hawks To Sign Lamont Butler To Two-Way Contract
After going undrafted this week, Kentucky guard Lamont Butler is headed to the Hawks on a two-way contract, according to reports from Bill O’Rear (Twitter link) and Mark Zeigler of the San Diego Union-Tribune (Twitter link).
Butler, known for his defensive acumen, played for San Diego State for four seasons before transferring to Kentucky in 2024. He earned a spot on the Mountain West All-Defensive team for three straight years from 2022-24 and won the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year award in 2024.
In 2024/25, as a “super senior,” Butler started all 27 games he played for the Wildcats, averaging 11.4 points, 4.3 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.6 steals in 26.0 minutes per game, with a solid shooting line of .498/.391/.735. Those shooting percentages were all well above his previous career rates.
A two-way contract would pay Butler roughly $636K if he remains on the roster long enough for it to become fully guaranteed and would make him eligible to play in up to 50 NBA regular season games.
The Hawks previously agreed to terms on a two-way deal with Eli John Ndiaye and are carrying over Daeqwon Plowden on a two-year, two-way contract, so they’ve tentatively filled all three of their two-way slots. However, those spots often remain in flux up until the start of the regular season, since they don’t count against the cap.
Trail Blazers, Andrew Carr Agree To Exhibit 10 Deal
The Trail Blazers and undrafted rookie free agent Andrew Carr have reached an agreement on an Exhibit 10 contract, reports Jonathan Givony of ESPN (Twitter link).
Carr spent the last five college years playing college basketball, including two seasons with Delaware, two with Wake Forest, and a “super senior” season with Kentucky in 2024/25. The 6’9″ forward started 29 of 35 games he played for the Wildcats, averaging 10.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 24.0 minutes per contest, with a .544/.324/.748 shooting line.
Carr’s three-point shot was inconsistent over the course of his college career — he made at least 37.1% of his attempts in two seasons and no more than 32.4% in the other three years. However, his ability to stretch the floor is considered a strength, along with his defensive versatility and smarts, Givony writes. The 23-year-old was ranked 95th on ESPN’s last pre-draft big board and places 38th among the prospects who weren’t drafted.
Exhibit 10 contracts, which are one-year, non-guaranteed deals that don’t count against the cap until the regular season, can be converted into two-way contracts prior to the start of the season. However, Givony’s report refers to Carr playing for the Rip City Remix, which suggests he’ll likely become an affiliate player for the Blazers’ G League squad rather than making Portland’s 18-man regular season roster.
In that scenario, Carr would be eligible to earn an Exhibit 10 bonus worth up to $85K if he spends at least 60 days with the Remix.
2025 NBA Draft Results
The 2025 NBA draft is in the books, and we tracked all of this year’s picks in the space below, taking into account each trade agreed upon over the course of the draft. Picks listed in italics are involved in trades that aren’t official yet.
Here are 2025’s NBA draft results:
First round
(Wednesday, June 25)
- Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg, F, Duke (story)
- San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper, G, Rutgers (story)
- Philadelphia 76ers: V.J. Edgecombe, G, Baylor (story)
- Charlotte Hornets: Kon Knueppel, G/F, Duke (story)
- Utah Jazz: Ace Bailey, F, Rutgers (story)
- Washington Wizards: Tre Johnson, G, Texas (story)
- New Orleans Pelicans: Jeremiah Fears, G, Oklahoma (story)
- Brooklyn Nets: Egor Demin, G/F, BYU (story)
- Toronto Raptors: Collin Murray-Boyles, F/C, South Carolina (story)
- Phoenix Suns (via Rockets): Khaman Maluach, C, Duke (story)
- Memphis Grizzlies (from Trail Blazers): Cedric Coward, F, Washington State (story)
- Chicago Bulls: Noa Essengue, F, Ratiopharm Ulm (story)
- New Orleans Pelicans (from Kings via Hawks): Derik Queen, C, Maryland (story)
- San Antonio Spurs (from Hawks): Carter Bryant, F, Arizona (story)
- Oklahoma City Thunder (from Heat): Thomas Sorber, C, Georgetown (story)
- Portland Trail Blazers (from Magic via Trail Blazers): Hansen Yang, C, Qingado (story)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (from Pistons): Joan Beringer, C, Cedevita Olimpija (story)
- Utah Jazz (from Grizzlies via Wizards): Walter Clayton Jr., G, Florida (story)
- Brooklyn Nets (from Bucks): Nolan Traore, G, Saint-Quentin (story)
- Miami Heat (from Warriors): Kasparas Jakucionis, G, Illinois (story)
- Washington Wizards (from Timberwolves via Jazz): Will Riley, G/F, Illinois (story)
- Brooklyn Nets (from Lakers via Hawks): Drake Powell, G/F, North Carolina (story)
- Atlanta Hawks (from Pacers via Pelicans): Asa Newell, F/C, Georgia (story)
- Sacramento Kings (from Clippers via Thunder): Nique Clifford, G, Colorado State (story)
- Orlando Magic (from Nuggets): Jase Richardson, G, Michigan State (story)
- Brooklyn Nets (from Knicks): Ben Saraf, G, Ratiopharm Ulm (story)
- Brooklyn Nets (from Rockets): Danny Wolf, F, Michigan (story)
- Boston Celtics: Hugo Gonzalez, G/F, Real Madrid (story)
- Charlotte Hornets (from Cavaliers via Suns): Liam McNeeley, G/F, UConn (story)
- Los Angeles Clippers (from Thunder): Yanic Konan Niederhauser, C, Penn State (story)
Second round
(Thursday, June 26)
- Phoenix Suns (from Jazz via Timberwolves): Rasheer Fleming, F, Saint Joseph’s
- Orlando Magic (from Wizards via Celtics): Noah Penda, F, Le Mans
- Charlotte Hornets: Sion James, F, Duke
- Charlotte Hornets (from Pelicans): Ryan Kalkbrenner, C, Creighton
- Philadelphia 76ers: Johni Broome, C, Auburn
- Los Angeles Lakers (from Nets via Suns and Timberwolves): Adou Thiero, F, Arkansas
- Detroit Pistons (from Raptors): Chaz Lanier, G, Tennessee
- Indiana Pacers (from Spurs): Kameron Jones, G, Marquette
- Toronto Raptors (from Trail Blazers): Alijah Martin, G, Florida
- New Orleans Pelicans (from Suns via Wizards): Micah Peavy, G/F, Georgetown
- Phoenix Suns (from Heat via Warriors): Koby Brea, G/F, Kentucky
- Sacramento Kings (from Bulls): Maxime Raynaud, C, Stanford
- Washington Wizards (from Mavericks via Jazz): Jamir Watkins, G/F, Florida State
- Oklahoma City Thunder (from Hawks): Brooks Barnhizer, F, Northwestern
- Minnesota Timberwolves (from Kings via Bulls and Lakers): Rocco Zikarsky, C, Brisbane
- Boston Celtics (from Magic): Amari Williams, C, Kentucky
- Milwaukee Bucks (from Pistons): Bogoljub Markovic, F/C, Mega Basket
- Memphis Grizzlies (from Warriors): Javon Small, G, West Virginia
- Cleveland Cavaliers (from Bucks): Tyrese Proctor, G, Duke
- Los Angeles Clippers (from Grizzlies via Knicks): Kobe Sanders, G/F, Nevada
- New York Knicks (from Timberwolves via Clippers): Mohamed Diawara, F, Cholet
- Golden State Warriors (from Nuggets via Suns): Alex Toohey, F, Sydney
- Utah Jazz (from Clippers): John Tonje, F, Wisconsin
- Indiana Pacers: Taelon Peter, G, Liberty
- Chicago Bulls (from Lakers): Lachlan Olbrich, F/C, Illawarra
- Golden State Warriors (from Rockets via Grizzlies): Will Richard, G, Florida
- Boston Celtics (from Celtics via Magic): Max Shulga, G, VCU
- Cleveland Cavaliers: Saliou Niang, G/F, Trento
- Memphis Grizzlies (from Thunder via Rockets, Suns, and Warriors): Jahmai Mashack, G/F, Tennessee
Celtics’ Zarren Dismisses Brown, White Rumors
As the Celtics work this offseason to move below the restrictive second tax apron, there has been some speculation about the possibility that the team would be willing to trade stars Jaylen Brown and/or Derrick White as part of its roster overhaul.
While most reporting on the subject has indicated that Boston has no desire to move either player and is simply listening in case a potential trade partner makes a massive offer, Celtics vice president of basketball operations Mike Zarren believes even those reports have overstated the team’s interest in making a deal involving Brown or White.
“Those two guys are really, really great NBA players, and there hasn’t been anything close to serious about trading them,” Zarren said, per Souichi Terada of MassLive. “I’m not sure where all this reporting came from but those guys are key parts of our team, and we’re lucky to have them here.”
Zarren’s comments may not entirely shut down speculation about Brown and White, but if the Celtics were going to move one of them this offseason, it likely would’ve happened before or during the first round of the draft, when lottery picks could have been in play.
Having agreed to separate deals involving Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, Boston no longer faces the same level of urgency to continue shedding salary, though role players like Sam Hauser and newly acquired Anfernee Simons continue to be mentioned as possible trade candidates.
The Raptors were one of the teams that inquired about White, Zach Lowe of The Ringer confirmed on Thursday in an episode of his podcast (hat tip to Brian Robb of MassLive).
“There were reports that the Raptors offered the No. 9 pick for Derrick White,” Lowe said. “I’m told that’s true but that it happened a month and a half ago after Jayson Tatum got hurt, and Boston laughed at that offer and said, ‘We need way more than No. 9 for Derrick White.'”
Draft Notes: Proctor, Niang, Markovic, Grizzlies, Olbrich, Shulga
The Cavaliers intend to sign No. 49 overall pick Tyrese Proctor to a multiyear NBA contract, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Twitter link). While most players in Proctor’s draft range will likely get two-way deals, the Cavs will benefit from a luxury tax perspective from having Proctor on their 15-man roster on the rookie minimum. They were also thrilled that they were able to draft him late in the second round.
“We had him almost as a first-round grade, so for him to fall to 49 was something we were very excited about,” general manager Mike Gansey said, per Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. “… He came over to Duke a year earlier probably than he should have. We ended up seeing him at his pro day in California in May and I think he put on about 10 or 11 pounds, so he’s definitely worked on his body. Great kid and a worker.”
As for No. 58 pick Saliou Niang, the plan is for the Senegalese wing to spend next season in the EuroLeague with Virtus Bologna, says Jonathan Givony of ESPN (Twitter link). It remains to be seen whether or not Niang will be on the Cavs’ Summer League team, Fedor writes in another Cleveland.com story.
“The last two seasons he’s gotten a lot better. The strides he has made have been pretty incredible,” Gansey said of Niang. “It’ll be a great opportunity for him to play at the highest level over there and we’ll be tracking him and keeping tabs on him.”
We have more on the contract situations for several second-round picks:
- Speaking to reporters after Thursday’s draft, Bucks assistant general manager Milt Newton said the team isn’t sure yet whether No. 47 overall pick Bogoljub Markovic will be stashed overseas or whether he’ll be in Milwaukee next season, tweets Eric Nehm of The Athletic. Either way, Markovic will join the team for Summer League, according to Newton.
- Chris Herrington of The Daily Memphian (Twitter link) expects No. 48 pick Javon Small to end up on a two-way contract with the Grizzlies, but isn’t certain what the future holds for Jahmai Mashack. The No. 59 pick may be competing for a two-way deal during Summer League, Herrington adds.
- As Givony first reported on ESPN’s draft broadcast, Australian forward/center Lachlan Olbrich, the 55th overall pick on Thursday, is expected to come stateside and sign a two-way contract with the Bulls, tweets K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network. Olbrich, 21, has been competing in Australia’s National Basketball League since 2021, so he already has a good deal of professional experience.
- The third of three prospects drafted by the Celtics this week, No. 57 pick Max Shulga will be on a two-way contract with the team in 2025/26, reports Givony (Twitter link). Boston drafted Shulga with one of the picks the team acquired from Orlando earlier in the evening.
Pacers Adding Johnson, Ashworth, Felton On Exhibit 10 Deals
Big man Samson Johnson is signing with the Pacers, league sources tell Ian Begley of SNY.tv (Twitter link). Indiana will also be signing guards Steven Ashworth and RJ Felton, according to reports from Michael Scotto of HoopsHype and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Twitter links).
All three undrafted free agents will be signing non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contracts, confirms Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star (Twitter links).
A native of Togo, Johnson won a back-to-back championships in 2023 and 2024 as a role player for the Huskies. He averaged 7.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 19.4 minutes per contest as a senior last season (34 games).
Point guard Ashworth spent three years at Utah State before spending his final two years at Creighton. As a “super senior” in 2024/25, he averaged 16.4 PPG, 4.1 RPG and a Big East-best 6.8 APG in 35 games (36.0 MPG) for the Blue Jays. He made 37.4% of his long-range looks (8.4 attempts) and 93.0% of his free throws, an elite number.
Felton, who played four years of college ball at East Carolina, averaged 18.8 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 2.5 APG and 1.2 SPG on .414/.376/.743 shooting splits in 30 games (34.5 MPG) last season for the Pirates.
Players who sign Exhibit 10 deals can receive a bonus of up to $85K if they’re waived and spend at least 60 days with their team’s G league affiliate (the Noblesville Boom, in Indiana’s case). Exhibit 10 contracts can also be converted into two-way deals.
Cavaliers, Chaney Johnson Agree To Exhibit 10 Contract
The Cavaliers and former Auburn forward Chaney Johnson, an undrafted free agent, have agreed to an Exhibit 10 training camp contract, sources tell Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (Twitter link).
As Fedor notes, the 6’7″ wing proved to be a critical contributor for the Tigers during the club’s Final Four run this spring.
In 2024/25, he averaged 9.1 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.9 BPG and 0.7 SPG across 38 contests, mostly as a reserve. Johnson connected on 56.7% of his field goals and 70.4% of his free throws.
Players inked to Exhibit 10 contracts can be promoted to two-way deals ahead of an NBA season. Johnson could become eligible for a bonus worth up to $85K should he join the Cavaliers’ NBAGL affiliate, the Cleveland Charge, and stick with the club for 60 or more days.
Cleveland selected two players in the second round of this year’s draft, Duke guard Tyrese Proctor and Trento wing Saliou Niang, with the Nos. 49 and 58 picks. We have more details on the Cavs’ plans for that duo right here.
Sixers Sign Igor Milicic Jr. To Exhibit 10 Contract
July 9: The Sixers have announced that their Exhibit 10 deal with Milicic is official, tweets Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports.
June 27: After going undrafted, Tennessee’s Igor Milicic Jr. has agreed to sign an Exhibit 10 contract with the Sixers, reports Jon Chepkevich of DraftExpress (Twitter link).
Milicic bounced around during his four college seasons, spending one year with Virginia, two at Charlotte, and one with the Volunteers before becoming automatically draft-eligible this spring. The 6’10” forward, whom Chepkevich lauds for his “two-way versatility,” averaged 9.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 25.4 minutes per game across 37 starts for Tennessee as a senior.
Milicic was the No. 70 prospect on ESPN’s final big board entering the draft and ranks 18th among the players who went undrafted.
Milicic is the second undrafted rookie said to have reached a contract agreement with the 76ers, who are reportedly signing Hunter Sallis to a two-way deal. Milicic’s contract will be entirely non-guaranteed, but could pay him a bonus worth up to $85K if he’s waived before the season begins and then spends at least 60 days with Philadelphia’s G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats.
It’s also possible Milicic will get an opportunity to vie for a two-way contract, since an Exhibit 10 deal can be converted into a two-way prior to the regular season.