Emotional Masai Ujiri Reflects on Siakam and DeRozan Trades: Navigating the Tough NBA Business

The NBA landscape was shaken on Wednesday as the Raptors executed a surprising trade, sending All-Star forward Pascal Siakam to the Pacers in a three-team deal involving the Pelicans. This marked the end of an era for Toronto, bidding farewell to one of the last key contributors from the 2019 championship team.

In the intricate trade, Siakam joined forces with All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton in Indiana, while the Raptors acquired Bruce Brown Jr., Jordan Nwora, Kira Lewis Jr., and three future first-round picks from the Pacers.

Chris Boucher stands as the sole remaining player from the Raptors’ historic championship run in 2019.

Siakam’s Impact on the Raptors: Siakam, a signature developmental success for the Raptors, evolved from an unknown prospect from Africa to an All-NBA, All-Star caliber player. A favorite of team president Masai Ujiri, Siakam played a crucial role in securing the franchise’s first-ever NBA title.

Ujiri’s Emotional Address: In an emotional address to the media on Thursday, Ujiri expressed the profound impact of the trade on a personal level. Remembering Siakam’s journey from Basketball Without Borders in South Africa to becoming an All-NBA and All-Star player, Ujiri fought back tears.

“Two African guys that won a championship. I share that with him,” Ujiri said emotionally. He recounted Siakam’s initial connection with Basketball Without Borders, highlighting how Siakam’s success is a source of pride for him, regardless of where Siakam plays.

The Emotional Toll of Trades: Responding to a question about maintaining a “colder” approach in management, Ujiri candidly opened up about the emotional toll behind every trade and decision in the NBA.

“This is a tough business. I walked around a hotel for two hours — two hours — in Kenya, to sum up the courage to call DeMar [DeRozan]. And I’m a tough motherf—. The human part of this business is tough,” Ujiri shared.

He reflected on the difficulty of trading players and the emotional challenges involved, recounting instances when he had to make tough calls or face colleagues after significant decisions.

“Trading a player and when a player leaves is the most difficult thing… it’s not easy, man,” he added, emphasizing the emotional burden of these tough decisions.

Raptors’ Future Moves: With the trades of Siakam and Anunoby completed, the Raptors have undergone a significant roster overhaul to build around Scottie Barnes. Despite the emotional challenges, Ujiri acknowledged that more moves are on the horizon before the Feb. 8 trade deadline.

“Definitely, yeah. You look at this and that’s why we’ve created flexibility,” Ujiri stated, emphasizing the ongoing commitment to reshape the team and compete at a championship level once again.

In navigating the tough business of the NBA, Masai Ujiri remains dedicated to the Raptors’ future success, understanding that more difficult decisions lie ahead in pursuit of championship contention.