Raptors president Masai Ujiri said he's incredibly happy with where the team's roster is at right now amid reports that superstar Kevin Durant is on the trade block and Toronto is in the mix.
Ujiri was in Ottawa on Friday for the unveiling of an art installation he helped create that was inspired by Nelson Mandela. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was among those in attendance.
Although Ujiri understandably declined to speak on the Durant situation specifically, he was quick to praise the current lineup as he was heading to Las Vegas for Summer League.
"I'm so excited to see all of our players who will be there, our young players who will be playing in the Summer League," Ujiri told CityNews. "I know one thing: We're going to win in Toronto and we're going to continue to grow. I'm super confident about that.
"I know with all the talks, I'm incredibly happy with where our team is and how we continue to grow."
Also asked Masai about Kevin Durant and the Raptors. He obviously didn’t want to give any hints
@CityNewsTO @Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/uQ98b8PjBk
Ujiri and general manager Bobby Webster have been busy already this off-season re-signing Thad Young and Chris Boucher and adding free agent Otto Porter Jr. to the mix.
The Raptors finished fifth in the Eastern Conference with a 48-34 record and aim to improve upon their playoff performance as they were eliminated by the Philadelphia 76ers in six games during the first round.
Someone like Durant, who is a two-time NBA champion and an 11-time All-NBA selection, would surely provide a boost, similar to Kawhi Leonard's impact during the 2018-19 season leading Toronto to the franchise's first title.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski was the first to suggest Toronto could be a dark horse "lurking" in trade discussions for Durant. Sportsnet's Michael Grange added the Raptors "feel they can put together the best package of assets the Brooklyn Nets are likely to get."
As the rumour mill continues to swirl, Ujiri's main priority remains the internal growth of the team.
"We'll keep looking out there to see how we can make our team better but our internal growth is what's most important to us," Ujiri said. "... I think seeing with the growth of all of these young players, I'm happy with that and we'll keep growing."
