Who’s to blame for Masai Ujiri’s ousting?

Masai Ujiri, the Raptors president who brought Toronto its first and only NBA title, is out—and it doesn’t make much sense. News of his departure broke this morning via ESPN, just a day after the NBA draft concluded, with no immediate explanation. Ujiri still had a whole year on his cushy $15-million contract and has always been adamant that he would stay until he was told to leave. So what gives? The answer may have less to do with the Raptors themselves and more to do with the history of Ujiri’s conflict with Edward Rogers.

First, the other theories. Some think Ujiri saw an even cushier gig opening up. Rumour has it that the Atlanta Hawks are looking for a new president of basketball operations and have their eyes on the man from Toronto. One report claims Ujiri showed some interest in the role several months ago. But that theory doesn’t quite add up since the Hawks already have their own star manager in Onsi Saleh, who hardly needs another big name to report to.

Related: Masai Ujiri helped us see Toronto for what it is—a city of winners

Then there’s MLSE’s own story. In a press conference earlier today, CEO Keith Pelley said Ujiri’s departure was Pelley’s decision, based on a desire to find someone who could win another championship—as the Raptors have not been doing. He also spoke about the key role of stability in the team’s front office, roster and coaching staff. He and Ujiri, Pelley revealed, had been in talks for the past two months about the future, but both agreed it would be best to wait until after the draft to make any moves.

Pelley’s explanation, however, raised more questions than it answered. For one thing, if everything is so nice and stable, why shake things up by decapitating the team? Pelley said it could take up to two months to find a replacement, which is a long time to be left in limbo. And his effusive praise for Ujiri throughout his speech hardly made a case for ushering the man out.

Meanwhile, Ujiri and Rogers have history. In 2021, news broke of discord between Ujiri and Rogers, the telecom scion who, at the time, owned a 37.5 per cent stake in MLSE. Rogers reportedly took issue with the $15-million (US) salary being offered to Ujiri by Larry Tanenbaum, the then-franchise governor and Raptors co-owner who has called Ujiri his honorary son. Balking at the number, Rogers had asked Tanenbaum if no one else could do the job for far less. Rogers, however, didn’t get an answer: NBA rules gave Tanenbaum authority over the contract, and he used it to override Rogers and give Ujiri what he asked for.

Related: The unlikely ascent of Edward Rogers, Canada’s telecom king

Since then, the team has had a rough time. Their 2024 season found them ending in a brutal 25–57 hole, and this year they did only marginally better. With a roster of promising rookies and a year spent rebuilding, the team seemed optimistic for the coming season, ready to finally get back in action.

Meanwhile, Edward Rogers was embroiled in a family feud over the future of his company—and one where he emerged as the sole victor. In January of 2024, another Rogers man, Keith Pelley, was named head of MLSE (the former CEO of golf’s European Tour Group had once served as president of Rogers Media). Pelley soon set about remaking the upper echelons of Toronto sports, letting go of Toronto FC and Argonauts president Bill Manning and Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan.

With big names dropping all around, Ujiri became the outlier. If Rogers was on a crusade against big-ticket bosses who couldn’t deliver the goods, it wasn’t unthinkable that he’d revisit the Raptors president’s contract. Then, earlier this month, Rogers Communications was granted league approval to buy out Bell’s 37.5 per cent stake in MLSE for $4.7 billion, crowning Rogers the king of the Toronto sports world.

Just 23 days later, Ujiri was out of a job, and Pelley has confirmed that general manager Bobby Webster is a candidate for the role. And while Pelley insisted that the decision to let go of Ujiri was his, it was also one he made in conversation with the board—a board controlled by Edward Rogers.

In a statement to Toronto Life, a spokesperson for Rogers wrote, “As Keith Pelley said, the board supported his decision. Masai Ujiri has had a big impact on the Raptors, and we wish him all the best.”

No matter what went down behind closed doors, the balance of power is clear. The Raptors have an open spot, Ujiri needs a new job and Rogers has one less rival to deal with.