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Toronto Raptors: Four takeaways from Masai Ujiri’s season ending press conference

By Chris Okrainetz

May 23, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri (right) gestures as he speaks with media during pre-game shoot around before the Raptors host Cleveland Cavaliers in game four of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
May 23, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri (right) gestures as he speaks with media during pre-game shoot around before the Raptors host Cleveland Cavaliers in game four of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 18, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) talks with forward Serge Ibaka (9) after beating Milwaukee Bucks 106-100 in game two of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

Ownership is willing to go into the luxury tax

The Raptors have a number of tough decisions to make this summer, but given their salary cap situation, it’s a foregone conclusion this team will likely have to enter the luxury tax if they intend to remain competitive.

Retooling their roster without much cap flexibility will be a difficult task, but Ujiri said ownership has given him complete control and he is able to take the team in any direction he sees fit, including the luxury tax.

I wouldn’t expect the Raptors to go crazy and dive deep into the luxury tax, though. Keep in mind the repeater tax was implemented into the CBA to make it harder for team’s to retain all their talent by simply flexing their financial muscles. It’s clear MLSE is okay paying the luxury tax, but I doubt they would be okay paying the repeater tax in future years with an aging DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry, should they bring both players back.

Either way, the Raptors will more than likely enter the luxury tax this offseason, but I doubt their long-term plan involves paying tax to stay competitive.

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