The Toronto Raptors held a press conference and Masai Ujiri recently talked about rebuilding and not talking the superteam route just like the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Raptors notably ended the Golden State Warriors' dynasty as they won the 2019 NBA Championship. However, ever since the Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard bolted Toronto for the Los Angeles Clippers, everything kind of went downwards.

Toronto recently missed the playoffs as they finished the 2020-21 NBA season with an abysmal record of 27-45. With Kyle Lowry also leaving the team, the Raptors are in for a full rebuild as Ujiri stated they are going to bank on their young guys more.

“We're going to create our own direction. We don't have to move in the way the league is moving. The NBA is such a copy-cat league. For now our opportunities are building around the young players we have and letting them grow” Ujiri on the context of this Raptors roster.

The Raptors' president of basketball operations is not interested in forming a super team as of now. Ujiri is also not worried that Toronto is not viewed as a premier destination on free agency.

“There are going to be super teams and super-super teams. … We're not taking that route, at least for now. Our route is to grow our young players and be excited for what we have and rely on Nick and his great staff.”

“We're not going to sit here and cry that players don't want to come here.“

When the Raptors drafted Scottie Barnes with their 4th overall pick, all signs pointed that he is gonna be the next big star in Toronto. Ujiri was impressed by how Barnes approaches the game:

“All he talks about is winning… this is what we wanted to bring.”

It will be interesting to see how the Raptors will fare now that Kyle Lowry, who Masai crowned as “The Greatest Raptor of All-time”, is now gone.

Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, and the newly drafted Barnes will all look to fill the void of recent superstars that left Toronto.