KEY POINTS

  • Raptors president says all is well between Nick Nurse and Pascal Siakam
  • Masai Ujiri says the Cameroonian will stay with the Raptors
  • The Raptors are looking to replicate their 2019 NBA title run with young mainstays

Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri has a lot of work to do, and it would be fitting to start all that by clearing issues surrounding the team’s main figures.

There is perhaps no other glaring conflict that needs to be addressed other than the one between head coach Nick Nurse and player Pascal Siakam.

In March, the two Raptors figures got into a locker room argument and this resulted in Siakam getting benched for one game.

However, it appears all that is a thing of the past with Ujiri alleging that the Nurse-Siakam relationship is now in a much better place.

This may also put a dent in Siakam trade rumors. The past weeks have seen the All-Star forward’s name linked to several teams, including the Golden State Warriors.

While that row with Nurse was unsurprisingly one of the pointed out reasons, the recent explanations of Ujiri may finally put a lid on the topic.

Also, Toronto would be foolish to let the 6-foot-9 player walk considering he is coming off another good season.

Siakam averaged 21.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists last NBA season, numbers that would woo rebuilding teams to get the Cameroonian.

Ujiri is aware of the trade rumors involving Siakam but maintains that the cager is a prideful man.

He stressed that the prized forward will stay with the Raptors and will suit up for them this 2021-22 NBA season.

Siakam remains a vital cog for the rebuilding Raptors who are hoping to replicate their 2019 NBA title conquest.

Kyle Lowry and Kawhi Leonard are no longer around, and Ujiri is trying to build on the young players and add more pieces.

Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors
Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors Getty Images | Douglas P. DeFelice

Aside from Siakam, Toronto is hoping maintain its young core that includes Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr. and Scottie Barnes.

Ujiri agreed to stay on with the Raptors as the vice-chairman and the president of basketball operations earlier this month.

Even when that was announced, the 51-year-old executive already knew that he had a lot of work to do in hopefully architecting a new NBA title run for the Raptors.

That could all start by coming out with a better performance this coming 2021-22 NBA season.

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