Masai Ujiri’s frame of mind has always been shrouded in mystery. Prior to this off-season, one got the sense that he was as liable to break up the band as he was to bring it back together for another run. Dating back to his time with the Denver Nuggets, there was precedence for both, such as when he re-signed Nene to a max-extension only to put him on the trade market months later.



As a result, every move Ujiri makes reveals something new. It tells us more than it would about most general managers.



This off-season, despite a general sense of inertia and a talent deficit in comparison to conference “rivals” like the Cavaliers and Celtics, the Raptors chose to run it back. Kyle Lowry signed a 3-year, $100-million deal, and trade deadline acquisition Serge Ibaka, came back on a $65-million deal for the same time frame. They dumped DeMarre Carroll’s unattractive contract — Ujiri’s biggest misstep as GM of the Raptors — to...