JUST IN: Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri waiting on forward Sasha Vezenkov
Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri will show restraint toward Sasha Vezenkov. The 28-year-old forward was exchanged from the Sacramento Lords to the Raptors on June 28 on the second day of the NBA Draft.
Forward Sasha Vezenkov was traded from the Sacramento Kings to the Raptors on June 28 on the second day of the NBA Draft. Vezenkov (7) is guarded by Portland Trail Blazers forward Justin Minaya (24) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Sunday, April 14, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Randall Benton
TORONTO — Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri will show restraint toward Sasha Vezenkov.
The 28-year-old forward was exchanged from the Sacramento Lords to the Raptors on June 28 on the second day of the NBA Draft. Vezenkov was shipped off Toronto alongside Davion Mitchell, the draft freedoms to Jamal Shead, and a 2025 second-round pick.
Mitchell and Shead have marked manages the Raptors yet Vezenkov has not, with media reports saying he needs to sign a long term agreement with Greece’s Olympiacos in the EuroLeague.
“We’re actually going through that particular situation,” said Ujiri. “I feel that ought to foster in the following couple of days or we’ll see whether it’s a couple of months.”
The six-foot-eight Bulgarian, who was brought into the world in Cyprus, arrived at the midpoint of 5.4 places, 2.3 bounce back and 0.5 aids 12.2 minutes per game in his most memorable NBA season. He played in 42 games in 2023-24 and could add some profundity at forward to Toronto’s seat.
“We acquired a player in a trade and we feel we have communicated well,” said Ujiri. “We communicated well with the agent and the team before and so we’ll see how that goes.”
The Raptors officially signed all-star forward Scottie Barnes and starting point guard Immanuel Quickley to deals on Monday.
Quickley will have a reported cap hit of US$30.2 million and Barnes, whose new deal kicks in for the 2025-26 season, is still at $10.1 million. Those contracts mean the Raptors have a payroll of approximately $168.8 million next season, $2.2 million below the NBA’s luxury tax threshold.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 8, 2024.
John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press
