Welcome to Ujiria

In the wake of Rob Ford's recent destitution, I say Toronto needs more than a new leader. Canada's capital needs a hero and might have found the hero they deserve in Masai Ujiri, sports management warlord. Yesterday, in a spectacular, so-clever-it-was-almost-evil move, Our Beloved Warlord has undone the tragic mistake of his predecessor Bryan Colangelo and found a new home to spectacular, yet inefficient and overpaid Rudy Gay, sending him to Sacramento along with Quincy Acy and Aaron Gray, for Greivis Vasquez, Patrick Patterson, John Salmons and Chuck Hayes.. I, therefore, declare that Toronto is now a city-state and should now be referred to as Ujiria or #Ujiria. Let's examine the numerous ramifications of this deceptive deal. Not only Masai's deals are deceptive, but they are also interesting. 

• The Toronto Raptors are tanking. Our Beloved Warold is deliberately trying to bottom out to get a high draft pick and it's fine. If there is a season to do it, it's this season. The Raptors will have to out-do themselves to tank in the shitty Eastern conference, but it's a good start.

• Money off the books. In less than six months, Masai has made the contracts of Andrea Bargnani and Rudy Gay disappear. About 29 millions off the books for this year, 32 millions for next season. Plus, John Salmons' contract is not guaranteed for next year. He's as good as gone already.

• Asset collection. The two important players the Raptors acquired in this deal are Greivis Vasquez and Patrick Patterson. The former is bound to take Kyle Lowry's place in the line-up (Lowry's as good as gone) and Patterson (or Amir Johnson) might be a piece used to seal a more ambitious deal.

• DeRozan and Ross on display. I don't know if this was planned or not, but now that DeMar DeRozan and Terrence Ross will get a major boost of their minutes, they are on display for teams who are looking for ''that extra player'' to contend. Both are not players you can build around, but they could be used in a championship equation and if somebody is feeling like taking a chance on one of them, count on Masai to bleed 'em of their ressources. This is sneaky, but it is so Masai.

• Impending free agency. If the Raps luck out and get (let's say), Andrew Wiggins in the draft (it's always possible with the lottery), well they have the cap room and the roster holes to do some serious shopping on the free agents market and start competing as soon as next year. Our Beloved Warlord should surround his future star with more efficient players than Rudy Gay.

• Good Business. As much as the Sacramento Kings bit the bullet, salary wise, is it me or I don't hate their starting lineup? Isiah Thomas Jr., Ben McLemore, Rudy Gay, Derrick Williams and Boogie Cousins. It's too ball-dominant for my taste, but something about that equation sounds right to me.

The Raptors are officially #Ujiria's team. They also have officially become one of the most interestingly managed teams in the NBA. What do you think the future holds for them?