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Sports

New CEO Tim Leiweke, GM Masai Ujiri latest to try and turn struggling Raptors into contenders

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    Toronto Raptors forward Terrence Ross, right, celebrates his tying three-point shot at the buzzer with Raptors forward Rudy Gay, left, while playing against the New York Knicks during over-time NBA pre-season basketball action in Toronto on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette) (The Associated Press)

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    Toronto Raptors forward Jonas Valanciunas (17) knocks down New York Knicks forward Andrea Bargnani, right, during first half NBA pre-season basketball action in Toronto on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette) (The Associated Press)

TORONTO – The biggest changes the Toronto Raptors made this offseason came in the boardroom, not the locker room.

Tim Leiweke was hired as CEO in April after the Raptors were 10th in the Eastern Conference, finishing out of the playoffs for a franchise-worst fifth straight year.

Leiweke's first big move was demoting general manager Bryan Colangelo. Less than two weeks later, he hired Masai Ujiri, the NBA's reigning executive of the year, away from Denver to take over as president and GM. Ujiri unloaded Colangelo's most derided asset, former No. 1 pick Andrea Bargnani, in a trade with New York.

The rebuilding process has started slowly, but Leiweke says the Raptors have "made it clear to all our players" they they're "going to win championships here."