Raptors' Ujiri rules out tanking: 'We're not doing that here'

The Toronto Raptors will stay the course despite yet another loss at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Raptors president Masai Ujiri appeared before the media for his year-end press conference and gave an impassioned plea against tearing down the roster.

"Tanking? We're not doing that here," Ujiri told reporters.

Toronto enjoyed a 59-win season and captured the No. 1 seed for the first time in franchise history, but in accordance with the pattern of this five-year run, the Raptors failed to translate their regular-season success to the playoffs. They were swept for the third time in four seasons, and it came in the fashion of a rude dismissal by LeBron James for the third straight year.

The last week of the season, however, did not negate the first six months that preceded it, at least not in Ujiri's mind. Toronto is invested in their young bench unit that collectively took a step forward this season, and their two All-Stars in Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan remained productive in their roles.

Ujiri never went as far as to committing to Lowry, DeRozan, or guaranteeing the return of head coach Dwane Casey, but he will be looking to make improvements wherever possible. On that front, he took responsibility for his organization.

"Forget all the other stuff you guys are talking about. It's on me. We'll get better," Ujiri said. "I put it on myself."