Raptors not pressuring GM Bobby Webster to strike a deal

The noise around the league suggested the clock might be ticking on Raptors general manager Bobby Webster, with some wondering if Toronto might feel nudged into accelerating their timeline before the trade deadline. According to Michael Grange of Sportsnet, that read is off.

League sources tell Sportsnet that Webster and the Raptors are already engaged in meaningful talks on a contract extension, and that Webster’s standing with ownership is solid. In particular, his relationship with Keith Pelley, president of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, is described as strong and collaborative.

One source characterized the dynamic as calm and patient, noting that communication is good and the organization is aligned on the big picture. There is no sense of urgency to force a move, and no appetite for short-term decision-making tied to contract optics. In other words, the Raptors are operating with runway, not a stopwatch.

That matters in the wake of last summer’s leadership transition, when Toronto opted to promote Webster after the departure of Masai Ujiri. Pelley told Sportsnet that Webster’s contract status will not influence trade deadline decisions, emphasizing that the team believes it is moving in the right direction.

The takeaway is straightforward. Despite the outside speculation, Toronto is not feeling boxed in. Webster is trusted, the plan is intact, and any significant move will come only if it makes sense for the Raptors long term, not because of artificial pressure.