When the ownership of the Toronto Raptors dumped Masai Ujiri as team president last month, it led to an obvious question: Was it a money thing? A personality clash with the new leadership at parent company MLSE?

The Toronto Raptors are appointing general manager Bobby Webster as the team's head of basketball operations and the sides have reached a new contract, sources told ESPN on Monday.

During interviews to replace Masai Ujiri as head coach of the Toronto Raptors, some candidates questioned the direction of the franchise.

The move came Monday, six weeks ahead of the start of training camp. The organization ultimately decided not to choose a president at this time, instead keeping Webster as GM, but deciding to “officially hand the team to Bobby,” MLSE president Keith Pelley said in a statement ahead of a media call with Webster.

Masai Ujiri, the former Toronto Raptors executive and founder of Zaria Group, plans to take his $25m Zaria Court concept from Kigali to more African cities, building sports-focused hotels and arenas aimed at transforming the continent’s sports and entertainment landscape.

The post-Masai Ujiri era begins Oct. 22 against the Hawks in Atlanta, according to the schedule released Thursday afternoon. Two days later, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks will arrive for the Raptors home opener at Scotiabank Arena.