TORONTO — Masai Ujiri says the Raptors have taken "baby steps" toward becoming a contender.

The Toronto general manager met with reporters three days after Toronto was eliminated in six games by Cleveland in the NBA Eastern Conference final.

Toronto set a franchise record this season with 56 wins and advanced to the final four for the first time in team history.

Ujiri thanked the players for Toronto's groundbreaking season and says he would "go to war" alongside the team's raucous fans.

He says that Dwane Casey will be back and is the Raptors' coach of the future.

The next order of business for Ujiri will be the NBA draft, in which the Raptors own the ninth overall pick.