Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
There is no question Denver Nuggets’ Masai Ujiri, who was named the 2013 NBA Executive of the Year, is the top candidate for any team looking for a new general manager in the offseason. One team in particular that is determined to land Ujiri is the Toronto Raptors.
Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment CEO Tim Leiweke will reportedly offer Ujiri $3 million per year to become the new general manager of the Raptors. The offer alone could be enough for the 43-year-old to leave Denver in the dust. The Nuggets are known for not paying their executives a lot of money, even if they are worthy of high salaries. The fact that Ujiri could make as much as three times his salary in Toronto than he could in Denver certainly sounds inviting.
Ujiri was the assistant general manager for the Raptors from 2008-10 until he was hired to be the general manager of the Nuggets. Ujiri became the first African-born general manager among the major professional sports teams in the United States. His contract expires at the conclusion of the 2012-13 NBA season, and it is unknown what the Nuggets have offered to keep Ujiri in Denver.
Toronto has been a down and out team for quite some time. The blame typically falls on the men in charge, and in Toronto’s case, it is well deserved. The Raptors have missed the postseason for five consecutive seasons, and their 34-48 record (ranked 10th in the Eastern Conference) was certainly a huge disappointment.
The fact is Ujiri would be a huge catch if Toronto could pry him away from Denver. He improved the Raptors in the short period he was with the organization as the assistant general manager. Toronto posted a 40-42 record in his year with the team, but has struggled since his departure.
Ujiri was given a very talented Denver team to work with when he arrived in 2010. Even though the Nuggets lost in the first round of the playoffs the last three seasons with Ujiri at the helm, the team has posted outstanding regular season records.
