Ujiri and the Raps

[The Rebel]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--nugge ... 04856.html

Unless Denver responds soon with a market-value contract extension to keep its general manager, Ujiri is prepared to leave Denver for the chance to rebuild the Raptors organization, league sources said.

Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment CEO Tim Leiweke is aggressively pursuing Ujiri to become the Raptors' general manager and plans to present an offer that will pay him nearly $3 million annually over the course of a multiyear contract, league sources said.

Denver has long been reluctant to pay its top front-office executives market value, and current contract extension talks with Ujiri are believed to include figures that are nowhere near the commitment that Toronto's willing to make.

looks like the Nuggets don't want to pay him.

[youngthegiant]

If Denver doesn't re-sign Ujiri, then I will lose all hope of this team ever winning a championship.

[helicon1]

If Denver doesn't re-sign Ujiri, then I will lose all hope of this team ever winning a championship.

Huh? Even if he does leave he's leaving the team in a great situation. I'd imagine it'd be a pretty attractive job opportunity. The most attractive of the openings remaining actually.

[youngthegiant]

If Denver doesn't re-sign Ujiri, then I will lose all hope of this team ever winning a championship.

Huh? Even if he does leave he's leaving the team in a great situation. I'd imagine it'd be a pretty attractive job opportunity. The most attractive of the openings remaining actually.

But it just means that the our owner isn't interested in winning a title, he is not willing to spend the money. Just remember in 2009, he booked a wwe event, thinking that Denver would be eliminated from the playoffs.

[denvers_finest]

Ridiculous if we lose Masi because the Kronkes won't spend a few million to keep the reigning EOY.

By all accounts, he wants to stay and the team wants him here, pay him what hes worth and move on with the offseason.

[eathb_au]

We happily keep one of the worst playoffs coaches ever and refuse to pay Masai?

Classic Nuggets

[DaFan334]

If Denver doesn't re-sign Ujiri, then I will lose all hope of this team ever winning a championship.

Huh? Even if he does leave he's leaving the team in a great situation. I'd imagine it'd be a pretty attractive job opportunity. The most attractive of the openings remaining actually.

But it just means that the our owner isn't interested in winning a title, he is not willing to spend the money. Just remember in 2009, he booked a wwe event, thinking that Denver would be eliminated from the playoffs.

While Kronke has been cheap, the WWE booking was done by someone in the Pepsi Center office, owners don't schedule events for their facilities personally.

Is $3Mil really that much money for one of the top NBA executives. This is pretty weak if they let him leave.

[helicon1]

But it just means that the our owner isn't interested in winning a title, he is not willing to spend the money. Just remember in 2009, he booked a wwe event, thinking that Denver would be eliminated from the playoffs.

On second thought you are probably right on that. I've also read tweets that Toronto's ownership is willing to go deep into luxury tax as well which I'm sure is appealing too. I just got the impression based on some earlier tweets that it wasn't just about the money. He has ties to Toronto as well as Denver (and rebuffed offers from Philly last year right?). Not implying that he isn't or wouldn't be perfectly happy in Denver, just that because of those ties, and for personal reasons he would be more open to a move to that particular organization.

[The Rebel]

http://www.roundballminingcompany.com/2 ... ng-denver/
Article with a link to the Kroenke interview

[eathb_au]

It's the same with all Kroenke sports teams.

[SwaggWagg]

After a lengthy meeting with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment executives in Colorado on Friday, Denver Nuggets general manager Masai Ujiri – armed with a multiyear, multimillion-dollar contract offer – is engaged in negotiations to take over as the Toronto Raptors' GM, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Ujiri will take the next couple days to fully consider the move, but significant momentum has gathered that likely will lead to Ujiri's departure from the franchise that he completely remade into a Western Conference contender, sources told Y! Sports.

Denver ownership "seems to be moving on," one league source familiar with the talks told Y! Sports.
Toronto's bid is believed to be double – perhaps even triple – the best offer Denver has made to Ujiri in his contract talks with the organization. Ujiri is one of the lowest-paid executives in the league, and the Kroenke family – which owns the Nuggets – doesn't appear moved to make a competitive bid to hold onto him.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--nuggets-gm-masai-ujiri-to-meet-with-raptors-about-taking-over-toronto-s-front-office-160104856.html

[pickIBL]

I dont think anyone is shocked here. Karl is a cheap head coach. Could mean a deal with iggy is out as well.

[DaFan334]

Having listened to the interview with Josh, I have to question his competitiveness. He plays it off as though Masai would be leaving simply because of having a great relationship with Bryan Colangelo, when it appears money is the bigger issue and he is completely overplaying it. That interview seemed like it was completely to try to save face on losing Ujiri. I'm gonna be really disappointed if we don't step up to bring him back.

[Powder Blue]

This disgusts me, I hope Nuggets nation blasts the Kroenke's if they let Ujiri go. Relenquish season tickets, don't buy single game tickets, 10 game packs or merchandise.

The thought of Karl sticking around but Ujiri being let go makes me sick, if this foreshadows the offseason moves you can expect Iggy to walk, Dre to stay and Brewer getting overpaid.

Josh has shifted his focus to the Avs, it's clear as day. Punk-a$$ family takes from one team to redevelop another.

[youngthegiant]

Yes bringing Ujiri back is important to the fan base, but not for the reasons we think, whether a guy like Iggy decides to re-sign because his team no longer has the same general manager……… Not likely a big factor in his decision. His decision will be based on

1.) Money

2.) Coaching expectations

3.) Teammate Chemistry

4.) Living Environment

5.) Team Success

Yes I want Ujiri back representing the Nuggets but not because he has done an incredible job. In terms of credit given, everything Masai has done has been overblown. We give all the credit to Masai , but neglect the fact that he has a whole staff that help him make decisions. Not bringing Masai back, shows me that this team is not willing to spend money to reach the ultimate goal of winning a championship. Now if/when Masai leaves, he will be sorely missed and I will have lost a little hope in my nuggets, but saying that this team should be blown up is just your emotions talking. The Nuggets still have a bright future but our ultimate goal of winning a championship would be slighted.

[patrol345]

I dunno. The fact that we are keeping Karl this year and letting Masai go really means the Nuggets are happy making the first round and getting bounced, dont think for a minute that isnt obvious to a smart guy like iggy either. I dont think Masai was happy with that goal only and the Kroenkes and Karl are happy with that as they make their 1st round playoff money and move on for the next year. Im sure they know most fans will be sucked back in, in the middle of next year when karl "leads us" to another 50 win first round flame out without developing our younger players.

[The Rebel]

Update on the Ujiri offer from Toronto, personally I don't think that is too far out of line,
http://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/ ... ith-ujiri/

It has been reported that Ujiri is the lowest-salaried GM in the NBA, earning about $500,000 a year, or half of the league’s average. According to NBA sources the Raptors have offered Ujiri a four-year deal worth about $9 million.

Personally $2.25 million is not that far out of line, I don't know the average GM salary but that has to be close as you often hear of GMs getting large contracts. I thought the Raptors were offering 3 times what the Nuggets offered, putting the Nuggets at an offer around $750,000 a year, which is still way down on the low end.

If the Nuggets are not at least close on the money then my worst fears seem to be correct in that they are extremely cheap when it comes to anything/anyone not stepping on the court.

[The Rebel]

Terry Frei weighing in as well.

But Ujiri's work, in getting stunning value for Carmelo Anthony and on other fronts, albeit with Josh Kroenke's input and help, has spoken for itself. By dragging their feet, the Kroenkes undoubtedly miscalculated, as Ujiri's leverage increased, including with his recent NBA executive of the year honor.

http://www.denverpost.com/frei/ci_23329859/denver-nuggets-masai-ujiri-fiasco-turnover-by-kroenke#ixzz2UXQyYI4J

[polo007]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/93204 ... ng-sources

The Toronto Raptors have offered Denver Nuggets general manager Masai Ujiri a five-year deal worth nearly $3 million annually, league sources told ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard.

Ujiri, the NBA's Executive of the Year, is expected to make his decision sometime this week. Sources told Broussard it's a virtual certainty that Denver can't match Toronto's offer.

Nuggets president Josh Kroenke didn't want to spoil the day of new Colorado Avalanche coach Patrick Roy, so he deflected any talk about the situation involving his general manager.

The Nuggets allowed Ujiri, to meet with the Raptors about their GM vacancy over the weekend, Yahoo! Sports reported. Ujiri's contract with Denver expires June 30.

As president of the Avalanche as well, Kroenke attended Roy's announcement on Tuesday. He remained mum about Ujiri, saying, "There are no Nuggets questions today. Sorry. It's all about Avalanche."

Ujiri was assistant GM in Toronto for three years before joining Denver in 2010.

[Teens On Acid]

well, there's that done