Rank the rumoured replacements for Masai

[TrustFundBaby]

Per the Grange article

As for candidates? Names are already circulating informally in league circles, though the process here will involve Los Angeles-based CAA Executive Search — a firm Pelley has used before — to identify, vet and shortlist candidates. The search also likely will include some input from NBA commissioner Adam Silver, before Pelley would present options to the MLSE board, which will be majority controlled by Rogers Communications (which owns Sportsnet) when its deal to purchase Bell’s 37.5-per-cent share in MLSE closes, likely in early July.

Some names in the meantime (in no order):

Bob Myers

The gold standard for front-office talent in the NBA and rumoured to be wanting to get back into a front-office position after doing television work for ESPN following a glittering run at the helm of the Golden State Warriors. Myers would fall in the ‘never-hurts-to-ask’ category, but would be an exceptionally expensive hire.

Alex Saratsis

A long-time agent with European ties whose clients include Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo and Ochai Agbaji, among others. He was a candidate for the president’s role with the Atlanta Hawks and would continue a mini-trend where former agents transition to executive positions (Leon Rose with the New York Knicks; Rob Pelinka with the Los Angeles Lakers; Myers, formerly with Golden State; Justin Zanik with the Utah Jazz; Arn Tellem with the Detroit Pistons).

Marc Eversley

The Chicago Bulls general manger boke into the NBA working for the Raptors under Bryan Colangelo during the latter’s tenure as president and general manager, had an assistant general manager role in Washington and later worked for Colangelo in Philadelphia. He has close ties with the existing Raptors front office and is on the board for Canada Basketball. The Brampton, Ont.-raised former Nike executive has been with the Bulls since 2020, has nearly two decades of front-office experience and was instrumental in the Raptors drafting DeMar DeRozan in 2009.

Matt Lloyd

A highly-regarded general manager with the Minnesota Timberwolves, previously with the Orlando Magic and Bulls. He has a reputation as very smart, industrious and personable, and his ighly trusted by T-Wolves president Tim Connelly, who himself is a highly respected executive and was Ujiri’s successor in Denver.

Dwane Casey

One of the most successful head coaches in Raptors history and an NBA veteran with 40 years of experience who transitioned to a front-office role with the Pistons. Few would know the Raptors landscape better.

Chad Buchanan

The general manager with Indiana Pacers who has used his background in scouting to identify players from the college and professional ranks that fit with the Pacers system on their way to their NBA Finals appearance this year.

There will be more names that surface and the successful candidate could come out of the blue. In the meantime, the Raptors will continue — business as usual — even in the absence of Ujiri, except that things are different now.

This is for President, but I assume whoever is chosen will clean house and we lose Bobby/Dan.

Not the most tantalizing options available, but curious to see what this board prefers. I assume Myers, Casey, and Eversley need no introduction.

Matt Lloyd: Been with the Wolves since 2022, helped oversee their recent transformation after being hired by Tim Connelly. Previously was with Chicago Bulls scouting from 2003-2012. Notable Picks in that time: Hinrich (#7), Gordon (#3), Noah (#9), Rose (#1), JJ (#16), Taj (#26), Butler (#30).

Chad Buchanan: Indy GM since 2017, was previously TrailBlazers scouting from 2003-2014. Notable Picks in that time: Webster (#6), Oden (#1), LMA (#2) (effectively), Asik (#36), Mills (#55), Lillard #6), Leonard (#11), CJ (#10)

I'm aware not all the picks fall on them but this is further context for their work of body,

[douggood]

there are no rumors
just names thrown out by a beat writer.

[The Duke]

From this list Matt Lloyd is take a chance on

[Kreamy]

Definitely Chad Buchanan from that list. He comes from a scouting background and has pulled some underrated moves over his career. The Gerald Wallace trade that netted Portland the pick to draft Lillard. His moves and draft picks in Indiana have been nice.

[Raps Next GM]

The Raptors fire Dwayne Casey as head coach after repeated years of playoff disappointment. They hire his assistant to take over — granted, Kawhi Leonard was brought in — but they go on to win the championship in that first season, and then set a franchise record for wins the next season (without Kawai).
A few short years later, the Raptors could bring him back, but with a promotion to the highest position in the organization? That reeks of the old dysfunctional Raptors’ management.
For the optics alone, and the message it sends to fans, that would be a horrific hire! Especially to replace the guy who might have been the most beloved face of the franchise ever, even more so than any player.
Casey was very media savvy and very popular with those who covered the team. I suspect Grange is including him on this list as nothing more than a favour to get his name out there for executive jobs.
It just cannot be here.

[Andrew_M08]

Casey as our president is nightmare fuel

[YogurtProducer]

Casey as our president is nightmare fuel

Is it?

Casey to me was a culture setter in the locker room just as much as Masai was.

His in game management was DREADFUL, but he was a very competent and capable man - and I was a big Casey hater during his time here.If anything, Casey would be preferable to me. He wouldn't interfere with Bobby IMO, and he did oversee the greatest time of development in Raptors history. How much of that was Masai's drafting, and how much was Casey and his coaches? It is impossible to say really.

[JB7]

Does it really matter?

[Raps in 4]

Chad Buchanan and Matt Lloyd are the only two I'd look at from that list. But Ed will absolutely prefer one of the slimy agents (Myers or Saratsis) or the former BC protege (Eversley) because he's a **** moron.

[S.W.A.N]

ugh. just give bobby the job

[bboyskinnylegs]

lol at the idea of firing Masai to hire Giannis' agent to run the team

[ForeverTFC]

Bob Myers is an awful choice. Look at his record without Jerry West.

There needs to be a none of the above option. I'd rather find the next Masai.

[Raps in 4]

Bob Myers is an awful choice. Look at his record without Jerry West.

There needs to be a none of the above option. I'd rather find the next Masai.

I just want someone with a strong scouting background. I'd honestly give the reins to Dan to run the team, but even in a tandem with Bobby, I'd be willing to give it a chance.

[ForeverTFC]

Bob Myers is an awful choice. Look at his record without Jerry West.

There needs to be a none of the above option. I'd rather find the next Masai.

I just want someone with a strong scouting background. I'd honestly give the reins to Dan to run the team, but even in a tandem with Bobby, I'd be willing to give it a chance.

100%. Rogers loves the Establishment, but I really hope they go against their instincts here... or at least are forced to. I doubt it happens though. Pelley said he wants a business man.

[WWSRD]

Definitely Buchanan

[bboyskinnylegs]

why would Eversley even be in consideration? I get that he's from here but he's been doing a horrible job in Chicago. Maybe Rogers Sportsnet is putting out some ridiculous names to make it appear like Myers is some kind of unattainable superstar president that we miraculously land.

[Scott Hall]

I lol'd at Dwane Casey

[CPT]

I don't want this, but I'm surprised Steve Nash isn't under more consideration. We know this is likely to be a PR move anyway, and this would probably excite the corporate base. I would see it as a trophy hire for Ed Rogers.

I'm not impressed with the other candidates, but Eversley jumped out as the most likely to me, just in terms of fitting what I would expect them to want.

It's increasingly difficult to keep track of front offices in the NBA, with the PBO now being the head of most organizations. Half of the teams have a "GM" that you wouldn't necessarily associate with the team. We should rename this site RealPresidentofBasketballOperations.

Funnily enough, in a previous discussion that asked people to come up with a replacement for Masai (unreasonable request), I did some digging and a few names I remember liking were Bryson Graham (rose through the ranks with NOP, which isn't an endorsement, but he was in scouting, where they've actually been really good) and Peter Dinwiddie (analytics guy who spent time with Philly and Indiana). Both of those guys recently joined Atlanta's front office under Onsi Saleh, a Canadian exec with experience with the Spurs and Warriors. Kind of sounds like the ideal candidate?

Keeping Masai on until early June and announcing it in late June may have cost them a chance at some of the better candidates.

[Kingsway_fan]

None. They should leave the position open for a year.. see what develops...

[biebstothelotto]

I hope it's someone who can communicate effectively and align well with Bobby and Dan. They've done a great job recently with the culture reset, and I’d like to see a new president who has confidence in them, and who can build on that progress rather than come in and try to overhaul it unnecessarily.

One of Masai’s smartest moves was choosing not to clean house when he took over. Most new GMs tend to start by firing the existing coach, but Masai took a different approach. He believed in the people already in place and challenged them to get better. That mindset of valuing internal assets was the foundation of our development system and a key reason he was often able to maximize value of draft picks, and of our assets in trades.