The Masai Ujiri Watch Thread

[FAH1223]

Ok, so the rumors have swirled that the Leonsis family i.e. Ted and Zach have had their eyes set for Masai since EVEN BEFORE the Raptors hoisted the Larry O'Brien trophy in Oakland in 2019.

The rumors were $10M plus per year and even an ownership stake ala Ted Leonsis' deal brokered with Michael Jordan and Abe Polin in 1999.

Masai has local ties to the area through his wife who is from Greenbelt, MD and still has family here.

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That obviously faded away in 2019-2020 with Ernie Grunfeld's #2 becoming the GM. After Ted Leonsis talked to 78 people... INCLUDING BARACK OBAMA on how he should proceed with revamping the front office.

But its resurfaced now. Masai hasn't done an extension with TOR yet and will be a free agent. His GM, Bobby Webster, has recently re-signed.

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Troy Halibur at Washington City Paper has been dropping nuggets on his sources on Twitter. Some other Bullets insiders have mentioned similar information.

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The President of Basketball Operations post is also unfilled.

So, is the smoke showing fire? What do you all think?

[queridiculo]

The Raptors are imploding, and they are staring a long arduous rebuild in the face.

If you’re going to start over, you might as well do it in a different place.

Ujiri to DC makes too much sense.

[NatP4]

I think it’s basically a done deal, honestly.

[badinage]

I think it’s basically a done deal, honestly.

Based on?

[nate33]

The Raptors are imploding, and they are staring a long arduous rebuild in the face.

If you’re going to start over, you might as well do it in a different place.

Ujiri to DC makes too much sense.

The Raptors are having a rough season with injuries, Covid, living in Tampa, and the changing of the old guard (Gasol, Ibaka, Lowry), but I still think they're in much better position than we are. The have 3 youngish building blocks in Siakam, Anunoby and Van Vleet, they have Trade Deadline assets with Powell and Lowry, they'll have cap room this summer, and they're in position to land a top pick.

[Halcyon]

I'm not getting my hopes up.

[NatP4]

The Raptors are imploding, and they are staring a long arduous rebuild in the face.

If you’re going to start over, you might as well do it in a different place.

Ujiri to DC makes too much sense.

The Raptors are having a rough season with injuries, Covid, living in Tampa, and the changing of the old guard (Gasol, Ibaka, Lowry), but I still think they're in much better position than we are. The have 3 youngish building blocks in Siakam, Anunoby and Van Vleet, they have Trade Deadline assets with Powell and Lowry, they'll have cap room this summer, and they're in position to land a top pick.

Siakam is about to turn 27. Van fleet is 27. I don’t see much of a young core.

Id rather have Beal, Avdija, Bryant, Brown, Bonga, and Hachimura.

[FAH1223]

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[WallToWall]

Wishful thinking... until there is some tangible evidence.
"He said, she said", and reading tea leaves only go so far.

[nate33]

The Raptors are imploding, and they are staring a long arduous rebuild in the face.

If you’re going to start over, you might as well do it in a different place.

Ujiri to DC makes too much sense.

The Raptors are having a rough season with injuries, Covid, living in Tampa, and the changing of the old guard (Gasol, Ibaka, Lowry), but I still think they're in much better position than we are. The have 3 youngish building blocks in Siakam, Anunoby and Van Vleet, they have Trade Deadline assets with Powell and Lowry, they'll have cap room this summer, and they're in position to land a top pick.

Siakam is about to turn 27. Van fleet is 27. I don’t see much of a young core.

Id rather have Beal, Avdija, Bryant, Brown, Bonga, and Hachimura.

Well, Beal is 27 too. Brown and Bonga are "just guys". I'm not sure if Bryant will ever prove to be anything more than an MLE caliber replaceable center.

So if you figure Beal + Bertans versus Siakam + Van Vleet is about a wash, then it's really Anunoby versus Hachimura + Avdija. I'd take Anunoby. But I cede that it's pretty close and there's a fair argument the other way.

[NatP4]

The Raptors are having a rough season with injuries, Covid, living in Tampa, and the changing of the old guard (Gasol, Ibaka, Lowry), but I still think they're in much better position than we are. The have 3 youngish building blocks in Siakam, Anunoby and Van Vleet, they have Trade Deadline assets with Powell and Lowry, they'll have cap room this summer, and they're in position to land a top pick.

Siakam is about to turn 27. Van fleet is 27. I don’t see much of a young core.

Id rather have Beal, Avdija, Bryant, Brown, Bonga, and Hachimura.

Well, Beal is 27 too. Brown and Bonga are "just guys". I'm not sure if Bryant will ever prove to be anything more than an MLE caliber replaceable center.

So if you figure Beal + Bertans versus Siakam + Van Vleet is about a wash, then it's really Anunoby versus Hachimura + Avdija. I'd take Anunoby. But I cede that it's pretty close and there's a fair argument the other way.

It only needs to be close. The off the court opportunities seriously favor D.C.

[nate33]

Siakam is about to turn 27. Van fleet is 27. I don’t see much of a young core.

Id rather have Beal, Avdija, Bryant, Brown, Bonga, and Hachimura.

Well, Beal is 27 too. Brown and Bonga are "just guys". I'm not sure if Bryant will ever prove to be anything more than an MLE caliber replaceable center.

So if you figure Beal + Bertans versus Siakam + Van Vleet is about a wash, then it's really Anunoby versus Hachimura + Avdija. I'd take Anunoby. But I cede that it's pretty close and there's a fair argument the other way.

It only needs to be close. The off the court opportunities seriously favor D.C.

Don't overlook the clean balance sheet at Toronto while we are saddled with Westbrook's contract (and possibly Bertans', though I expect him to play his way back to being a tradeable contract). And Lowry and Powell are legit assets that can get them some extra first round picks.

[Dat2U]

I fully expect Ted to act like he's making a push this offseason and somehow Masai ends up somewhere else or takes a year off. Until Ted realizes he's not the smartest guy in the room, he'll continue to screw the pooch when it comes to the Wizards.

[Ruzious]

I thought losing Ibaka would hurt them - but I'm not really getting how they fell this far so fast. Seems like the most likely reason he'd leave is in-fighting. And maybe he'd welcome a change for the sake of change... and for the sake of more money.

[TGW]

I fully expect Ted to act like he's making a push this offseason and somehow Masai ends up somewhere else or takes a year off. Until Ted realizes he's not the smartest guy in the room, he'll continue to screw the pooch when it comes to the Wizards.

Yea I don't have much faith in Turd giving up his say in the front office, which I imagine Masai would require in an acceptance of a GM role here. Leonsis' ego is too big to completely relinquish control.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

If they get this guy Santa Claus has come to town. He’s a black man. If you remember Welcome Back Kotter you know what I’m talking about.

Oh yes and that song by the Jackson five Santa Claus is coming to town…

[Dat2U]

I thought losing Ibaka would hurt them - but I'm not really getting how they fell this far so fast. Seems like the most likely reason he'd leave is in-fighting. And maybe he'd welcome a change for the sake of change... and for the sake of more money.

I blame Tampa lol.

[FAH1223]

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[nate33]

If Ujiri is coming, then they'll do nothing at the Trade Deadline except maybe offload Lopez or Neto.

[payitforward]

Well, nobody stays in the same place forever -- though Ernie came close!

So, you're Masai Ujiri, & you're looking around the league at the other 29 teams. Now, some of them simply aren't in the market for a new President, & there are a few where maybe there are people you don't want to work with. Let's say, therefore, that you could probably have any one of about 12-18 jobs around the league.

There would be a lot to think about -- what challenges to take on, what advantages & disadvantages might attach to any of these undertakings.

Hard for me to see why the Wizards would rise to the top of the list in desirability. How about you?