Masai Ujiri

[badinage]

Multiple reports out there that they’re gonna make a very aggressive run at him this summer.

Discuss.

I’ll go first: ’twould be huge. His draft record — without lottery picks — is absurd. That team in Toronto has — what? A couple good players? But they have a lot of pretty good players and they’re incredibly well-coached. He knows how to build a TEAM.

[FAH1223]

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Masai would be just what the Dr. ordered for a franchise that hasn't gotten to the Conference Finals since 1979.

Ted Leonsis was the one who brought Michael Jordan to DC and convinced Abe Polin to that deal in 1999.

Masai would get a similar deal. An ownership stake, all that jazz..

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

Is this real?

How nice would it be to follow a well run NBA team?

[payitforward]

If he wasn't interested in Spring 2019, why would he be interested now? Because Ted has provided further demonstration of what an outstanding owner he is? Yeah, that must be it....

[DCZards]

If he wasn't interested in Spring 2019, why would he be interested now? Because Ted has provided further demonstration of what an outstanding owner he is? Yeah, that must be it....

Ujiri could have interest in the Zards job for a few reasons. The first, of course, is money and a possible ownership stake.

Then there’s his interest and role in promoting bball in the international community, especially in Africa. DC is a great base for that kind of work. And then there’s the fact that his wife grew up in PG County...and probably still has family and roots in the area.

On top of that, Masai strikes me as the type that would welcome the challenge of turning a franchise around.

[WallToWall]

Concur that it would have to be a Jordan type deal to be able to attract him. What were his advertised reasons for not accepting the position last time it was offered? If I recall correctly, Ujiri had some "bad press" around that time.

[jangles86]

This reeks of when we thought Kevin Durant was coming “home” haha

[Error Afflalo]

If he wasn't interested in Spring 2019, why would he be interested now? Because Ted has provided further demonstration of what an outstanding owner he is? Yeah, that must be it....

Ted sucks but there are a few things that make the Wiz job more desirable than it was in 2019:

- Toronto was in better shape in 2019 than it is now, even after losing Kawhi that summer.

- Wall had just torn his Achilles and his extension hadn't even kicked in yet. Westbrook is declining rapidly, but the two years left on his deal is easier to stomach than the four that were left on Wall's deal at the time. There are also a couple of promising young pieces on the roster and a high 2021 pick that should make the job more appealing this time around.

- Beal has ascended to a different level. You can bet the organization is targeting Ujiri again because they think it will convince Beal to stay. I don't think it will be enough, but I certainly trust him to get a better return in a trade and rebuild the roster more than Sheppard.

That's not to say that the Wizards job is good or even better than the job he currently has. But it's a better job than it was in two years ago.

[gambitx777]

So would tommy remain gm and MU be team pres because Tommy has done good enough I feel that he doesn't deserve to be on the street with no job.

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[TGW]

So would tommy remain gm and MU be team pres because Tommy has done good enough I feel that he doesn't deserve to be on the street with no job.

Sent from my SM-G965U1 using RealGM mobile app

Who cares what happens to Sheppard if this happens. Make him teds personal groomer for all I care.

[doclinkin]

Actually I think there is a solid chance Tommy could remain with the team and work well with Masai. They have overlapping interests in international scouting. Tommy has long scouted the Basketball without Borders program that Ujiri started. Tommy is well liked and well respected. With no drop in pay he could go back to doing what he enjoys: evaluating talent, finding prospects. Less of the contracts and firing and dirty work of trading away guys you know and like.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

If true, it’s really idiotic to let this leak this early.

Increases Ujiri’s leverage. Demoralizes and paralyzes the current FO.

Perhaps this is another classic Ted distraction. Don’t look over here at this dumpster fire I started.

[Ruzious]

If true, it’s really idiotic to let this leak this early.

Increases Ujiri’s leverage. Demoralizes and paralyzes the current FO.

Perhaps this is another classic Ted distraction. Don’t look over here at this dumpster fire I started.

I'd love to see the Wiz get him, but this leak during the season sounds just so lame - so Wizards - so Ted.

[TGW]

Actually I think there is a solid chance Tommy could remain with the team and work well with Masai. They have overlapping interests in international scouting. Tommy has long scouted the Basketball without Borders program that Ujiri started. Tommy is well liked and well respected. With no drop in pay he could go back to doing what he enjoys: evaluating talent, finding prospects. Less of the contracts and firing and dirty work of trading away guys you know and like.

You know what...this sounds reasonable, until you realize how poor the Wizards international drafting has been during Sheppard's tenure.

Good picks: Tomas Satoransky

Bad picks: Issuf Sanon, Oleksey Pecherov, Jan Vesely, Vladimeer Vereenko, Peter John Ramos

TBD: Deni

I mean let's be serious here...this is nothing to be proud of. It gets really scary when you realize they were scouting Vesely for like 5 years and still decided to draft him.

Sheppard just isn't good at his job. I know that people like him because he's a nice guy, but there's simply no historical evidence to suggest he's been good at his job. To me, he's just a guy. You know, one of those guys. A guy who justifies having a Rooney Rule.

[nate33]

Actually I think there is a solid chance Tommy could remain with the team and work well with Masai. They have overlapping interests in international scouting. Tommy has long scouted the Basketball without Borders program that Ujiri started. Tommy is well liked and well respected. With no drop in pay he could go back to doing what he enjoys: evaluating talent, finding prospects. Less of the contracts and firing and dirty work of trading away guys you know and like.

You know what...this sounds reasonable, until you realize how poor the Wizards international drafting has been during Sheppard's tenure.

Good picks: Tomas Satoransky

Bad picks: Issuf Sanon, Oleksey Pecherov, Jan Vesely, Vladimeer Vereenko, Peter John Ramos

TBD: Deni

I mean let's be serious here...this is nothing to be proud of. It gets really scary when you realize they were scouting Vesely for like 5 years and still decided to draft him.

Sheppard just isn't good at his job. I know that people like him because he's a nice guy, but there's simply no historical evidence to suggest he's been good at his job. To me, he's just a guy. You know, one of those guys. A guy who justifies having a Rooney Rule.

I kinda have to agree here.

Sheppard is better than Ernie in that he at least values the draft and resists the urge of trading away future picks for a quick fix now. And he has a better understanding of the cap rules and how to manipulate trades to make sure to create TPE's and other assets that he can use later to acquire value.

But in terms of actual scouting ability, there's nothing to suggest that Sheppard is particularly good.

[closg00]

Perhaps Ted is finally waking-up to the fact that he never truly cleaned-house, Ujiri and a new coach??? Sign me up

[queridiculo]

Perhaps Ted is finally waking-up to the fact that he never truly cleaned-house, Ujiri and a new coach??? Sign me up

The Sheppard hiring was a bodge, it really came down to the guys they wanted to hire not being available or declining the offer.

Ujiri in particular would have cost a ransom to get out of his contract, but with his contract expiring all bets are off.

I don't think it's far fetched to assume that Ujiri was always the long bet.

[Rafael122]

It would also make sense that this might be a factor in Beal wanting to stay. Ujiri brings a championship pedigree, legitimacy.

[nate33]

It would also make sense that this might be a factor in Beal wanting to stay. Ujiri brings a championship pedigree, legitimacy.

Yeah, if we land a lotto pick and keep Beal, that's a pretty good foundation.

Or maybe Ujiri would want to trade Beal to a team like New Orleans for a ton of future picks and do a long rebuild. The point is, the Wizards have assets.

[Kanyewest]

If true, it’s really idiotic to let this leak this early.

Increases Ujiri’s leverage. Demoralizes and paralyzes the current FO.

Perhaps this is another classic Ted distraction. Don’t look over here at this dumpster fire I started.

Probably Masai and his agent are leaking it.