Fresh off helping secure the first title in franchise history for the Toronto Raptors, team president Masai Ujiri will have some tough calls to make this summer.
Ujiri finally found the perfect formula, earning an NBA Finals victory on the backs of Kawhi Leonard and a variety of lengthy role pieces. Now Ujiri will have to find a way to bring Kawhi back to Toronto for next season and beyond, but he may have some offers of his own to sort through first.
The Washington Wizards are still on the search for a top basketball executive after Ernie Grunfeld was fired over two months ago and reportedly have their eyes set on Ujiri. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Wizards are preparing a lucrative offer for Ujiri and one that will include potential equity.
The Washington Wizards are preparing to offer Toronto Raptors president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri a deal that could approach $10 million annually and deliver him the opportunity for ownership equity, league sources tell ESPN.
Wizards owner Ted Leonsis is expected to reach out to Toronto ownership soon to request formal permission to meet with Ujiri and offer a staggering financial package that would include running the Wizards’ basketball operations and, perhaps, taking on a larger leadership role in the Monumental Sports and Entertainment company that oversees the Wizards and NHL’s Capitals, league sources said.
With Washington desperate for any kind of front office help, it should come as no surprise that Masai Ujiri is on the top of their list when it comes to desired targets. Ujiri did a masterful job turning the Raptors into perennial contenders, and they now sit atop the NBA world with their finals victory.
Ujiri knows this too and realizes the amount of work he’s put in to get to this spot. That being said, it doesn’t look like Ujiri would have much interest in leaving Toronto, regardless of the money or potential ownership.
MLSE owner Larry Tanenbaum when asked about @wojespn report that Wizards owner @TedLeonsis is attempting to recruit Masai Ujiri with a $10-million a year offer and an ownership stake: pic.twitter.com/vQPzhtYHDH
— Michael Grange (@michaelgrange) June 14, 2019
