Korn/Ferry International, a large executive search firm, has been retained by the Raps to recommend a replacement for BC. It escapes me why MLSE needs to pony up a million bucks or thereabouts to be told that Masai Ujiri would be a fine choice, but MLSE has more money than God. Ujiri was just named the 2013 Executive of the Year by the NBA; he hasn’t exactly been hiding his light under a basket. And why in the world would Denver allow its GM to leave?  If you were Nuggets’ owner Stan Kroenke, wouldn’t you lock up a guy like that, who’s coming off a 57-win season? If you’re Ujiri, why would you leave a potential championship contender like Denver for a lottery team like the Raps? Sure, Ujiri spent 3 years in Toronto and no doubt likes the Big Smoke, but the whole scenario doesn’t make sense. If the story weren’t coming from a reputable source in Adrian Wojnarowski, I wouldn’t even have repeated it.

However, it’s one more log on the fire that says Bryan Colangelo will be replaced as soon as Victoria Day. Other logs: the simple fact he hasn’t been extended already and the tepid support he’s received from Tim Leiweke.

This state of twisting in the wind can’t last much longer. I expect an announcement within 3 days.

Brian Boake is Senior Editor for Raptors Rapture. “Like” Raptors Rapture on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @RaptorsRapture for all the latest news and updates about the best damn NBA team from Canada.

Let’s be clear – I was one of the dwindling few who thought, prior to the start of last season, that AB would be ready to deliver a big season. I was wrong. Even when AB wasn’t hurt, his play was dreadful. We can forgive almost all of Andrea’s defensive deficiencies and disinclination to rebound, if he puts the ball in the basket. That didn’t happen, and his scoring average dipped to a woeful 12.7. The nadir game was a November double-overtime loss at home to San Antonio, in which AB managed to make 2 buckets on 19 shot attempts. So that’s enough. He needs to go – but where?

AB is owed almost $ 22M over the next two seasons. That’s a huge number for a player who at 27 should be in the midst of his career’s best years, but in fact is in decline. The only way to trade him is to find a GM with a distressed player, and offer to swap problems. Even if BC could pull off such a deal, the Raps would still have an underachieving player, but of a different kind. Is that progress?

The off-season is not the time to resolve the Bargnani conundrum. Instead, monitor his health, and ensure he comes to training camp in top shape with no injury hangover. Work him hard in camp, and feature him in pre-season games. If enough GMs are convinced he’s back to the form he displayed several seasons ago, AB may actually attract several suitors.

Until all that’s done, BC, ratchet down the trade talk. There’s lots of time to salvage something from the Bargnani fiasco.

Brian Boake is Senior Editor for Raptors Rapture. “Like” Raptors Rapture on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @RaptorsRapture for all the latest news and updates about the best damn NBA team from Canada.