Toronto Raptors: New York Knicks look to lure Masai Ujiri once more
The New York Knicks are reportedly interested in Masai Ujiri once again. How worried should Toronto Raptors fans be?
A long time admirer of Toronto Raptors’ President of Basketball Operations Masai Ujiri, New York Knicks owner, James Dolan, looks to be on the hunt for the Raptors top man once again. Great.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Tuesday afternoon that the New York Knicks had parted ways with their President Steve Mills after three years in the position. Once again, the Knicks are making more front-office changes amid their dysfunctional state.
New York is parting ways with President Steve Mills, league source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 4, 2020
It’s no secret that Dolan has been a long time admirer of Masai Ujiri, and Wojnarowski tweeted out merely minutes later that the Knicks owner would be attempting to lure Ujiri to Madison Square Garden.
Knicks owner Jim Dolan is targeting Toronto president Masai Ujiri to ultimately oversee New York’s operations, league sources tell ESPN. He is under contract through 2020-2021 in Toronto.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 4, 2020
As noted, Ujiri is under contract through the 2020-21 NBA season with the Toronto Raptors, so the Knicks would either have to wait until then to make their move or they would have to give up significant compensation to acquire Ujiri.
Ujiri isn’t just a run of the mill executive, he’s the mastermind of the Toronto Raptors and their success over the last half-decade – culminating in their first-ever NBA championship last year. He’s also the head of the Basketball Without Borders Africa program, which has seen the likes of Joel Embiid and Pascal Siakam attend camp.
There aren’t many executives that turn heads like Ujiri, which means that the news that Dolan is seeking him out again comes as no surprise. However, just how worried should Raptors fans really be?
Well, as it stands, not very – at the moment, at least.
This is in large part to the Knicks appearing reluctant to give up any sort of compensation to the Raptors in their pursuit.
Masai Ujiri has long been Jim Dolan's dream candidate to run Knicks, but here's what's already complicating that pursuit: Ujiri's contract, and Knicks reluctance to give up draft compensation to Toronto, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 4, 2020
In the meantime, it appears the Raptors are safe. But, maybe the lure of New York City could be too much for Ujiri, especially if he is in search of a fresh challenge. Helping revitalise the New York Knicks could well be that challenge. The Knicks are currently 13th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 13-38 and look to be heading for yet another season of mediocrity.
The Knicks definitely need Ujiri’s guidance. But, so do most teams in the NBA.
It seems like, through all the grapevines, that Ujiri has his eyes set on free agency in 2021. That’s when Giannis Antetokounmpo hits free agency. He’s the headliner of a strong class, but Ujiri has connections with him – so he feels like the Raptors could have a legitimate shot at signing him, should he elect not to re-sign with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Could he have an even better shot if he was in the mecca of basketball?
Who knows. All we know is, right now, it doesn’t matter. Ujiri remains the President of the Raptors and they look destined for another deep playoff run.
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His focus well and truly remains in Toronto, so there’s no need to panic. He said the Raptors were “going to die trying” when probed about the possibility of winning the title this year. He isn’t checking out any time soon.