5:09pm: The Raptors have officially announced Ujiri’s new deal and new title, announcing in a press release that he has signed a multiyear contract to become the team’s vice chairman and president.
“Great sportsmen impact their games. Great leaders impact their communities. Masai Ujiri does both, and we’re very pleased he is returning to the Raptors as vice-chairman and president,” Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment chairman Larry Tanenbaum said in a statement. “Masai and MLSE share the goals of bringing another NBA Championship to Toronto, and off the court, working towards making our city, country and world a better place. These are exciting times, and we look forward to all that comes next for our team, for Masai and for his family. Masai, we’re glad you’re staying home.”
1:29pm: The Raptors are losing six-time All-Star Kyle Lowry to the Heat this week, but they’ve reached an agreement to lock up their other key free agent, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter).
According to Wojnarowski, Toronto’s president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri has agreed to a “significant” new deal with the franchise that will give him the title of vice chairman in addition to team president. The Raptors posted a video to their Twitter account alluding to the new deal with Ujiri, whose previous contract had been about to expire.
“I love being the leader of the Toronto Raptors and I’m here to stay,” Ujiri said in the video.
Ujiri, who won the NBA’s Executive of the Year award in 2013 with the Nuggets, was hired as the Raptors’ head of basketball operations that same year and spearheaded the turnaround of a club that had missed the playoffs in five straight seasons prior to his arrival.
Ujiri and his front office have displayed a knack over the years of finding hidden gems in the draft class, including Pascal Siakam (No. 27 pick), Norman Powell (No. 46 pick), and Fred VanVleet (undrafted free agent). He also memorably acquired Kawhi Leonard from the Spurs during the 2018 offseason, a move that pushed the Raptors over the top for the first championship in team history.
There was some uncertainty about what Ujiri’s future held when he didn’t agree to an extension with the Raptors a year or two before his contract expired, but he continued his usual work in the draft and free agency this summer, signaling that he had no plans to leave the organization. According to Wojnarowski (Twitter link), Ujiri is staying in Toronto despite being courted by multiple franchises “beyond (the) NBA’s boundaries.”
Compare to Pat Riley？
Obviously more, he deserves to be the highest paid exec.
My guess is 6 years $100M.
Masai > Riley
Talk to me when Masai has even half as many rings as Pat does. Get off of whatever it is you’re having.
Big difference when your running a team and good FAs(or any)don’t want to go there. Who doesn’t want to go to Miami and kick it in the sun. Pat just sits there’s and progress comes to him. Good luck going to minny and having that same success
The Kawhi deal invalidates your point pal. Still bringing external help to win a championship…
Btw Pat has won as a head coach as well (Lakers) and had pretty decent success in NYK (he ran into Jordan, the GOAT).
Yes the weather is nice, but it’s not like that’s the main reason guys come to Miami. They come to Miami because we have won three titles. We have a top 5 executive and head coach in addition to an owner who is always willing to spend.
My point was a getting good free agent. Pointing out the Kawhi TRADE proves the point that masai is the boss with trades and development compared to just has having a grand destination like Florida. I’m not saying pat is a bum.by all means pats the godfather,
But like I said. I doubt he can do the same in minny or Washington or places less desirable.
To suggest Masai is the reason for good scouting and development is just short sighted. He was never a coach and the credit for that should go to Dwayne Casey and Nick Nurse…
Spo specifically came from the Riley coaching tree, meaning he learnt the philosophies of Riley himself… we have developed: Duncan Robinson, Kendrick Nunn, Josh Richardson, Hassan Whiteside, just to name a few. We are known for maximizing guys potentials whether they’re rookies or aging vets. In terms of trades and salary cap manipulation, ANDY Elisburg (our GM) is unmatched. Look him up sometime.
We? What’s your position in the org?
Wann wahn wahn. What has Pat Riley done lately? Masai is the King
Theone23 – Riley signed Lowry away from Toronto…. That’s what he’s been up to lately.
Imagine that. Another Toronto legend leaving for Miami, just like Chris Bosh did.
As someone mentioned earlier, Riley just sits back and lets the city of Miami itself and all the perks that come with it do the recruiting for him.
Lowry didn’t go to Miami because of Pat Riley, like Bosh didn’t go because of Riley. Lowry went to play with Jimmy, Bosh went to play with LeBron. Big difference.
Masai is still the King.
Masai is proving to be great at his job, but any objective NBA follower would know that Masai has a loooong way to go before reaching what Riley had accomplished.
The NBA community, media, everyone calls Riley, The Godfather …… nuff said.
Is Pat Riley the one getting Lowry now instead of for a playoff push?
he was just lucky DeRozan was a good fit for Leonard and the rental worked , just barely but it worked especially when Klay Thompson got hurt at a critical time. If the Raptors make the playoffs in 2022 I will take all of this back…
There are some salty Heat fans in here haha. Acting like the weather, beaches, and nightlife weren’t the reason Wade, LeBron, and Bosh created a super team in Miami instead of Cleveland or Toronto. FAs throw themselves at Miami, when is the last time that happened to Toronto? Kawhi won a title there (brilliant trade by Masai) and still bolted.
As leaders of a front office, Ujiri > Riley.
thought he was going to PSG
“Beyond the NBA’s boundaries” is right. Word is that he was being recruited by the Monstars, among others.
Jackie Mac mentioned him as a possibility to replace Silver whenever he is done as commissioner. I thought that was an interesting idea.
Jackie’s the best
she’s actually the worst
Yea, I really value her opinion. I think she is one of the most in tune NBA journalists that is out there.
I’ve been really happy to see her appearing on the Bill Simmons pods more as the season went along. I hope that trend continue next year
Agree. She’s been in the business forever, seems like she “gets it”, and more importantly has her own opinions (and isn’t afraid to push back when Bill says something stupid)
Speaking of, I feel like Simmons has cooled down a bit on his stupid takes. But yes I agree, Jackie and Ryen Russillo especially have no problem pushing back on his stupid takes.
Best free agent signing of the off season.His Giants of Africa program is AMAZING. Good for Masai, and better for the city of Toronto and the country of Canada. We The North!!
well at least he let Lowry go and that can be Miami’s problem in 2022 or 2023. No one else wanted him as GM and Toronto is stuck with him… Let’s see if he can unload Drajic at 19 million now. My main problem with him is he throws money around too easily. Siakam and OJ come to mind.
There’s a lot wrong with this comment. It’s qbsurd to say “no one else wanted him” when it says right there in the story that he had multiple suitors. Just clueless on your part.
You need to read the tea leaves better. Masai was all dressed up for his debutante ball and no owner took the invite. D.C
Owner who was hot and heavy last year came to his senses and decided he only needed to deal with egos that are on the floor. Raps are stuck with him.
That’s a clown comment. Maybe those orgs didn’t want to pay the amount Toronto will have paid, but there are numerous franchises that would love to have him. I don’t think Ujiri ever wanted to leave and I doubt an owner thought they had a real shot to land him.
Ever wonder why Uriji played his debutante act in the past few months and then when others could sign him there was only silence. All dressed up and no place to go. All dressed up and no place to go.
Siakam is worth it. 2nd option on a championship team, all star, MIP, 20 ppg and 5 assists in a down year last year. Still young, great motor, tremendous defensively. Players have gotten paid a lot more, for a lot less.
As for OJ, I’m not sure who you’re referring to, OJ Simpson?? If you mean OG, then yeah, that contract is absolutely worth it. OG is the best 3 and D player in the NBA, and has so much more room to grow.
And yeah, the Raptors are “stuck” with literally the best executive in the league. Maybe basketball isn’t your thing, buddy. Maybe you’re not that guy.
I’m totally down with being “stuck” with OG and Siakam with Masai running the show lmao. You do realize they won a championship right
Best move of the off-season for the raps.
Ujiri ran a lottery team last year. I think he lost his ‘king’ crown.
He should have traded Lowry at midyear.
I like TOR’s youth so I suspect they will rise again.
They were playing in Tampa, two thirds of the team got COVID, and then they decided to rest players and intentionally tank. They definitely would have made the playoffs last year had it been a normal season.