Isn’t Masai running the whole show in Toronto? Granted, Leon as president is not just about the talent side. Its a business to run as well. Perhaps Masai does not like/desire that end and wants to build a hospital somewhere or have other aspirations besides running a team. Thus, being a GM might be a step down but one welcome? I can’t speak for him at all so I just speculate that him coming here is would have to be a different one than what he is doing.
Also if so Masai has to work with all the pieces in place. Leon bought in a group he knows and trusts and he would have to join in. Granted, that might be all good and he would be thrilled to walk in and work with what’s in place.
Does this dilute a talent like Ujiri? Is it the best use of his talents? Do we gauge his work solely on his record on the court or can we fairly dissect his moves and then determine he is a savior or not? He did a great job in Toronto. He also got lucky but he put them in a position to be so its not a knock. But the notion of that repeating and its why we love the guy is a bit savior/Starphuching notion.
We have no idea if Brock Aller has a any nose for talent evaluation outside of the numbers. The Assistant GM, Zannin I think it is might be next up. Walt Perrin is also heavy in this group and while he might not be “Defacto” the GM he might be doing some heavy lifting in this group.
Leon might be looking at this very long term and wants younger guys in place to step up and this is how you build a culture. I don’t know. Brining him a big outside alpha like Masai Ujiri is a great idea on paper but there are situations that would be or have been addressed prior. If its a fit, sure. As a fan I have to ask myself besides a name associated with winning what else should I be considering? Not to rain on the parade but is the raptors about to enter a dark period and he is not into a rebuild and jumping ship? Did he leverage the Chip too much? Lets just say if Durant and Klay don’t break in the finals, and Toronto does not win, then Kawahi leaves and Siakim is over paid under performer does that taint the job he did over prior seasons when they could not advance to finals? Ok, they squeak by 76ers which was big but lose finals the franchise then has to rebuild. Did owners want a more graceful rebuild or are they depleted and few FA’s will go there? IM not saying what I would or would not do. chips are important of course. But one might say Ujiri played with house money, won, now is cashing in and leaving for greener pastures.
We simply don’t know. For all we know Mabye Perry is being courted to run Toronto’s rebuild?
