Denver Nuggets general manager Masai Ujiri has accepted a five-year, $15 million contract to run the basketball operations of the Toronto Raptors, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

The NBA's Executive of the Year this season, Ujiri is considered one of the most accomplished young executives in sports and has been coveted by several organizations over the past two years. Denver offered Ujiri a contract extension, and the decision to leave the Nuggets was especially difficult given his strong relationship with team president Josh Kroenke. As much as anything, that led to the Ujiri's delay in deciding whether to take the job with Toronto.

Ujiri, 42, had been considering the Toronto offer for a week and finally informed the teams of his decision on Friday. His contract with the Nuggets – whom he rebuilt into a Western Conference contender in the post-Carmelo Anthony era – expired on June 30.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--raptors-hire-nuggets-gm-masai-ujiri-to-run-front-office-214946966.html

Someone tell Denver they have to pay $$$ to keep talent.

I actually like Masai because he isnt afraid to trade guys even after he signed them. Please see Nene and Affalo.

AnubisADL wrote:

Denver Nuggets general manager Masai Ujiri has accepted a five-year, $15 million contract to run the basketball operations of the Toronto Raptors, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

The NBA's Executive of the Year this season, Ujiri is considered one of the most accomplished young executives in sports and has been coveted by several organizations over the past two years. Denver offered Ujiri a contract extension, and the decision to leave the Nuggets was especially difficult given his strong relationship with team president Josh Kroenke. As much as anything, that led to the Ujiri's delay in deciding whether to take the job with Toronto.

Ujiri, 42, had been considering the Toronto offer for a week and finally informed the teams of his decision on Friday. His contract with the Nuggets – whom he rebuilt into a Western Conference contender in the post-Carmelo Anthony era – expired on June 30.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--raptors-hire-nuggets-gm-masai-ujiri-to-run-front-office-214946966.html

Someone tell Denver they have to pay $$$ to keep talent.

I actually like Masai because he isnt afraid to trade guys even after he signed them. Please see Nene and Affalo.

You're going to open a can of worms about how we got fleeced in the Melo deal with that comment, lol. I agree with you though.

Nalod wrote:

smackeddog wrote:I still think his work at Denver is over rated, but time will tell. Glad the Raptors have got rid of their previous GM- he was their IT.

57 wins, exec of the year is not over rated.

Its 57 wins with roster recently reconstructed.

So is Grunnie a great GM because we won 54 games?

I look at that Denver Roster, and it' just a collection of medicore players. They signed Nene to an overblown salary then traded him for the terrible McGee, who's getting paid a huge chunk of change to play about 20mins per game because he seems to be skilled at losing his team leads. Wilson Chandler (as much as I like him) is injury prone. You've got a bench of Anthony Randolph, Mosgov and Corey Brewer- all Knick rejects.

He's been great at drafting, I will say that. His reputation has been boosted by the Melo trade but to be fair, what GM hasn't had their way with Dolan once he becomes involved in negotiations? Plus Those talks were run by committee- Denvers owner and his son played a huge role.

I just look at Denver, and with Gallo now looking like he'll probably miss the whole year, I don't see them having a golden future- they're capped out and they're not particularly young anymore.

what really sticks out in my brain is his willingness to shake talent that he just signed; that is, his willingness to quickly recognize a mistake and deal with it, rather than sticking with it as it takes him down into a dirty hole,

remember, mr nalod, you said that "we have not finished paying the car loan off yet, and now we wish to trade for another car",

well sometimes you have to recognize the hole you're in and then take some dirt in the face as you dig out,

masai is willing to dig out of the hole quickly, and he takes only a little dirt in the face in the short term but he makes out big time in the big picture,

very astute manager so far, let's hope he can work some magic in toronto, i really like the idea of a strong nba franchise in canada, it's like the nba's international team

The Nene thing was great because they cut bait on a mistake.

They are a mediocre roster and lack stars. One that won 57 games and earned him exec of the year.

I think "paying the car off" theory is to take back less value. They took back Mcgee and had him for a season before extending him. A worst they would have let him walk which essentially would have "given" nene away. Thats still a plus. McGee is a project. Hibberts coming out party did not happen until he was 26 years old. bigs take time to develop.

Grunny finished 3rd in voting? 54 wins will get you that.

West has some serious teams. OKC has three of the top 32 picks this year, Rockets have room for dwight, and Warriors are coming together. Some young teams with good talent. In that Denver won 57 games. Doubt they can continue but they have assets for the future too.