In the past month and a half, the Denver Nuggets have seen their playoff hopes proliferate then falter, their season end, their head coach become NBA Coach of the Year, and finally, their GM become the NBA Executive of the Year. It has been a whirlwind ride for a Nugget team that, unfortunately, didn’t reach their potential this past season. While hopes are high for the next year, a small scare is hitting the Denver area. Masai Ujiri is taking calls from other suitors.
With a contract that expires on June 30th, Masai Ujiri, general manager of the Denver Nuggets, is in a position where he can explore greener pastures. In Denver, the reigning NBA EOY was being paid less than $1 million annually, which is far under the market value of an executive of his caliber, as well as in the NBA. With this being the case, as the Denver Nuggets and Ujiri are trying to come to terms on a long-term contract, the Toronto Raptors have made it more than clear that they are interested in having their former protégé return to the organization.
According to ESPN, the Toronto Raptors are willing to offer Ujiri $3 million per year to return to the franchise that started his executive NBA career. Before taking over as top dog of the Nuggets, Ujiri was an assistant GM for three years in Toronto. The Raptors, though, are in the middle of a 5-year absence from the playoffs, and were 10th in the Eastern Conference this season.
While no public statements have been made, it is believed that Ujiri wants to stay in Denver. Though the money offered by Toronto is more than Denver can match, the Nuggets offer a better chance to win than the lowly Raptors. Denver Nuggets President Josh Kroenke believes that the fans have nothing to worry about, and their GM will be here for a long time to come.
Photo courtesy of Orlando Sentinel
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