Report: Masai Ujiri accepts executive position with Toronto Raptors

Dec 21, 2012; Toronto, ON, Canada; The Raptors logo on the head of Toronto Raptors center Amir Johnson (15) against the Orlando Magic at the Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Magic 93-90. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Welp, the mini-saga is over and the Denver Nuggets are left without a general manager less than a month away from the 2013 NBA Draft.

According to Adrian Wojanrowski of Yahoo! Sports, former Denver Nuggets general manager Masai Ujiri has accepted the same position with the Toronto Raptors. Also per Woj, the deal is worth $15 million through 5 years.

Ujiri is the NBA’s reigning Executive of the Year. He was responsible for putting together the Nuggets roster that was good enough for 57 wins before being knocked out by the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the 2013 playoffs.

Ujiri came to Denver from Toronto in 2011 and helped turn around a Nuggets team that was facing the well-documented Carmelo Anthony Saga. His returning to the Raptors is one that shouldn’t come as a surprise especially considering the amount of money he’s receiving.

What is surprising is that the Nuggets didn’t match the Raptors $3 million per year offer. Great sports organizations are great at the top and losing Ujiri will certainly be a blow to a team that looked to be on the rise.

A press conference is scheduled to run shortly and we’ll have all of your updates.

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