Masai Ujiri Weighing Offers From Raptors, Nuggets
MONDAY, 11:09am: League sources tell Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca that it's still not clear whether Ujiri is leaning toward accepting the Raptors' offer. According to Grange, the Nuggets have made a "determined offer" to try to keep their GM, and Ujiri is weighing his options.
The Raptors, who Grange says have offered Ujiri a four-year deal worth about $9MM, remain optimistic that they'll get their man.
SUNDAY, 8:41am: Ujiri would stay with the Nuggets if they matched the offer from the Raptors, according to HoopsWorld's Steve Kyler, who believes Denver will step up with the money necessary to keep him (Twitter links).
SATURDAY, 1:07pm: Nuggets team president Josh Kroenke believed he and Ujiri had an agreement in principle on a multiyear, multimillion dollar deal before the Raptors position opened up, reports Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post.
"In my mind, we had an agreement but it doesn't matter because I would never hold someone back from an opportunity they might be curious about," Kroenke said. "Especially someone I hold in such high regard as Masai. If it was any other team, I wouldn't even have thought about granting permission to speak to him. But it's his former team and its not entirely a black-and-white situation. He'll make the decision he thinks is best for himself, and I'll support him no matter what."
FRIDAY, 10:02pm: The Raptors have offered Nuggets GM Masai Ujiri a multiyear contract that will double, or perhaps triple, the best offer Denver has made, and it appears likely the executive will jump to Toronto, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. Ujiri will take the next couple of days to consider the move, but there's "significant momentum" behind his negotiations with the Raptors, Wojnarowski writes.
A source tells Wojnarowski that Nuggets brass appears to be moving on, and it looks like the team's principal owners, the Kroenke family, aren't motivated to increase their offer to Ujiri, who reportedly made just $500K this past season as one of the league's lowest-paid executives. Marc Stein of ESPN.com reported this week that early estimates suggested the Raptors would offer Ujiri a salary of more than $2MM. That number appears to have grown close to $3MM, as Wojnarowski reported earlier today.
Ujiri served as assistant GM in Toronto under the recently reassigned Bryan Colangelo before taking over Denver's front office in the summer of 2010. Since that time, Ujiri completely revamped the Nuggets, trading Carmelo Anthony for a bounty widely lauded as the best return for a superstar in recent memory. Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun notes how Ujiri's skills as a talent evaluator and trade negotiator fit Raptors CEO Tim Leiweke's description of the ideal man for Toronto's GM job. The 42-year-old recipient of this year's Executive of the Year award has received overtures from other teams in the past, notably the Sixers last summer, but hasn't been close to leaving the Nuggets until now.
Ujiri's contract with the Nuggets expires June 30th. Raptors officials met with Ujiri today, and the two sides seemed to hit it off, expediting movement toward a deal. If Ujiri were to turn the Raptors down, the team appears to have interest in pairing Pacers GM Kevin Pritchard with Thunder assistant GM Troy Weaver.
Following Specific Players On Hoops Rumors
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If, for instance, you want to keep track of all the latest news and rumors on Josh Smith as his free agency approaches, you can visit this page. If you're interested in keeping tabs on what the Raptors' new head of basketball operations will do with Andrea Bargnani this summer, all Bargnani-related updates are located here.
Every player we've written about has his own rumors page. You can find your player of choice by using our search box (located in the right sidebar); by clicking his tag at the bottom of a post where he's discussed; or, by simply typing his name in your address bar after hoopsrumors.com, substituting dashes for spaces. For example, Smith's page is located at hoopsrumors.com/josh-smith.
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Latest On Dwight Howard
Five weeks from today, we'll be inundated with stories about free agents meeting with teams and perhaps even agreeing to contracts, as July's free agent period begins. But for now, one of the crown jewels of this year's class, Dwight Howard, remains undecided about his destination. Here are a few of the latest stories on the All-Star center's free agency, as decision day draws nearer:
- Speaking to Sam Amick of USA Today, Pau Gasol suggested it'd better from the Lakers' standpoint if Howard made a decision sooner rather than later but said there's nothing wrong with D12 exploring his options. "I'm not him," Gasol said. "I'm not in his position, but I guess it all starts with his decision and I'm sure the franchise is waiting to see whether he decides to sign (with the Lakers) or sign with somebody else, I guess."
- While the Lakers ostensibly have a financial advantage when it comes to re-signing Howard, that may not ultimately amount to much, says Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times. As Pincus points out, if Howard signed for four years rather than five, he could make up a good chunk of that fifth-year money on his next deal. And if he were to sign with a Texas team, the difference in taxes could make the difference in salaries virtually negligible.
- When free agency opens, expect Howard to listen to any team interested in making him a pitch, says Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld. After considering his options, Howard will likely choose the place where he'd be happiest and most comfortable.
Pacific Notes: Clippers, Pack, Kings, Evans
After a 25-57 season, the Suns decided earlier today to move on from interim coach Lindsey Hunter and instead hire Jeff Hornacek. The Suns may not be ready for the playoffs next year, but they hope to take a few strides towards success in 2013/14. Here's more out of the Pacific Division..
- In today's column, Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe writes that Robert Pack is someone to watch in the Clippers' coaching search. The longtime NBA guard was a key assistant on Vinny Del Negro’s staff in L.A.
- HoopsWorld's Derek Page ranks the Kings' Tyreke Evans as one of the top two shooting guards available on the free agent market, along with Gerald Henderson. It's important to note that Page lists Monta Ellis and J.R. Smith in a separate category for players who can exercise contract options for next season.
- The new owners of the Kings have to decide quickly on what to do with their team and staff, writes Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee.
Sixers Notes: Hinkie, Malone, Coaching Search
While the Suns have found their next head coach in Jeff Hornacek and the Bucks are entering round two of the interview process, we've heard relatively little about the 76ers coaching search. That's because newly minted GM Sam Hinkie is reportedly focused on staffing and structuring the front office rather than finding the club's next coach. Here's the latest out of Philly..
- The approach the Sixers plan to take next season will affect the desirability of their open head coaching position, writes Ric Bucher of 95.7 The Game (Sulia link). If the Sixers intend to cut their payroll and shoot for a high lottery pick in the loaded 2014 draft, coaching candidates, and would-be first-time head coaches in particular, could shy away from a losing situation for 2013/14. That could be particularly true for Michael Malone, who's drawing interest from the Clippers and Kings as well as Philadelphia.
- Phil Sheridan of the Philadelphia Inquirer is skeptical of Hinkie's statistics-heavy approach to basketball. Much of Sheridan's opinion appears to be based on the idea that analytics on Wall Street haven't necessarily panned out for the global economy. It's certainly worth noting that the methods of Rockets GM Daryl Morey have been rather successful on the whole, earning him a brand new contract extension this year.
Hoops Links: Seattle, Cavs, Terry, Deng
On this date in 1999, Raptors star Vince Carter took home the 1998/99 Rookie of the Year trophy with 95.8% of the votes. The high-flyer averaged 18.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.54 blocked shots, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 45% from the field. Carter won the hearts of Toronto fans and was beloved north of the border. Today? Not so much.
Got a fantastic basketball blog piece that you want featured on Hoops Rumors? Send your submissions to HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here's this week's look around the web..
- Kingdome Of Seattle Sports has 25 thoughts on the NBA-Seattle situation.
- Singh Sports News gives advice for the Cavs, Magic, Wizards, and other lottery teams.
- Yahoo Sports talks Jason Terry and the season that should have been.
- Blog A Bull says there's no reason for Chicago to trade Luol Deng.
- Hardwood Paroxysm breaks down the Tim Duncan/Manu Ginobili pick-and-roll.
- Celtics Life looks at centers in the draft that could interest the C's.
- Bright Side Of The Sun delivers a blast from the past.
- Pounding The Rock previews the Silver Stars' upcoming season.
- 3SOB held a debate on Tayshaun Prince.
- Bucksketball delves into the Monta Ellis/Larry Sanders dispute in their latest podcast.
If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached here.
Hoops Rumors Originals: 5/20/13 – 5/26/13
Here's this week's look back at the original reporting and analysis from the Hoops Rumors staff..
- I spoke with Bryan Colangelo about his new role with the Raptors organization.
- The Bucks have a handful of valuable assets on their roster, even if they lose a couple of their free agent guards, Luke Adams writes.
- Chuck Myron feels that Otto Porter is best suited for a team with patience.
- The Bulls seem poised to bring the band back together next year, Chuck writes.
- I joined Todd Brommelkamp and Tyler Ryder of KGYM ESPN Radio to talk about Dwight Howard and the NBA Draft.
- Here's the list of 2013 draft picks by team.
- Hoops Rumors readers like the Pacers' chances of advancing over the Grizzlies'.
- Jarrett Jack will hit the open market this summer and he may get more elsewhere than from the Warriors, Chuck writes.
- I rounded up the best of the basketball blogosphere in this week's edition of Hoops Links.
- Chuck says that the Hawks might have to wait another year before making their free agent splash.
- Nearly 70% of Hoops Rumors readers see Nerlens Noel being the No. 1 pick over Ben McLemore, Trey Burke, and Otto Porter.
Bucks Down To Three Coaching Finalists
The Bucks' coaching search is now down to three finalists - Hawks coach Larry Drew, Rockets assistant Kelvin Sampson, and Lakers assistant Steve Clifford, sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports. Clifford will visit Milwaukee again on Tuesday, and Sampson and Drew on Wednesday for their second interviews, according to league sources.
Bucks GM John Hammond has a stronger history with Sampson thanks to the two years he spent on the Milwaukee staff under Scott Skiles. However, Hammond has been increasingly impressed by Clifford, who comes strongly recommended by the Bulls' Tom Thibodeau and Stan and Jeff Van Gundy.
Sampson had a strong run as the Rockets' interim coach while Kevin McHale had to leave the team and showed that he can handle the pro game. In three seasons in Atlanta, Drew has a 128-102 record and took the club to the playoffs all three years, including the conference semifinals in 2010-11. Drew's contract expires on June 30 with the Hawks, and he's expected to be replaced as coach soon.
While Sampson and Clifford are also strong candidates in Charlotte, each is eager for the opportunity with the Bucks, according to league sources. Milwaukee made the playoffs this season and has a much better overall roster than the Bobcats/Hornets.
Week In Review: 5/20/13 – 5/26/13
Are you ready for another Dwightmare summer? Dwight Howard is a free agent and he reportedly finds himself torn between the Lakers and Rockets. Meanwhile, D12 is also said to like the Mavericks and the Hawks are planning to make a run at him. It's not all about Dwight, however. Here's the rest of the big stories from this past week..
- The Cavs won the draft lottery and will have a tough choice on their hands between Nerlens Noel and Otto Porter. The Magic, who figure to go for a guard, pick No. 2 and the Wizards sit at No. 3. Washington fans are estatic about the outcome as they were slated to pick eighth.
- The Clippers decided to part ways with coach Vinny Del Negro. Michael Malone, Alvin Gentry, and Byron Scott have been mentioned as potential replacements.
- There are mixed reports on Dwight Howard's interest in the Warriors, with some saying that his camp has never given Golden State any indication that he has interest.
- The Raptors officially moved GM Bryan Colangelo to a non-basketball role, kickstarting a search for their next decision maker. Team officials flew out to Colorado on Friday to meet with Nuggets GM Masai Ujiri, who is believed to be their No. 1 target. Ujiri might stay in Denver if the Nuggets can match the Raps' offer.
- Alvin Gentry has a standing invitation to join the Lakers staff, but he is more interested in the Clippers head coaching job.
- Jeff Hornacek has an offer to become the next head coach of the Suns.
- The Nets have yet to approach a coaching candidate outside of Phil Jackson, but they did inquire on Doc Rivers. The C's quickly denied them. One report has Scott Skiles as the frontrunner for the gig.
- Rivers is likely to return to Boston.
- Pablo Prigioni wants to stay in the NBA, but his wife might want to return to Spain.
- Andris Biedrins will opt in for 2013/14.
- The Cavaliers and Pistons may be among the teams with some interest in trading for Luol Deng.
- Stan Van Gundy will not coach in 2013/14.
- Phil Jackson was all in on Chris Hansen's bid to bring the Kings to Seattle.
- Coach K will coach in the 2016 Olympics but Mike D'Antoni and Nate McMillan won't.
- The All-NBA teams were announced.
- Kostas Papanikolaou's agent expects a trade.
- The Bucks interviewed Michael Curry.
- James Jones intends to return to the Heat.
- Rumors are swirling that the Clippers will go after David West.
- The Bobcats are changing their name to the Hornets. Charlotte residents are looking forward to watching their team lose in purple and teal.
Draft Notes: Mitchell, Mbakwe, Curry, Adams
The draft is the next major engagement on the calendar for 26 of the NBA's 30 teams, and with the Grizzlies down 0-3 to the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals, Memphis will soon join the teams looking ahead to June 27th. Here's the latest as the volume of draft chatter increases:
- Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times makes note of Tony Mitchell's affinity for his native Milwaukee. Mitchell appears headed for the late first round or early second round, and could be a match for the Bucks, who pick 15th and 43rd.
- Woelfel also hears of Minnesota power forward Trevor Mbakwe's strong showing in a recent workout, and passes along that the Lakers, Rockets and Knicks are showing interest in second-round prospect Seth Curry.
- SB Nation's Jonathan Tjarks wonders if Mitchell could be the next Paul George.
- Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe unveils his first mock draft of the year, featuring Trey Burke as a fit for the Magic at No. 2 with Ben McLemore, widely considered a top-five pick, sliding to the Kings at No. 7.
- Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com examines center Steven Adams, a possible Celtics target.
- HoopsWorld's Yannis Koutroupis identifies six potential sleepers in this year's draft class.