Atlantic Notes: Weltman, Fox, Ilyasova

Masai Ujiri knew the day would come where Jeff Weltman would take the reins of another front office and the Raptors GM did everything he could to keep the executive in-house, Mike Ganter of the National Post passes along.

“I tried to fake it [by giving Weltman the] GM title last year and give him a raise and everything, but it didn’t fake anyone out, I guess. But a phenomenal opportunity for an unbelievable person,” Ujiri said.

Weltman was hired by Orlando to be the team’s president of basketball operations. Ujiri added that the move was “a great loss to the [Raptors] organization.”

Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:

  • De’Aaron Fox met with the Sixers at the draft combine to discuss how he would fit playing off the ball alongside Ben Simmons, Jessica Camerato of Comcast Sportsnet writes. Camerato can envision Philadelphia staying put at No. 3 and selecting Fox, but she could also see the team trading down and drafting Malik Monk while picking up another asset.
  • Ersan Ilyasova fit in nicely last season before the Sixers traded him away, though Camerato (same piece) cautions that despite the good synergy, the power forward is unlikely to return to Philadelphia in free agency. The 30-year-old should attract several teams this offseason and he’ll likely look to secure a long-term deal, which isn’t something that’s in Philadelphia’s best interest.
  • Jaylen Brown gained valuable experience playing for the Celtics and he believes his role on a playoff team this season will help him be successful down the road, as A. Sherrod Blakely relays. “Being on a winning team and developing good habits, learning how to win, play the game the right way … learning that at a young age is really going to help me,” Brown said. “A lot of young guys, they don’t learn that early. They have to figure it out three, four, five years in. I’m happy I learned it now.”
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