Toronto Raptors president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri says he’s staying with the team he helped build into an NBA champion.
Ujiri made the announcement to reporters during his season-ending media availability.
“I love it here. My family loves it here. My wife loves it here, which is important. My kids are Canadian. I want to win more… In my mind, I’m here,” Ujiri said.
Earlier this month, league sources told ESPN the Washington Wizards were preparing to offer Ujiri a deal approaching $10 million annually with an opportunity for ownership equity.
Ujiri, 48, who has two years left on his contract, is the architect of the first championship in Raptors history. He’s responsible for building the Denver Nuggets into a contender and, now, the Raptors into a championship franchise.
Ujiri will now focus on retaining NBA Finals MVP, Kawhi Leonard, who’ll become a free agent next week.
Ujiri said he texted with Leonard as recently as Monday night and talked to Leonard’s uncle and advisor, Dennis Robertson earlier on Tuesday.
“We’ll wait. He’s our player and he’s a superstar on our team and we’ll wait on that,” Ujiri said.
Ujiri obtained Leonard along with Danny Green before the start of last season in a major trade with the San Antonio that sent DeMar DeRozand, Jakob Poeltl and a first-round draft pick to the Spurs.
Ujiri finished fourth in voting for the NBA Executive of the Year Award behind Milwaukee Bucks GM Jon Horst.
Source : ESPN
