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Masai Ujiri has spent the 12 seasons as an executive with the Toronto Raptors, initially being hired to serve as general manager and vice president of basketball operations. In 2016, he was promoted to the role of president of basketball operations.
He led the front office during the most successful season in franchise history as they won their first -- and only -- NBA title in 2018-19. The championship run came after Ujiri made the initially controversially decision to trade long-time franchise star DeMar DeRozan to the San Antonio Spurs to acquire Kawhi Leonard.
While Toronto has made just two postseason appearances -- and won just one series -- in the six seasons since then, interest around the league remains high in Ujiri. The Atlanta Hawks reportedly are interested in hiring the 2012-13 NBA Executive of the Year away from the Raptors.
"The Atlanta Hawks have interest in trying to hire Toronto's Masai Ujiri as their new president of basketball operations, league sources tell The Stein Line," Marc Stein wrote Wednesday. "It was not immediately clear, league sources say, what sort of shot Atlanta has at prizing Ujiri away from the league's lone Canadian franchise, which won the only championship in franchise history in 2018-19 after Ujiri boldly traded for Kawhi Leonard when the former San Antonio Spur had only one year left on his contract."
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The Hawks fired general manager Landry Fields and promoted Onsi Saleh to the role. They have reportedly cast a wide search in their attempt to hire a new president of basketball operations.
Atlanta reached out to former Golden State Warriors president and general manager Bob Myers. They have also been rumored to be approaching top agents for the vacancy with Octagon's Alex Saratsis -- who represents Milwaukee Bucks' star Giannis Antetokounmpo and Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo -- mentioned as a candidate for the role.
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