As reported by Steve Bulpett of Heavy, an anonymous NBA general manager who has worked with the Toronto Raptors claims that Masai Ujiri is growing frustrated with his team and that there is friction between him and star point guard Fred VanVleet. According to that same GM, the Washington Wizards are once again ready to pursue the man who helped lead the Raptors to their first championship.
Ujiri was brought into the Raptors in 2013 after spending three years at the helm of the Denver Nuggets. During his time with the team, he made some of the key moves that led the team to their championship, these include but are not limited to drafting OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam, trading for Marc Gasol, Norman Powell, and Kawhi Leonard, and signing Fred VanVleet and Serge Ibaka.
He also helped manage the impact the Carmelo Anthony situation when he demanded a trade from the Nuggets. From that trade, he was able to get the pick that would eventually end up turning into Jamal Murray.
He has a long and successful career as an executive and he may be looking to grow upon that success. Along with Bob Myers, another big-name candidate to keep an eye on, Ujiri cannot claim credit for the foundation of much of his tenure as DeRozen and Kyle Lowry playing for the Raptors were not his doing.
He may be looking to shake things up in order to create even more of a legacy for himself. This could lead to him be willing to sign with the Wizards, a team that won their sole championship back in 1978.
If the Washington Wizards are able to sign the highly coveted executive, it could be the first step toward returning the team to a championship caliber. Masai Ujiri is certainly a name to pay attention to going forward.