HoopsHype.com Rumors

Toronto’s new GM Masai Ujiri not only got a $15 million deal, but took a broom to his front office, sweeping out all pro personnel people and college scouts. He’s looking to hire Bucks assistant GM Jeff Weltman to be his No. 1 assistant. Weltman and former Knick president Scott Layden were up for the Phoenix GM job that went to Ryan McDonough, formerly with Danny Ainge’s front office in Boston. New York Daily News

Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors, Masai Ujiri, Josh Kroenke 

Ryan Wolstat: Per Masai Ujiri, Raptors don't have any draft workouts planned for now. They've been at group workouts and combines. Would need to trade in Twitter @WolstatSun

Toronto Raptors, Draft 

Toronto’s new GM Masai Ujiri not only got a $15 million deal, but took a broom to his front office, sweeping out all pro personnel people and college scouts. He’s looking to hire Bucks assistant GM Jeff Weltman to be his No. 1 assistant. Weltman and former Knick president Scott Layden were up for the Phoenix GM job that went to Ryan McDonough, formerly with Danny Ainge’s front office in Boston. New York Daily News

Toronto Raptors, Jeff Weltman, Masai Ujiri 

Kroenke said that Ujiri, who won the NBA's executive of the year award, told him not to match the Raptors' five-year, $15 million offer, which included other incentives. Once that became the tone, Ujiri's departure was a certainty. Kroenke said he did not believe Ujiri would have stayed in the Nuggets front office even if the team would have matched Toronto's offer. Kroenke said the two had an agreement on a contract extension, but told Ujiri the Raptors were "the only team I would let you out of our agreement for." "It wasn't a black-and-white situation, which a lot of people tried to make it," Kroenke said. "I don't think it was a situation regarding money at all. I know people say that all the time, because of the dollars that are thrown around in this league, but there are a lot of close relationships involved as well. "It was a tough decision for him, but to be named the head of basketball to back to the team that gave him the first real shot in the front office, I think it was a tremendous opportunity for him and I wish him the best." Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors, Masai Ujiri 

Sean Deveney: McGrady said if he'd stuck w the Raptors: "I think Toronto could have been a team that would have competed w/the Lakers for championships" Twitter @SeanDeveney

San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, Tracy McGrady 

Benjamin Hochman: Josh said Masai told him he didn't even need to consider matching the Toronto contract, because Masai’s decision was already made. Twitter @nuggetsnews

Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors, Masai Ujiri, Josh Kroenke 

Adrian Wojnarowski: Whether the Toronto coaching job opens this summer -- or next -- rule out George Karl as a candidate for Masai Ujiri, league sources tell Y! Twitter @WojYahooNBA

Toronto Raptors, George Karl, Coaching, Masai Ujiri 

Marc Stein: Of course, Clips' interest in George Karl has already been established. Whether Masai Ujiri, now in Toronto, has interest remains to be seen Twitter @ESPNSteinLine

Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Toronto Raptors, George Karl, Coaching, Masai Ujiri 

Zach Lowe: Source w/ knowledge confirms Karl will not be a candidate for Raptors job this summer. Dwane Casey has one year left on his deal. Twitter @ZachLowe_NBA

Toronto Raptors, George Karl, Coaching, Dwane Casey 

Andrea Bargnani is in Rome working out and recovering after the elbow injury which forced him to miss the second part of the NBA Season. Il Mago spoke with Gazzetta.it about the Italian National Team and his future in the NBA. "I look forward to play for the Italian National Team. The roster is very good with quality players. I hope this year is the right one to have a good final result. Next NBA Season? In the NBA it is not the player who decides where to play. The only thing I can do is to work out and play hard. At the moment I am a player of the Toronto Raptors. I miss playoffs and I miss the atmosphere of the NBA playoffs. Sportando

Toronto Raptors, Italy, Andrea Bargnani 

Emiliano Carchia: Gianni Petrucci confirmed that Andrea Bargnani will play Eurobasket in Slovenia Twitter @SportandoBasket

Toronto Raptors, FIBA, Italy, Andrea Bargnani, Eurobasket 

If you are Dwane Casey this morning, you have to be wondering just a little bit. As some published reports have suggested, it certainly appears that the Raptors new general manager Masai Ujiri is leaning towards keeping the Raptors head coach, who has another year left on his contract, around. But Ujiri stopped well short of guaranteeing that Casey will be his head coach heading into next season. “I’ve talked to Dwane Casey a couple of times and we’re going to sit down and I will understand what his philosophies are and I will tell him what my philosophies are and I’ll tell him what I think needs to be changed,” Ujiri said. “For me this organization is going to be like this now (hands together) and we will all be on the same page and have the same goals.” Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey, Masai Ujiri 

Marc Stein: New Raptors front-office boss Masai Ujiri, I'm told, is making hard push to hire Jeff Weltman away from Milwaukee Twitter @ESPNSteinLine

Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors, Jeff Weltman, Masai Ujiri 

Tim Leiweke on why Ujiri came to Toronto: “Quite frankly, he’s not the highest paid GM in the league. He’s not in the top five based on what I know about rest of the league. The financial thing we didn’t even talk about the first day. Not a word. We didn’t talk about it. We spent the day talking about philosophy. We talked about where we’ve come in our lives, what we would like to create here and we shared one common view. You recall the question from earlier today about you’ve seen the history of this organization. Why would you come here? That’s why you come here. Who wants to go — no offence — but who wants to follow Mitch Kupchak? … Am I OK with the fact that he is well compensated? Sure, he should be, it’s Toronto. We view ourselves as New York, Miami and L.A.” National Post

Toronto Raptors, Masai Ujiri 

Tim Leiweke: On potentially changing the Raptors’ name: “We’re definitely going to take a look at it. It doesn’t mean we’re committed to it. It means it’s a good conversation. I saw those generic uniforms today in the paper. … That won’t be the uniform, by the way. I can assure you of that. I think we need to have this conversation.” National Post

Toronto Raptors, Tim Leiweke 

Ryan Wolstat: Ujiri said Bargnani has an NBA skill. Believes players are in league for a reason (ie they have NBA talent) and teams want stretch fours Twitter @WolstatSun

Toronto Raptors, Trade, Andrea Bargnani 

Eric Smith: There are good pieces... but there are things we have to correct. -- Ujiri on the roster Twitter @Eric__Smith

Toronto Raptors, Masai Ujiri 

Ryan Wolstat: "Don't see any reason why Dwane won't be back." Twitter @WolstatSun

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey, Masai Ujiri 

Ryan Wolstat: Masai Ujiri: "I'll take Bryan's input when I feel it's necessary, but basketball decisions are going to be my decisions. I'm sitting here on the hot seat." Twitter @WolstatSun

Toronto Raptors, Bryan Colangelo, Masai Ujiri 

Paul Jones: Ujiri: on first order of busines... there isn't 1 or 2 things...we need an identity...I'm going to chat with Casey and discuss philosophies Twitter @Paul__Jones

Toronto Raptors, Dwane Casey, Masai Ujiri