1. Masai Ujiri
There shouldn’t be much debate as to whom the New York Knicks should hire next as the next lead executive. Masai Ujiri has become one of the most revered minds in sports for his brilliant work with both the Denver Nuggets and the Toronto Raptors.
If one were to add the major market appeal of New York City to the mix, it stands to reason that Ujiri could take his success to the next level.
Thankfully, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical is reporting that Ujiri is at the top of the Knicks’ executive wish list.
Knicks owner James Dolan is targeting Toronto's Masai Ujiri to replace Phil Jackson as N.Y.'s President, league sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 28, 2017
That’s a promising sign.
Ujiri was named Executive of the Year in 2012-13 for creating a star-less, but masterfully assembled Nuggets team that managed to win 57 games. Since taking over as president of the Raptors in 2013, he’s led the organization to unprecedented success.
In his very first season in Toronto, the Raptors won a franchise record 48 games and returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2008.
Since then, Toronto has won 49, 54, and 51 games, and made the first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in franchise history. The turning point was Ujiri trading the un-tradable Andrea Bargnani, and making the surprising decision to move offensive focal point Rudy Gay.
If Ujiri can work that same magic with Joakim Noah and build a healthy culture around Kristaps Porzingis, he’d be the man who saved the Knicks.
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All five candidates should be high on the list for New York Knicks owner James Dolan, but Masai Ujiri should be No. 1.