TORONTO – Masai Ujiri ends a 13-year run that delivered eight playoff trips and a championship to Toronto. He engineered the daring Kawhi Leonard trade that won the 2019 title. Now free with the draft behind him, Masai Ujiri can explore his options before training camp begins in months.
Masai Ujiri Linked To Eastern Rival Plus Other Options
A Legacy Built on Bold Moves
Ujiri transformed the Raptors from lottery also-rans into perennial contenders. He outmaneuvered expectations in 2018 by trading DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and a first-round pick for Leonard. That calculated risk paid off, as Toronto beat the Warriors in six games to capture their first NBA crown. Over 12 seasons, Ujiri posted a 545–419 record and made eight playoff appearances. His tenure redefined Canadian basketball.
Perfect (Somewhat) Timing to Plot Next Move
Ujiri’s exit doesn’t come at an ideal moment but the situation is salvageable. With the draft complete and training camp months away, he enjoys a clear runway. However, free agency opens at 6 p.m. ET on June 30, giving him little time to secure a job and then negotiate trades or signings. NBA front offices usually settle leadership roles well before training camp.
Hawks Emerge as Primary Contender
Some insiders predict the Atlanta Hawks will top Ujiri’s wish list. Evan Sidery of Forbes noted via X, “The Hawks are a team to closely monitor for a pursuit of former Raptors executive Masai Ujiri. Atlanta has been in exploratory conversations with Ujiri this offseason, and now he’s free to potentially join.”
The Hawks are a team to closely monitor for a pursuit of former Raptors executive Masai Ujiri.
Atlanta has been in exploratory conversations with Ujiri this offseason, and now he’s free to potentially join. pic.twitter.com/A975Pegv6X
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 27, 2025
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Brad Rowland added, “The Hawks haven’t closed the door on a new president role.” Atlanta promoted Onsi Saleh to general manager this spring. Saleh drove major hires but still reports to no singular boss. Hiring Ujiri would create a clear hierarchy and bring championship pedigree to their front office.
My reporting side: The Hawks have refused to close the door on the POBO job, so it is still open and there were whispers of interest earlier in the offseason.
My opinion side: I think it would be pretty silly to bring in a POBO above Onsi Saleh at this point. https://t.co/FwtizRlQY7
— Brad Rowland (@BTRowland) June 27, 2025
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Other Eastern Conference Destinations
Philadelphia 76ers
The Sixers nearly lured Ujiri in 2012, but he stayed in Denver. Their current president, Daryl Morey, commands his role until 2027. Yet Morey’s 2024 moves—most notably the Paul George max contract—have underwhelmed. Philadelphia might see Ujiri’s vision as the spark they need.
Brooklyn Nets
Brooklyn offers a trove of young talent and future picks. Sean Marks has led the roster through cycles of contention and teardown. Marks’s recent draft spree has drawn criticism for overlapping skill sets. The Nets possess cap space now and in 2026. Ujiri could reshape the team with his proven scouting acumen.
Chicago Bulls
Chicago’s Artūras Karnišovas faces mounting pressure after back-to-back ninth-place finishes. The Bulls made the play-in tournament three years running—each ending in a loss. Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf may heed a restless fan base calling for change. Ujiri could step in to revive the six-time NBA champions in America’s third-largest market.
Basketball Africa: A Return to Global Roots?
One intriguing scenario among Masai Ujiri’s options could see him step away from day-to-day front office battles and double down on his life’s passion project—African Basketball. Ujiri founded the Giants of Africa program in 2003 with longtime friend and scout, Godwin Owinje. He has championed the league’s expansion across the continent.
Under his leadership, the NBA’s Basketball Africa League completed a third season and built vital youth academies and HBCU partnerships. Ujiri’s commitment to Africa’s basketball future remains unmatched in the NBA’s executive ranks.
If Ujiri wants a legacy beyond titles, he may choose to focus entirely on building basketball infrastructure in Africa. With the league’s backing and his influence, Masai Ujiri’s options could easily include elevating the BAL to rival Europe’s top leagues as a global talent pipeline.
Walking away from the daily NBA grind might let him pour his full energy into empowering African prospects—just as he always envisioned when he first brought camps and clinics to Nigeria over two decades ago. For Ujiri, shaping the next generation of African stars could be as meaningful as another NBA ring.
© John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
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