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     Saarang Pilla Bewarse Username: Saarang Post Number: 276 Registered: 04-2015 Posted From: 206.29.176.77 Rating: N/A |
Masai's right hand man leaving Toronto to become Orlando's president of Basketball operations. Masai Ujiri has built a deep and highly-respected front office with the Raptors, and it was inevitable that a new, bigger challenge would ultimately present itself to some member of his braintrust. That day has arrived. Jeff Weltman, a highly-regarded long-time NBA front-office executive brought to Toronto by Ujiri not long after taking over the helm of the franchise, is leaving to become the president of basketball operations with the Orlando Magic. The timing of the move is not ideal for a Raptors franchise facing a handful of key off-season decisions, but will give Weltman the time necessary to continue a building process with the Magic — who fired GM Rob Hennigan last month. Widespread speculation that the Magic were prepared to wait for the Cleveland Cavaliers to finish their season before hiring their GM, David Griffin, was proved wrong. An NBA front-office lifer, Weltman was promoted to GM last September after serving as executive vice-president of basketball operations. Before joining Ujiri’s front office in 2013, Weltman had spent five seasons as the assistant GM of the Milwaukee Bucks and also worked in the front office of the Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets, where he first worked for Ujiri. While the loss will be significant, Ujiri has built a solid front office that can withstand one member getting a promotion. Assistant GM Bobby Webster, director of player personnel and Raptors905 GM Dan Tolzman, and director of basketball operations Teresa Resch will give Ujiri counsel as the draft and summer free agency approach. It is a significant time in Toronto franchise history. Four players — Kyle Lowry, Serge Ibaka, P.J. Tucker and Patrick Patterson — will be unrestricted free agents in July, and decisions on their future will map out the Raptors’ future for the next half-decade. |