After the Knicks fired GM Steve Mills today, from every report I’ve seen to people I’ve talked too, Masai Ujiri is the only name on Knicks owner James Dolan’s list.

There have been strong rumblings since December that the Knicks believe they have a real shot to lure Masai Ujiri away from Toronto to take over. Of course, many also believed the Knicks knew they were getting Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving when they traded away Kristaps Porzingis

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 4, 2020

Knicks owner Jim Dolan is targeting Toronto president Masai Ujiri to ultimately oversee New York’s operations, league sources tell ESPN. He is under contract through 2020-2021 in Toronto.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 4, 2020

Masai Ujiri has long been Jim Dolan’s dream candidate to run Knicks, but here’s what’s already complicating that pursuit: Ujiri’s contract, and Knicks reluctance to give up draft compensation to Toronto, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 4, 2020

Would Masai consider moving to New York to run the asshole of the NBA? Maybe. If James Dolan wasn’t the owner.
Dolan might be the worst owner in sports. He’s the new Donald sterling with a bad weave. He takes great pride in making Knick’s fans suffer so he routinely interferes with the team in every capacity possible to the point where only desperate morons will say yes to working there.

James Dolan reportedly singled out a teenager after Knicks fans started chanting “Sell The Team” at MSG, per @NYPost_Berman

“Dolan shouted at security during the chanting and singled out a teenager because he was the chanting fan closest to the Knicks owner.” pic.twitter.com/mhbPzYunbp

— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) January 30, 2020

My point is I don’t see a world where Masai walks away from stability after winning a championship for anything associated with James Dolan.

Yet another move by the Knicks that gets rid of anyone but the person who is the problem. Sell the team, Dolan! https://t.co/ULVh2Yotm7

— Dina Bass (@dinabass) February 4, 2020

My advice to the provincial government of Ontario is to ban international travel for all residents named Masai until further notice.

— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) February 4, 2020

Having said that, that would literally be the only mountain left to climb in the NBA for Masai. Whoever turns the Knicks around will be revered as diety by fans forever. If that’s what Masai needs to challenge himself and he gets offered the rumored 10-15 million a year Dolan is willing to pay him, he’d be stupid not to leave.  Fuck, I’d pack his stuff for him.

He’s done everything he said he would do and then some

The Raptors have the cleanest books in the NBA at seasons end.

He brought an NBA Championship to the league’s best fanbase.

He’s the best talent evaluator in the NBA

He’s developed the best/deepest feeder system in the NBA

He somehow finds guys working at Home Depot and turns them into NBA studs (see Terence Davis Jr).

#MakeEmBelieve | @TerenceDavisJr pic.twitter.com/0IQfE7QcYM

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) February 3, 2020

Masai singlehandedly turned the biggest joke in the NBA into a championship team with the ability to compete for a championship every year.  He owes this city nothing and no one would blame him if he left.

BUT, if James Dolan is the cold sore we think he is and if Masai is half the man we know he is, and Larry Tannebaum is as rich and committed to Masai as he says he is…

MLSE owner Larry Tanenbaum when asked about @wojespn report that Wizards owner @TedLeonsis is attempting to recruit Masai Ujiri with a $10-million a year offer and an ownership stake: pic.twitter.com/vQPzhtYHDH

— Michael Grange (@michaelgrange) June 14, 2019

…I’d put the chance of Masai leaving Toronto for New York at just over 0%. Plus, this gif will never die so we should be good.

Pip pip

D