These two worked together, so they know how the other thinks. That doesn't mean this deal was the result of one calling in a favor to the other, but it is important. Now, he is undoing what Bryan Colangelo never should've done.įor the Raptors, who are seeking financial flexibility and the means to chase Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker or someone else in this summer's draft, Gay's contract was a burden-one that Ujiri unloaded on a former colleague.ĭ'Alessandro served as Ujiri's assistant in Denver last season, according to Jones. He helped orchestrate Carmelo Anthony's departure for the Denver Nuggets in 2011. Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri is a front-office sage, brightening the outlook of Toronto's future with his strategy of making one cost-cutting move at a time.įirst, he sent Andrea Bargnani to the New York Knicks, succeeding in not only dumping the remaining $23-plus million on the Italian's contract, but procuring a first-round selection as well.įleecing the Knicks of first-round draft picks is nothing new for Ujiri, of course.
