Report: Hawks have expressed interest in Masai Ujiri

The Hawks have cast a wide net full of marquee names in their search for the next President of Basketball Operations. Bob Myers is the one that caught everyone’s eye initially, originally reported by Marc Stein, but that felt more like a Hail Mary than a legitimate plan. Still, that hasn’t stopped the Hawks from trying, and they continue to hunt for big fish in their search.

According to Marc Stein, Toronto general manager Masai Ujiri is another name on their wish list.

“The Atlanta Hawks have interest in trying to hire Toronto’s Masai Ujiri as their new president of basketball operations, league sources tell The Stein Line.”

“It was not immediately clear, league sources say, what sort of shot Atlanta has at prizing Ujiri away from the league’s lone Canadian franchise, which won the only championship in franchise history in 2018-19 after Ujiri boldly traded for Kawhi Leonard when the former San Antonio Spur had only one year left on his contract.”

Masai Ujiri is among the most well respected executives in all of basketball. He helped the Nuggets win 57 games on the way to Executive of the Year honors back in 2013, which he parlayed into a massive contract from the Toronto Raptors, where he led them to their only title in 2019 after pulling off one of the more ballsy trades in league history for Kawhi Leonard.

There’s really only a couple of reasons Masai Ujiri would even consider the job. Perhaps he’s hungry for a new challenge, and the Hawks are undoubtedly in a better position to compete next year and beyond than the Raptors. The other reason would be money, which can change just about any man’s heart.

Another fascinating name Stein linked to the Hawks is agent Alex Saratsis, who just so happens to represent Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“One agent to emerge as a potential candidate with the Hawks, league sources say, is Octagon’s Alex Saratsis, who represents Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and Miami’s Bam Adebayo.”

“Saratsis’ possible involvement in the Hawks’ search would be a fascinating development that connects two of the major curiosities at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago this week … with Antetokounmpo’s future, of course, atop the list. Saratsis co-represents Antetokounmpo with Octagon’s Georgios Panou and both agents are expected to soon meet with the Bucks to determine whether the two-time MVP will remain in Milwaukee after 12 seasons a Buck or seek a trade elsewhere.”

Either hire would rightfully excite Hawks fans. With Ujiri, Atlanta would be getting one of the brightest minds in the game. With Saratsis, it may be the closest the Hawks ever get to landing one of the best players in the league.