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Yesterday it was reported by Doug Smith from The Star.com (Raptors beat reporter) that Toronto was offering Masai Ujiri a deal believed to be in the $1.5 million per season range. Well, today Michael Grange, from Rogers Sportsnet, is reporting the offer for Ujiri is believed to be at 4-years and $9 million aka $2.25 million per season for the talented basketball mind.

A source familiar with the situation said that rather than the deal being close it was “far from it” with Ujiri now carefully working through competing opportunities, with the Nuggets having made a determined offer to keep him Denver.

The Raptors remain optimistic they can bring back Ujiri – he was director of international scouting, an assistant general manager and eventually Bryan Colangelo’s right-hand man with the Raptors before he was hired by the Nuggets in 2010.

It has been reported that Ujiri is the lowest-salaried GM in the NBA, earning about $500,000 a year, or half of the league’s average. According to NBA sources the Raptors have offered Ujiri a four-year deal worth about $9 million.

A couple interesting items above.

1.) The "far from it" in reference to the Raptors being close to a deal is optimistic.

2.) The Nuggets making a "determined offer" leads me to think there was a counter offer from the Nuggets, but that's just my opinion from what was written above – but it makes sense that Ujiri would bring Toronto's offer back to Josh Kroenke to perhaps give Denver a chance to keep him.

3.) The "four-year … $9 million" is a bit more than the $1.5 million Smith referred to yesterday. This leads me to believe that nobody really knows for sure what Ujiri is being offered by the Raptors. Always a good time.

Check out this radio interview by Chris Demsey on the "Sunday Funday" show with Brandon Krisztal and Shawn Drotar – some very interesting points brought up by Dempsey and a must listen. The "Sunday Funday" show can be heard on Sunday's from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on 104.3 fm. Click here.

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(A big thanks to Brandon for sending us that Dempsey interview!)

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ntimmons73@yahoo.com