Stefanski among staff axed by Ujiri in Toronto
Posted June 2, 2013 5:41 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
New Toronto Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri has wasted little time in making changes in Toronto.
Ujiri’s first order of business has been to part ways with Ed Stefanski, the Raptors executive vice-president of basketball operations, sources confirmed to Sportsnet’s Eric Smith.
The bloodletting did not stop with Stefanski as long-time scout Jim Kelly, pro scouting director, vice-president of pro scouting Dave Pendergraft and two regional college scouts have also been let go, according to the Toronto Star’s Doug Smith.
Stefanski was brought into the Raptors fold by Bryan Colangelo in October 2011 to work as his right-hand man. While Stefanski and Ujiri both worked alongside Colangelo, the former joined the organization after the latter had made the jump to the Denver Nuggets.
Prior to his time in Toronto, Stefanski was the GM of the Philadelphia 76ers from 2007-2011 and the New Jersey Nets from 2004-2007. During his time with New Jersey, Stefanski pulled off the trade that brought Vince Carter to the Nets.
While the move comes less than 48 hours after the team officially announced Ujiri as the new general manager, it wasn’t entirely unexpected. Returning to the team where he first served as assistant general manager under Colangelo, Ujiri will need to decide how much change is necessary as he seeks to make the front office his own.
Ujiri’s early days as Raptors GM will be eventful ones. He has been rumored to be shopping Andrea Bargnani, he will need to decide if he would like to use the amnesty provision on the contracts of either Bargnani (if he is unable to move him) or Linas Kleiza, and a decision has yet to be made on the status of head coach Dwane Casey, who has another year left on his contract.
After that, Ujiri will have to look at the roster assembled by Colangelo to determine who will stay and who will go as he seeks to move the team — and its five-year playoff drought — forward.
