Report: Knicks targeting Raptors' Ujiri to replace Jackson

The New York Knicks already have their eyes set on a potential successor to Phil Jackson now that the Zen Master's tenure as president of basketball operations is coming to an end.

Owner James Dolan is reportedly targeting the Toronto Raptors' Masai Ujiri to be Jackson's replacement, league sources told The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Former Raptors executive Tim Leiweke is also set to serve as an adviser for general manager Steve Mills now that Jackson's out of the picture.

New York basketball fans have come to know Ujiri all too well over the years, with the current Raptors president having been responsible for a couple of key trades that greatly impacted the Knicks franchise.

It was back in 2011 when Ujiri served as general manager of the Denver Nuggets and helped springboard a four-team trade that sent Carmelo Anthony to The Big Apple. In exchange, the Nuggets received a number of valuable assets that included Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, and a slew of valuable draft picks, one of which eventually turned into Jamal Murray.

Just months after inking a five-year, $15-million contract with the Raptors in 2013, Ujiri was once again making moves with the Knicks, sending former No. 1 overall pick Andrea Bargnani packing, while acquiring three players (Marcus Camby, Quentin Richardson, and Steve Novak) and three picks.

Ujiri - who signed a multi-year extension with Toronto last year - is also a former Executive of the Year (2013), and has been at the helm of a Raptors team that has qualified for the playoffs for four straight seasons.