Among the options being considered by the Toronto Raptors as they weigh the futures of team president Bryan Colangelo and coach Dwane Casey is making a run at Phil Jackson, according to sources with knowledge of Toronto's thinking.

Now that heavyweight sports executive Tim Leiweke has been hired as the new president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment -- the Canadian conglomerate that owns and operates the Raptors, NHL's Maple Leafs and Toronto FC in Major League Soccer -- Toronto's chances of successfully luring Jackson north of the border appear to be much more realistic.

Maple Leaf Sports president Tim Leiweke, left, brought David Beckham to the U.S. Could he pull a similar coup and bring Phil Jackson to Canada? Victor Decolongon/Getty Images

Sources told ESPN.com this week that the Raptors have interest in talking with Jackson about the Pat Riley-style role he craves in charge of a team's basketball operations. ESPN.com reported last week that Jackson, after nearly two seasons in retirement, is itching to return to the NBA next season, preferably in a role similar to Riley's in Miami that allows him to oversee both the basketball department and the coaching staff or perhaps as a high-level consultant such as Jerry West in Golden State.

Leiweke is a major player in the sports industry and Jackson is very familiar with his work in Los Angeles, where Leiweke helped get the Staples Center built for the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers as well as the NHL's Kings. Leiweke also has a longstanding working relationship with Lakers executive Jeanie Buss, Jackson's fiancee.

At his core, Leiweke is a big idea man. When he wanted to make MLS and the Los Angeles Galaxy relevant in a town that usually only has eyes for basketball and baseball, he had a big hand in convincing international soccer star David Beckham to come to America after Beckham's time at Real Madrid.

There will inevitably be naysayers throughout the league skeptical that Jackson could ever be convinced to come to Canada, but Leiweke is unlikely to be influenced by naysayers after the ultimate success of the Beckham marriage./

While Leiweke's hire doesn't guarantee changes with the Raptors, it does appear to throw the immediate futures of Colangelo and Casey into some doubt. Before Leiweke's hiring Friday, sources close to the situation told ESPN.com the Raptors were strongly considering retaining both.