Reporting in the wake of Nick Nurse‘s dismissal on Friday indicated that Ime Udoka would be one of the candidates the Raptors seriously consider to become their next head coach. Shams Charania of The Athletic confirms Toronto’s interest in Udoka and adds a couple more names to the team’s possible list of targets, writing that Patrick Mutombo and Jerry Stackhouse may receive consideration.
Mutombo, currently an assistant on Monty Williams‘ staff in Phoenix, was on the Raptors’ coaching staff from 2016-20 and coached the team’s G League affiliate (Raptors 905) from 2020-22 before joining the Suns last offseason.
Stackhouse also has an existing relationship with the Raptors, having been an assistant with the team in 2015/16 and the Raptors 905 head coach from 2016-18. He spent a season as an assistant coach with the Grizzlies in 2018/19 and has been the head coach at Vanderbilt since 2019. Stackhouse has also been mentioned as a possible candidate for the Pistons’ head coaching vacancy, though there has been no indication that he’ll interview for that position.
Here’s more on the Raptors and their newly opened head coaching job:
- Some people in the Raptors organization were surprised by Friday’s news on Nurse, according to Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca, who says Nurse and team president Masai Ujiri met four teams in the nine days after Toronto’s season ended. That level of communication is unusual for a team about to let go of a head coach, but Ujiri felt the Raptors needed a new voice and Nurse “welcomed the change,” says Lewenberg.
- Raptors management had some questions about Nurse’s style of communication, Lewenberg writes, noting that the head coach had a habit of calling out players publicly without talking to them privately first. Following a bad loss in December, Nurse held closed-door meetings with some players and staffers that Lewenberg hears were “intense” and “confrontational.” Nurse also had a “tense” relationship with one assistant coach after telling him not to accompany the team on a road trip in January, Lewenberg adds.
- Observing that several Raptors players improved individually, but not collectively, Ujiri said on Friday that he expects to make changes in Toronto this offseason beyond hiring a new coach, per Lewenberg. “I think changes are going to be made on all fronts,” Ujiri said. “We’re going to address that with the team. We saw how different players on our team would rise, would do well, but we never did it collectively. Maybe that could be fit. Maybe that could be system, sometimes role orientation, sometimes accountability – all the things we are going to really look at it how our roster is built. We believe in the players we have. Whether it’s tweaks or major changes, we’re definitely going to look at everything.”
If Toronta gets Udoka, it’s a guaranteed trip to the finals within 2 years
How do you figure? I don’t see the difference in coaching ability between Nurse and Udoka being that dramatic. You’re also hedging your bets on Toronto’s core both remaining together and ascending to championship level
Huh? Nurse and Udoka are extremely different. Udoka holds players accountable, great for a young team like TOR. Nurse is a coach that allows players to run the team. Which works well with veterans like Lowry and Kawhi. Not so much young talent.
True they could blow up the team, but it wouldn’t make sense. Barnes, OG, Siakim, Achiuwa are guys that Udoka would love. Most likely it would be a conversation that would be had during the interview process.
They have plenty of talent to ascend to a championship level. Barnes is an MVP in the making. They just need some structure. Something that Udoka is an expert in.
Ujiri holds all the keys. Not only does he need to pick the next head coach but he has a lot of roster building decisions to make too. They have 3 key players up for FA in FVV, GTJ and Poeltl.
FVV is 29, last year shot below 40% from the field aswell as a career worse 34% from 3. Can’t see him returning. Poeltl is 27, you gave up a first and 2 seconds to get him back in a contract year. He will definitely return and probably be overpaid.
GTJ, was used more as the sixth man after the Poeltl trade but has always produced well.
Its not a great year to be FA shopping either.
So finding replacements isn’t going to be an easy job.
Personally I don’t see how you can get Barnes OG and Siakim all into the starting side and make it work well. Barnes is a 6’8 forward that can make plays and is good defensively but can’t shoot. OG is a 6’7 SF who is excellent in defence, and has improved to be a solid 3 point shooter now but is definitely more of a 3rd option on offence.
Sikaim 6’8 PF multiple all star and all nba. Consistently a 24-8-5 kinda guy but doesn’t shoot the 3 that well.
Might sound crazy but Scottie Barnes reminds me a lot of Ben Simmons. Not as good defensively, or as a passer but takes threes although not very good at them and doesn’t have the soft personality of Ben yet.
However everyone see Scottie and Pascal as the two untouchable players so OG is kinda the odd man out.
However it it were me I’d offer Scottie Barnes, Chris Boucher and a future second for Dejounte Murray, AJ Griffin and this years 15th overall pick.
Murray is the exact guy I’d want as the point guard. Tall, excellent passer, great defensively, great rebounder, and has improved as a shooter.
Think he’d fit perfectly with OG and Pascal.
AJ is also a great pick up for the bench and his dad works as an assistant coach. In straight comparison Murray to Scottie, Murray is a better passer and shooter while Scottie might have more potential as he is younger but that’s about it.
Then it makes the offseason real easy, let FVV walk, resign Poeltl at around 15mil and try keep GTJ at around 17mil per season.
With the 13th and 15th picks in the draft
Look to take Kris Murray and Jordan Hawkins.
Kris is the twin brother or Keegan Murray. Will be NBA ready like his brother, good scorer, rebounder and can hit the 3 ball well.
Hawkins a SG, had a great championship run with the huskies. Great 3 point shot, super efficient, and decent enough defender.
That leaves you needing to add a back up point guard which you can do for the vets min by brining back Corey Joseph.
Murray GTJ OG Siakim Poeltl
Joseph Griffin Otto Thad Precious
Flynn Hawkins Murray Koloko
As for Atlanta, Trae Young and Scottie Barnes that’s a great start to something. Imagine then Clint Capela, DeAndre Hunter and Jalen Johnson for DeAndre Ayton.
Trae Scottie DeAndre that’s a great young trio, John Collins as your 4, Bogi Bey Okungwu making up your bench