Raptors coaching change appears imminent

Ime Udoka (Twitter)

The Toronto Raptors’s performance on Wednesday in the 9-10 playoff game on Wednesday defined their season. They had flashes of brilliance. The first half could not have been any better. They led the Chicago Bulls at one stage in the third quarter by 19 points–66-47 in fact. At the end of the day, sloppy turnovers and poor shooting from the free throw line (18 missed shots in fact) were the primary reasons why the Raptors were unable to play loose down the stretch, and as a result, lost 109-105.

This will now be an interesting offseason for the Raptors. At a first glance, the Raptors could make significant changes. We are not just talking about player personnel.

Late in the regular season, it was reported by Michael Grange of Rogers Sportsnet and Doug Smith of The Toronto Star that Nick Nurse’s days as the Raptors head coach may soon be over, as he is being linked to the Houston Rockets for the 2023-24 NBA season. The rumours are expected to heat up after the Rockets fired Stephen Silas as their head coach on Sunday according to Michael Shapiro of chron.com. 

The issue for the Rockets however is that Nurse is under contract one more season in Toronto. However what we saw from the Raptors on Wednesday, could encourage the Raptors to make a coaching change, which could be better for all parties involved.

If Nurse leaves Toronto, he will be remembered most as the coach that led the Raptors to their only championship in franchise history in 2019. His legacy will is profound and is enhanced in Canada due to the fact he is the head coach of the Canadian National Team. When it comes to coaching, sometimes the process runs its course and at this time, a change may not be a bad thing.

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The rumoured successor for Nurse in Toronto at this time is Ime Udoka, who spent one season in Boston and posted a record of  51 wins and 31 losses during the 2021-22 season. However, Udoka’s time in Boston was short lived due to the fact he had an “improper relationship with a female staff member” according to Sam Quinn of CBS Sports, and the Celtics replaced Udoka with Joe Mazzulla.

Udoka and Raptors President Masai Ujuri have a strong connection. This bond is Africa. Ujuri and Udoka are both of Nigerian descent, and Udoka was considered a finalist when the Raptors initially hired Nurse as the Raptors head coach to replace Dwane Casey on June 14, 2018.

What do you think will happen? Who will coach the Raptors and Rockets next season?

Tell us what you think in the comments below.