The Toronto Raptors surprised fans when they decided to fire head coach Nick Nurse on Friday morning.
Nurse, who led the Raptors to win the NBA championship in 2019, is now widely considered the favorite to become head coach of the Rockets. The Raptors, meanwhile, have a big decision to make when it comes to finding a replacement for the 2020 NBA Coach of the Year.
Whoever takes over for Nurse will inherit a roster with two-time All-Star Pascal Siakam, one-time All-Star Fred VanVleet, Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes, and OG Anunoby (who was one of the most coveted players at the trade deadline).
Toronto’s coaching decision will reflect whether the franchise plans to rebuild (VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. both have player options and can become free agents this offseason) or just slightly retool for another championship pursuit.
Here is more from Raptors president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri (via ESPN):
“This is an opportunity for us to reset, to refocus, to put into place the personnel and the players who will help us reach our goal of winning our next championship.”
Ime Udoka is expected to be a “serious candidate” for the opening in Toronto, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Here is who else the organization may have in mind.
1
Ime Udoka (ex-Celtics head coach)
The Celtics suspended Ime Udoka for the entire season due to improper conduct that violated multiple team policies, and he was eventually dismissed from the team when Joe Mazzulla was elevated to head coach.
The Nets briefly considered bringing Udoka into the mix before eventually settling on Jacque Vaughn.
Back when he was a Spurs assistant coach, however, Udoka interviewed for the coaching vacancy before the job was eventually offered to Nurse. Udoka is held in “high regard” by “some members” of Toronto’s organization, per SNY’s Ian Begley.
Udoka is expected to receive a second interview with the Rockets.
2
Adrian Griffin (Raptors assistant coach)
Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin filled in for Nick Nurse when the former Toronto head coach had to miss a game earlier this season due to personal reasons.
Griffin recently received permission to interview for the head coach of the Rockets. The former NBA player was also considered a candidate for recent vacancies with the Jazz, Lakers, and Bulls.
3
Jerry Stackhouse (Vanderbilt head coach)
Two-time All-Star Jerry Stackhouse, currently the head coach of Vanderbilt, was an assistant coach for the Raptors and in 2015-16. He took over as head coach of their developmental league affiliate, Raptors 905, and won the title and Coach of the Year in 2017.
Stackhouse, the reigning SEC Coach of the Year, said that rumors he would leave his current post to take over the Pistons were just “beguilement in the highest form” — whatever that means.
He interviewed for the Toronto vacancy before it was given to Nurse and he was considered a “strong” candidate.
4
Sam Cassell (76ers assistant coach)
Sam Cassell, a three-time NBA champion and former NBA All-Star, is an assistant coach for the Philadelphia 76ers. He also has coaching experience with the Clippers and Wizards. He is expected to interview for the vacancy in Houston and should earn consideration in Toronto, too.
5
Kenny Atkinson (Warriors assistant coach)
Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson, who was offered the head coaching position with the Hornets last offseason, was the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets from 2016 until 2020. Golden State gave permission for Houston to interview Atkinson, and the organization could do the same for Toronto.
6
Frank Vogel (ex-Lakers coach)
Frank Vogel, who won a championship as head coach of the Lakers, is one of the more appealing candidates available.
Vogel was the first candidate who had an interview for Houston’s coaching vacancy, per The Athletic’s Kelly Iko. Vogel is expected to receive a second interview with the Rockets. He could receive a similar look in Toronto.
7
Earl Watson (Raptors assistant coach)
Earl Watson, the former head coach of the Phoenix Suns, is currently an assistant coach for the Raptors. The former UCLA guard played for over a decade in the NBA. His future in Toronto is currently unclear.
8
Rex Kalamian (Pistons assistant coach)
Detroit Pistons assistant coach Rex Kalamian was an assistant coach for the Raptors from 2015 until 2018.
Kalamian interviewed for the position in Toronto before it was eventually offered to Nurse. Kalamian, also the head coach of the Armenian national team, interviewed for the coaching vacancy in Detroit this week.
Yahoo’s Jake Fischer reported that Kalamian is also a coaching candidate for the Rockets.
9
Sarunas Jasikevicius (Barcelona head coach)
Sarunas Jasikevicius is the head coach of Barcelona in the EuroLeague.
Barca’s basketball director is “hopeful” that the former EuroBasket MVP will remain at the helm next season, but his contract will expire at the end of this season.
Toronto’s Ujiri, however, met with Jasikevicius in Europe when the Raptors last held a coaching vacancy. He was “surprised” about the opportunity and he didn’t think it would come so fast.
Due to his fiery approach, however, Jasikevicius has not always won favor with his players. While this is a sleeper candidate, it feels unlikely.
10
Ettore Messina (Milan head coach)
Ettore Messina is currently the head coach of Milan in Italy. He is expected to remain as the head coach next season, per the club’s GM.
But as a dark horse candidate, he is someone to consider. Messina is a four-time EuroLeague champion as a head coach and has experience in the NBA as an assistant coach for the Spurs and the Lakers.
Messina was a finalist for the job when the Raptors hired Nurse and reportedly made a “strong impression” on the organization. It came down to the wire between the two candidates.
