On Friday, the Toronto Raptors decided it was time to move on from Nick Nurse. To quote Boyz II Men, “It’s so hard to say goodbye to yesterday”, but this was clearly the right decision, as Nurse himself had publicly doubted his future with the team.
Nurse had an incredibly successful five-year stint as coach of the team, leading the Canadian franchise to their one and only NBA Championship in 2019, and winning Coach of the Year in 2010. His work with the Canadian National Team has further elevated his status as an elite coach, but now he’s looking for a new home.
What now for the Toronto Raptors, as they move on to a new stage in their organization?
Avoid The Play-In Tournament
The Play-In Tournament has been a ratings success, as the one-game drama has added some spice to the end of the regular season. However, this is a terrible place for franchises to be. Not only does it set you up to be first-round fodder for the top seeds in the playoffs, but it also ruins your chances of acquiring top picks in the NBA Draft Lottery.
Having a below-average or mediocre win total is the worst of all worlds. The Raptors need to decide whether to clean out the cupboard or try to acquire assets and move up the rankings for next season. Regardless of their choice of direction, one decision seems very obvious…
Move OG Anunoby
Rumors were hot and heavy that OG was going to get moved at the trade deadline, with multiple reports saying Toronto could have acquired three first-round picks for the small forward. While hindsight proves this would have been a wise move to do, it’s still stunning that the franchise held on, despite what would have been a tremendous return for the player.
If a similar offer comes up again this offseason, the team has to take advantage of this, as Anunoby’s value will never be higher than it currently is.
Find a Coach Who Carries the Culture
Finding the proper next coach is a pivotal move for the franchise. After coming off the most successful portion of their history ever, it’s crucial that this person carries that momentum and keeps Toronto as a franchise that can compete. Former interior candidates like Patrick Mutumbo (Phoenix Suns assistant) and former Raptors 905 Head Coach Jerry Stackhouse are natural selections, as they already know what lies in-house. Other outside candidates like Ime Umoka are also possibilities, but the former Boston Celtics coach’s off-court shenanigans could be a red flag and may not be the best fit.
President Masai Ujiri faces the most crucial off-season in the history of the franchise. Whether to move the team up or down in the standings is a tough decision, but staying ‘as-is’ is a worst-case scenario. These next few months will shape the course for several seasons, and The Raptors cannot afford to airball the summer.
