Three Positives For Raptors New Head Coach
Updated: Jun 14, 2023
Nick Nurse will forever be tied to the Toronto Raptors. In 2019, Nurse’s first year as head coach, he led the organization to its only NBA Championship. Less than a month later, finals MVP Kawhi Leonard signed with the Los Angeles Clippers, kickstarting a new era of Raptors basketball.
Since then, Toronto has had a 169-139 record and only one playoff series victory. On April 21st, Nick Nurse was relieved from his head coaching duties, opening the door for a new hire. While it’s unclear who will take over in Toronto — here are three positives to taking the job.
Three Reliable Core Players
If you’re building a basketball team, having Pascal Siakam, O.G. Anunoby, and Scottie Barnes as your three major players is a great place to start. Siakam is a two-time all-star and has led the league in minutes per game the last two seasons. His 24.2 points per game and 7.8 rebounds were a team-high during the 2022-23 campaign.
While the 29-year-old could become an unrestricted free agent at the end of next year, it’s hard to imagine Toronto not pushing hard to keep him despite recent trade rumors.
O.G. Anunoby is quietly one of the league’s best defensive players. His 1.9 steals per game were the best in the NBA. He also averaged 3.6 deflections per game, which is third-best. On the offensive end, Anunoby’s 16.8 points per game were the second-highest of his six-year career. While he’s also been the subject of recent trade rumors, a new coaching regime could see value keeping the London, U.K. native in town.
Lastly, Scottie Barnes. The former FSU star was stellar in the 2020-21 season, winning the Rookie of the Year Award. While there were few improvements this season regarding statistics, it’s reasonable to assume that Barnes will continue to grow into a more prominent role. He will earn just over $8 million this year on the third-year club option, which is salary cap friendly.
Championship Or Bust Mentality
A new incoming coach could be concerned about an organization’s willingness to field a team competitive enough to win. There’s no need to worry about that in Toronto.
It’s known that Raptors president Masai Ujiri is not afraid to take risks. He was willing to move long-time fan favorite DeMar DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard in pursuit of the NBA Championship.
In his end-of-season press conference last week, Ujiri voiced his displeasure with the Raptors’ recent performance. “I did not enjoy watching this team play,” he said. If he’s upset about the past season, could another significant move be on the way? The possibility of getting a superstar player could help in the coaching search.
Canada’s Support
When you think of Canada, specifically Toronto, you probably think of the Blue Jays or Maple Leafs. Sure, winning a championship has helped, but the city and country have developed a soft spot for basketball. So it’s hard to walk into a mall or community event and not see some Raptors merch.
The team’s 82 regular season games are broadcast nationwide for every Canadian. The team’s championship run in 2019 drew record-breaking broadcast numbers. Nick Nurse even stared in commercials. When you join the Raptors, the country welcomes you with open arms and will root for you through thick and thin. And if you’re able to win, as Nick Nurse did, you’ll forever be a part of the culture.
Final Thoughts
While moving on from a championship-winning head coach is never easy, it seems necessary for the Raptors. Their one playoff series win post-Kawhi Leonard and inconsistent play has left many fans wanting more. A new voice in the locker room could be shot in the arm the team needs as they try to navigate to a second Larry O’Brien Trophy.
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