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NBA Rumors: 5 coaches to replace Dwane Casey in Toronto

By John Buhler

Apr 10, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Toronto Raptors head coach Dwane Casey looks on against the New York Knicks during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 10, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Toronto Raptors head coach Dwane Casey looks on against the New York Knicks during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec. 26, 2011; Phoenix, AZ, USA; New Orleans Hornets guard Eric Gordon (left) talks with assistant coach James Borrego during game against the Phoenix Suns at the US Airways Center. The Hornets defeated the Suns 85-84. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Dec. 26, 2011; Phoenix, AZ, USA; New Orleans Hornets guard Eric Gordon (left) talks with assistant coach James Borrego during game against the Phoenix Suns at the US Airways Center. The Hornets defeated the Suns 85-84. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

. Assistant Coach. San Antonio Spurs. James Borrego. 4. player. 29

James Borrego might be the next great branch stemming from the Gregg Popovich coaching tree with the San Antonio Spurs. That tree has been most fruitful over the last few years with Mike Budenholzer and Brett Brown as a few of the marquee names coming from that elite basketball culture in San Antonio.

While he technically hasn’t been a full-time NBA head coach yet, Borrego did serve as the Orlando Magic’s interim head coach in 2014-15 after the organization parted ways with head coach Jacque Vaughn mid-season. With Scott Skiles leaving the organization less than a year after initially being hired, maybe the Magic could have stuck it out with Borrego for at least one more year?

The former collegiate point guard was a finalist for the Memphis Grizzlies job that went to former Miami Heat top assistant David Fizdale. Even though his 2014-15 Magic team lost well over 50 games, there was a competitiveness with that rebuilding team that had many NBA general managers thinking that Borrego would become a strong NBA head coach one day.

Returning to San Antonio in 2015-16 was a wise career move for Borrego to grow, learn, and recover under Popovich. Coming from a strong culture of winning and reloading would be beneficial for a Raptors team that may have to make several key roster adjustments to hang tough with the likes of the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Boston Celtics, the Atlanta Hawks, and the Heat in the East entering 2016-17.

Borrego is ready for another opportunity to lead an NBA team. It may not come with the 2016-17 Raptors, but it wouldn’t be the worst hire for the organization to make if a new deal isn’t reached between Ujiri and Casey in the coming days.

Next: 3. Kevin McHale

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