5 candidates to replace Dwane Casey Toronto Raptors coach

5 candidates to replace Dwane Casey as Toronto Raptors coach

TORONTO, ON - MAY 03: Head Coach Dwane Casey of the Toronto Raptors applauds in the second half of Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre on May 3, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

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With Dwane Casey gone, here are five candidates to be the next Toronto Raptors head coach.

The Toronto Raptors won 59 games this year, and a first-round playoff series. But a third straight playoff exit, as they ran into LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers again, put head coach Dwane Casey on the hot seat and brought speculation about personnel changes. On Friday morning, Casey was indeed fired.

So now Majai Ujiri, who inherited Casey, will set out to hire his first head coach as Raptors’ general manager. Finding the guy who will take the team through a postseason ceiling is an obvious requirement, or the decision to fire a potential dual Coach of the Year (peers and media) will look incredibly rash.

The Raptors have a very appealing situation. DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry are one of the NBA’s top backcourt tandems, and a solid group of players fills out the roster. Even if emerging from the Eastern Conference will be challenging going forward, Toronto will not lack for good candidates to replace Casey.

As the search commences, here are five candidates to be the next Raptors’ head coach.

5. Nick Nurse

Nurse is an internal candidate, as an assistant under Casey with the Raptors since 2013. He has surfaced as a candidate for other head coaching openings this year, including the Orlando Magic, and it’s considered a virtual certainty he’ll be an NBA head coach at some point.

Nurse has been a head coach in Europe and the D-League, and he’s only 50 years old (51 in July). He should get an interview for the Raptors’ job, as long as he’s not deemed too attached to Casey and the perception of his flaws. If nothing else, players may campaign for Nurse as Casey’s replacement.

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