Fansided

5 candidates to replace Dwane Casey as Toronto Raptors coach

By Brad Berreman

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)
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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Mandatory Credit: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images /

2. Mike Budenholzer

Right on the heels of Casey’s firing Friday morning, Budenholzer surfaced as an early candidate for the Raptors’ job. Budenholzer and the Atlanta Hawks agreed to part ways late last month, after a 24-58 season and nearly a year after Budenholzer ceded his role as president of basketball operations.

The 2015 NBA Coach of the Year has been mentioned as a candidate for openings with the Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks and most recently he has been deemed a front runner for the Milwaukee Bucks’ job. As an Arizona native the Suns’ job may have appealled to Budenholzer, but an ongoing rebuild similar to what the Hawks are starting looked like a poor fit and they’ve hired Igor Kokoskov. The Knicks have hired David Fizdale, so that’s no longer an option for Budenholzer.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski has reported Budenholzer is expected to get a “close inspection” for the opening with the Raptors. Playoff appearances in each of his first four seasons as Atlanta’s coach, and a 60-win regular season as the Hawks lost in the 2015 Eastern Conference Finals, seems to point to a fit for both sides.

Swapping Casey for Budenholzer is at best a lateral move. But the early steam, and the days of supposed evaluation from Ujirii after a meeting with Casey, seems to point to knowledge from Toronto’s end they can get the guy they want. And that man might well be Budenholzer.

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