Ranking the 3 best options for Raptors coaching vacancy

2. Adrian Griffin

Adrian Griffin is another former NBA player and longtime assistant who has been waiting in the head coaching line for a minute. Spending time on the sidelines with Milwaukee, Chicago, Orlando, and Oklahoma City since 2008, Griffin joined the Raptors’ bench under Nick Nurse in 2018.

The root of the appeal here is obvious: Griffin knows the roster. He is generally thought to have the respect of Toronto’s players and, while last season was a disappointment, the Raptors have generally played above their means in the post-Kawhi era. Griffin has been there for the best iterations of this team.

Also, Griffin got to coach under Nurse. The Raptors fired Nurse for myriad reasons, but not because of his incompetence in the head coach’s chair. Nurse was known for his innovation and adaptability. He got quite a lot out of an imbalanced roster. Maybe the Raptors believe Griffin can maintain some of Nurse’s best tendencies while avoiding the off-court drama Nurse instigated in his final year with the team.

Griffin is the perfect blend of old and new. He has borne witness to what makes this Raptors team tick. He was also there for last season, when the vibes went south and Nurse lost his grip on the locker room. That could be valuable corporate knowledge for Griffin as he tries to turn the franchise back around.