Toronto Raptors: Where the Raptors stand in the 2020-21 NBA Awards race

Coach of the Year

Last season, the Raptors didn’t find the success they were hoping for in the bubble. Despite their incredible play throughout the regular season, things didn’t align the same way during the playoffs. The Raps were eliminated by the Boston Celtics, who had their Championship hopes dashed by the Miami Heat.

Luckily, the individual awards are based only on the regular season. That allowed Nurse to be named Coach of the Year. He was actually the second Raptors coach in three years to receive that recognition. Dwane Casey picked up the prize the same year he was fired at season’s end in 2017-18.

The winning coach will be handed the award because they were able to take their squad to the top or near the top of the league standings. That is why Jazz coach Quin Snyder and Phoenix Suns boss Monty Williams should both be favourites to win it this year.

Executive of the Year

There is no doubt that Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster have done incredible work in Toronto but this was not a way they were recognized for it. Ujiri has actually won the award before. He got it in 2012-13 while he was with the Denver Nuggets. The only Raptors executive to win it was Bryan Colangelo in 2006–07.

This year, there are a number of contenders, but with the Raps as low as they are in the standings, none of their executives will be rewarded.

Instead, look to Dennis Lindsey of the Jazz, James Jones from the Suns, Sean Marks of the Brooklyn Nets, Rob Pelinka from the Los Angeles Lakers, Travis Schlenk of the Atlanta Hawks, or even Sam Presti of the Oklahoma City Thunder to be named Executive of Year.

Although this doesn’t look like it will be the year for awards, with a young roster and cap space available in the offseason, perhaps next season will be more rewarding for the Raptors.