Toronto Raptors: 3 coaches who could replace Jama Mahlalela

The Toronto Raptors have suffered some huge losses on the coaching staff over the last few years. Nick Nurse has had to watch assistants like Nate Bjorkgren and Chris Finch leave Toronto’s sideline in order to take head coaching spots in Indiana and Minnesota, respectively, and they even lost Jama Mahlalela to a lateral move with the Golden State Warriors.

Steve Kerr completely overhauled his coaching staff, making former Nets head coach and Clippers assistant Kenny Atkinson a top assistant while also bringing in Mahlalela. Not only did The Athletic report that the move is in place, but NBC Sports is reporting that he is already on the job.

With six years as a professional assistant and two years as the head coach of the vaunted Raptors 905 G League team, Mahlalela is one of the main reasons Toronto’s development culture has been so excellent.

The Raptors will have a big decision to make when it comes to replacing him. Do they hire someone with G League experience that can attempt to replicate Mahlalela’s wizardry with young players, or do they hire a veteran assistant with decades of experience?

Toronto could go in several different directions in order to replace Mahlalela, but these 3 names stand out as candidates who could be at the very top of Nurse’s list.

These 3 coaches could replace Jama Mahlalela on the Toronto Raptors

3. Terry Stotts

Despite a roster that featured names like Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, Stotts was axed by the Trail Blazers after once again losing in the first round of the postseason. While his coaching stock is as low as it has been in years, his resume should give the Raptors confidence that he can add some quality schematic wrinkles on offense.

Stotts, who has made head-coaching stops in Atlanta and Milwaukee in the early part of the millennium, earned the Portland job due to his offensive adjustments during the Mavericks’ magic 2011 title run. You can say a lot of things about Stotts’ time in Portland, but you can’t say the offense was bad.

Terry Stotts has a solid resume, and he could help the Toronto Raptors

In nine years as head coach of the Blazers, Stotts’ teams ranked in the top ten in points per game seven times, including last year. While having Lillard undoubtedly helped, Stotts could be another respected voice in the room that can help a solid Raptors offense play with more pace and efficiency over the course of next season.

Stotts didn’t get the Pacers’ job after Rick Carlisle returned to Indiana, but that proves that he is so well-respected in league circles that he earned an interview right after he was fired. If he doesn’t end up landing on his feet as a head coach, Toronto should make him one of the more qualified assistants in the game.

2. Teresa Weatherspoon

Quite frankly, Weatherspoon’s resume and respect could qualify her for some head coaching opportunities. A Hall of Famer due to a tremendous WNBA career, the former Louisiana Tech head coach was one of the few bright spots on a Stan Van Gundy-led Pelicans team that missed out on the playoffs once again.

With New Orleans looking for a new head coach who could bring in a new armada of assistants they are familiar with, Toronto could stand to benefit from more Pelicans turnover. If she hits the market, the Raptors should be on the phone with her as soon as possible.

Teresa Weatherspoon would help the Toronto Raptors remain competitive.

If the Raptors are looking for someone who can help develop younger players, both emerging superstar Zion Williamson and rookie guard Kira Lewis have sung Weatherspoon’s praises. With years of experience and some strong references, Weatherspoon could be a quality addition.

I’d like to believe that we’re at a point in the NBA where Weatherspoon’s gender will have no impact on her ability to be perceived as a quality assistant. She is a darn good coach and motivator, plain and simple, and if Mahlalela is going to San Francisco, adding someone with her resume could help Toronto move on from him without missing a beat.

1. Nate Bjorkgren

Bjorkgren, like Stotts, was given his pink slip in Indiana, as his lone season with the Pacers didn’t go according to plan. While he did give the offense the shot in the arm they needed, the defense declined rapidly and the Pacers dropped out of the postseason. Meanwhile, Nate McMillan landed in Atlanta and helped the Hawks reach the conference finals.

Even with all of that, Bjorkgren could still end up back in Toronto, as Nurse could’ve potentially laid the groundwork for a return by making him an assistant on the Canadian national team during Olympic qualifying. If you’re a gambling fellow, this might be the most likely corresponding move.

Could Nate Bjorkgren rehabilitate his image with the Toronto Raptors?

Bjorkgren not only struggled on the court, but reports hinted at his inability to relate to Pacers players. He may have proved that he wasn’t quite ready for a head coaching gig, but could a return to his comfort zone in Toronto prove that his coaching acumen could help a team with aspirations of contending?

Bjorkgren clearly has Nurse’s respect, which is a very precious commodity. He’s proven to be a trusted voice for some quality Raptors sides, and the best way to pump his coaching stock back up could be trying to replicate his success in 2021 and beyond. Losing Mahlalela and adding Bjorkgren might not sound ideal, but it could pan out.