5 Toronto Raptors who won’t be back next season after playoff exit

1. Nick Nurse

Nurse’s potential departure to the Houston Rockets appears to be a classic case of a head coach leaving one organization for a new challenge, perhaps one in which he has extra control over the day-to-day operations. However, the Chicago loss might open an avenue for dismissal on performance-based reasons.

Nurse’s lack of adjustment, willingness to completely grind his starters into the dirt, and willingness to openly discuss his potential departure contributed to Toronto ending the season in an absolutely disgusting fashion. Nurse’s team regressed in all areas, missing the playoffs for the first time in a non-Tampa season.

Will Nick Nurse leave the Toronto Raptors?

The Rockets had to feel a bit nervous watching Nurse choke against the Bulls. While he will still have a job in 2023 if he wants to coach, it’s fair to say that his coaching star has lost some luster. The Raptors haven’t reached the Conference Finals since 2019 with many of the same players.

Nurse will be the greatest coach in Raptors history until someone else can match his championship total, but that doesn’t mean that he gets a free pass irrespective of performance forever.