An unceremonious end to the 2022-2023 NBA campaign has Nick Nurse and the Toronto Raptors fully focused on the off-season. While a loss in the opening round of the play-in tournament still stings, the franchise can now devote all its attention to building a postseason contender.
While there is much work to be done on a solid, yet thin, roster, the Raptors’ most pressing decision revolves around their head coaching situation. Reports indicate that tension between Toronto and Nurse has festered to the point where the union between the two parties is in serious question.
As both sides enter a period of evaluation, rumors about alternative options will continue to swirl. However, despite the lingering frustration, Toronto would be wise to proceed with extreme caution.
As things currently stand, Nurse not only holds the distinction of best head coach in the franchise’s history, but he is also the best option to lead the Raptors in 2024 and beyond.
They’re 100% waiting for the Nick Nurse shoe to drop https://t.co/81N1XNmxwG
— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) April 18, 2023
Nick Nurse gives the Toronto Raptors a championship pedigree.
The biggest factor in Nurse’s favor is that he has already reached the highest pinnacle in the NBA. Even more impressive is the fact that his 2019 title run came as a member of the Raptors.
Before Nurse, 2018 NBA Coach of the Year Dwane Casey had a strong claim to the title of “best coach in Raptors history.” Yet, the team took a noticeable step forward when transitioning to Nurse. Will history repeat itself again this offseason? Likely not.
Championship pedigree is a rare feat in the NBA. Legends Gregg Popovich (5), Steve Kerr (4), and Erik Spoelstra (2) are the only active coaches with multiple titles. Otherwise, Doc Rivers, Rick Carlisle, Mike Budenholzer, and Tyronn Lue join Nurse as the only active individuals with championships as head coaches.
While there are a plethora of highly respected and accomplished coaches outside this list, the fact remains that only eight individuals have hoisted and Larry O’Brien trophy. Who can Toronto realistically target that gives them a clear advantage over Nurse?
Nick Nurse gives the Toronto Raptors a baggage-free reputation.
One of the most rumored candidates to replace Nurse is former Celtics coach Ime Udoka.
The Houston Rockets will interview Ime Udoka for the franchise’s head coaching job on Wednesday, sources tell @TheAthletic. Udoka was suspended by the Boston Celtics prior to the 2022-23 season for violations of team policies.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) April 18, 2023
On the one hand, Udoka had great success in his single season as an NBA head coach. After years of exceptional work as an assistant, the former NBA player led Boston to a 51-31 record and a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals.
On the other hand, Udoka was abruptly released from the organization after reports surfaced that he was involved in an affair with a female member of the Boston Celtics staff. While very few details were released, the heat on Udoka was so hot that a reported union with the Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving-led Brooklyn Nets was quickly squashed.
While the former Spurs assistant has an undeniably high on-court upside, the uncertainty surrounding his off-court situation has continued to keep him out of the league.
Is it in Toronto’s best interest to break the seal by becoming the first franchise to employ Udoka post-controversy? Considering the fact that they already have an established, successful option in Nurse, this is quite a risky choice.
While there is likely work that needs to be done to repair the relationship between Toronto and Nurse, past reports confirm that there is reason to believe the union can be salvaged. This notion appears to be gaining more steam with each passing day.
Even though Nurse was subpar at points last season, it may be in the Raptors’ best interest to take the first step in ensuring that Nurse is at the helm as the team pursues its next star player.