Pros and cons of Raptors pursuing Mike Budenholzer as coach

The Toronto Raptors are still looking for someone who can come in and replace Nick Nurse as the team’s next head coach. The Milwaukee Bucks have followed Masai Ujiri’s lead, as their poor postseason performance precipitated the firing of longtime head coach Mike Budenholzer.

Budenholzer was fired by the Bucks after the No. 1 seed fell in embarrassing fashion to the No. 8 seed Miami Heat. Despite the fact that Nurse and Budenholzer won championships in a three-year span, both of them are currently looking for gainful employment in the NBA.

Budenholzer, who shouldn’t be admonished too harshly for his performance in the first round due to the fact he had a personal tragedy in the middle of the series, will likely not have to wait long for his next job, as coaches that have a championship ring and a two-time MVP winner as a pupil don’t walk down the street every day.

The Raptors need to weigh all of the potential benefits and issues that could come with making Budenholzer the next leader of the squad, as he is coming off one of his most disappointing seasons. Will swapping Nurse for Coach Bud be enough to get the Raptors back into that elite tiet?

Pros and Cons of Toronto Raptors hiring Mike Budenholzer.

Pros

Budenholzer, like Nurse, won a championship in the last five years. Giannis Antetokounmpo obviously had a ton to do with that, but you don’t coach a team to a championship while being a complete dullard on the sidelines. Milwaukee’s offense helped carry them to a ring, which could get the Raptors interested.

Budenholzer helped turn Giannis into a game-changing star, Khris Middleton into a consistent All-Star, Brook Lopez into a Defensive Player of the Year contender, and Grayson Allen turn into a viable bench piece. That will likely get Ujiri as interested in him as his win-loss record.

Mike Budenholzer brings scoring, development to the Toronto Raptors.

The Budenholzer coaching tree includes high-end coaches like Quin Snyder and up-and-comers like Darvin Ham and Taylor Jenkins. Why bother adding top assistant and Budenholzer disciple Charles Lee when the real deal is now free to come up north to Toronto?

He didn’t end his career on the best note, and his playoff record is what it is, but bringing in someone with a lengthy resume for a situation that requires winning immediately would be better than bringing in a no-name assistant that needs to learn how to be a head coach on the job.