Raptors news: Nick Nurse linked to 76ers, 2 elite prospects eyed

The Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers might be in different stages of contention at this point, but they are both looking for new coaches. Nick Nurse was let go by Toronto for missing the playoffs, while Philly fired Doc Rivers after stalling out in the second round.

The 76ers’ initial list of candidates included names like Nurse, Monty Williams, and Mike Budenholzer. They are clearly valuing head coaches with multiple years of experience and past playoff success as they try to get Joel Emiid a championship ring very soon.

Mike Scotto of HoopsHype mentioned that Nurse is a name that “made sense” for Philadelphia to include. Nurse’s connections to the front office might be what helps him land a second head-coaching gig in the Atlantic division.

Nurse, who made his bones as a G League coach before his tenure with Toronto, was hired by Daryl Morey once during his Rockets reign as head coach of the G League Rio Grande Valley Vipers. Coaching Embiid is different than a gaggle of Rockets prospects, but Morey clearly has respect for Nurse’s resume. Will he end up in Philly by the end of the coaching hiring cycle?

More Raptors news

• Point guard Jeff Dowtin underwent surgery to remove some loose bodies in his ankle. He is expected to be in a walking boot for the next few weeks, but this doesn’t seem to be an injury that will last until the beginning of next season. He could return to the Raptors relatively soon.
• The Raptors have already gotten a start on some of their pre-draft interviews, interviewing an experienced big man who could be picked at the end of the first round and a potential Top 10 pick. The former is Indiana big man Trayce Jackson-Davis, while the latter is Arkansas switchblade Anthony Black. Could they come up north?

NBA news

• The Miami Heat continued their miraculous run through the postseason, taking an early 1-0 lead in their series against the Boston Celtics by winning Game 1 on the road. Jimmy Butler continued to prove he is one of the most clutch performers the league has to offer by taking over late.
• According to Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report, James Harden, who is 33 years old and fresh off choking once again in the second round of the postseason, is going to opt out of the final year of his contract with the Philadelphia 76ers with his eyes on securing an eye-watering four-year contract.