Raptors rumors: Jordi Fernandez a name to watch in coaching search

The Toronto Raptors’ head coaching search is moving at a glacial pace. Despite the fact they were eliminated far before the Milwaukee Bucks, the latter team has already interviewed a half-dozen candidates before deciding on former Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin.

Of the many names that have been linked to the Raptors’ vacancy in the last few months, one coach that seemed to have fallen out of the limelight following an initial wave of support is Jordi Fernandez. He spent the last season as the top assistant on Mike Brown’s Sacramento Kings staff.

Fernandez, who interviewed for the Suns’ job, not only has familiarity with Precious Achiuwa due to his stint as an assistant with the Nigerian national team, but he is coming from a system that produced one of the best offenses in league history last season. According to Marc Stein in his latest Substack (subscription required), the Raptors are keeping an eye on him.

Stein reported that the Sacramento associate head coach is a “name to watch” in the Raptors’ coaching search. While he would be a first-time coach, Fernandez’s success in Sacramento and elsewhere could give Toronto the confidence they need to give him this opportunity.

Jordi Fernandez could be hired by the Toronto Raptors.

Fernandez checks the player development background box that Toronto wants to satisfy, as he was the head coach of the G League Canton Charge, winning 62 games out of 100 in two seasons. Fernandez spent six seasons as an assistant under Mike Malone with the Denver Nuggets.

Based on his work with big men like Nikola Jokic and Domantas Sabonis, Fernandez clearly has a history of working with big men who are tremendous passers. That should be music to the ears of both Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes after the last few years of Nick Nurse’s half-court offense often limiting both of them.

If you’re looking for Xs and Os innovation, look no further than Fernandez. Not only does he have a clearly defined philosophy that often eschews the idea of positionless basketball, but he has also pursued a doctorate in sports psychology. Hiring a basketball therapist is one way to fix the vibes in the locker room.

Fernandez was a bit of an unknown, but so was Nurse before he won a championship in his first season with the team. If he can bring Brown’s Kings offense to Toronto, the team’s biggest stylistic issue from the past few seasons could almost be fixed overnight.