Raptors news: Sergio Scariolo favorite for Raps job, Nick Nurse, Steve Nash

The Toronto Raptors have seen the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers hire two of their former coaches in Adrian Griffin and Nick Nurse, respectively. Their own coaching search features names like Sergio Scariolo, Jordi Fernandez, and Steve Nash, yet minimal progress has been made.

If the Raptors want to make an internal hire, their best option in Griffin has been taken off the board. Scariolo, who spent last season in Italy with Virtus Bologna, might be the best facsimile of an internal promotion the Raptors could make. The odds seem to be bullish on him being hired.

According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Scariolo was listed at +500 to become the next head coach, making him the favorite. After flying a contingent out to Italy for the express purpose of interviewing him, it seems to suggest they have a high degree of interest in hiring him.

Steve Nash was a firm second-place finisher at +550, with Monty Williams poking around at +650. Names like Fernandez, Kenny Atkinson, and Chris Quinn are among the miasma of coaches behind them. We may finally start to see some sort of stratification among the candidates relatively soon.

More Raptors news

• According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, part of the reason that Nurse chose to go to the 76ers instead of the Bucks or Phoenix Suns was his desire to coach MVP center Joel Embiid and his past history with Daryl Morey. Morey and Nurse had worked together during their days with Houston when Nurse coached their G League franchise.
• Doug Smith of the Toronto Star penned a very supportive column of Steve Nash, saying that he could do much better in his second chance as a head coach. Smith., like many Nash stans, said that the situation in Brooklyn was so toxic and messy that it was impossible for him to coach properly and instill the values he wanted in his team.

NBA news

• The Miami Heat took down the Boston Celtics 104-83 in a Game 7 victory that vaulted them into the NBA Finals against the Denver Nuggets. Caleb Martin came alive, while Jaylen Brown turned the ball over eight times and Jayson Tatum never recovered from an early ankle twist.
• Martin narrowly lost the Eastern Conference Finals MVP Award to teammate Jimmy Butler, who was the team’s primary offensive initiator with Tyler Herro on the mend. Former Raptor Kyle Lowry will also get a chance to add a second championship ring to his growing collection of jewelry.