Raptors coaching search - Part 2

[LiSTWithLani]

Atkinson's teams were always a pain to play against even though they didn't have much talent. They could make up the talent gap by playing sound team ball w/ good effort. .

That's my impression as well. I think it's a pretty clear indication that he's a great fit for us.

[OAKLEY_2]

Have they interviewed Wayne Gretzky yet?

At least Gretz has championship DNA.

And Scari doesn't? C'mon. HF this forum.

[OAKLEY_2]

My source just told me Kenny Atkinson is a lock.

Ew, David...

Amazing that we interviewed two coaches more recently canned by the Nets. Badge of honour? I do believe Doug. Jordi is out and is prob Sergio with Darko the back-up. It is naive to think we get Spo 2 out of Jordi. We are in a transition period. We probably get 4 years out of Sergio and then go to next flavour savant coach. Jordi said there was nothing about Vegas he liked. Was there for the Kings and that was it. He won't be getting on any Drake planes in the future.

[dTox]

That Dough Smith article is hilarious.

He has no intel with Raptors. Says Jordi and Nash are out but goes out of his way multiple times to say they might be back in at some point if they change their mind on others.

Just quit old man, you’re embarrassing yourself. Wait for the press release like the rest of us.

Its terrible all through to the end. He doesn't even have much of a clue what the team will or should do. Let go of all three free agents? Lol.

If tradition holds true with Doug, then it means Jodi and Nash are in the lead?

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[Johnny Bball]

That Dough Smith article is hilarious.

He has no intel with Raptors. Says Jordi and Nash are out but goes out of his way multiple times to say they might be back in at some point if they change their mind on others.

Just quit old man, you’re embarrassing yourself. Wait for the press release like the rest of us.

Its terrible all through to the end. He doesn't even have much of a clue what the team will or should do. Let go of all three free agents? Lol.

If tradition holds true with Doug, then it means Jodi and Nash are in the lead?

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It would probably be someone he didn't even metion or know was interviewed.

[Dalek]

I did not know much about Kenny Atkinson other than he is a Morey ball kind of coach with a strong sense of analytics. But I caught his interview and he is so bright and full of life.

I could listen to him for hours talk about ball and how coaching staffs have evolved and what he has learned from Kerr and Draymond.

Watch on YouTube

[WuTang_CMB]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=0YpMScWXY2zRUqR8fH-usg

[ATLTimekeeper]

That Dough Smith article is hilarious.

He has no intel with Raptors. Says Jordi and Nash are out but goes out of his way multiple times to say they might be back in at some point if they change their mind on others.

Just quit old man, you’re embarrassing yourself. Wait for the press release like the rest of us.

I think the article has legit intel. If you follow this stuff long enough, you can tell who is writing stuff from outside the organization and who is essentially transcribing texts straight from the F.O. based on the tone. It used to be Michael Grange and Josh Lewenberg, but they've both been shut out lately and are stuck talking to nobodies.

This article defends the F.O.s drawn-out process and re-iterates what a lot of other media members have suspected, that Masai is deciding what to do and the coaching decision will align with that. It makes sense that Sergio wouldn't be a candidate if he was going to trade Siakam, let Poeltl walk and lose 55-60 games next year.

[LarSiN]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=0YpMScWXY2zRUqR8fH-usg

Exactly, he's interviewing via zoom

[WaltFrazier]

yeah I had Jordi #3. Looks like Darko and Sergio leading. Their resume's speak for themselves.

I’d be thrilled with Darko. Memphis is amazing at player development

LOL DOUGIE - anything he says is opposite world... So it mean Nash will be HC soon and Jordi will agree to be assistant

He even covered his bases on that, saying they might always circle back and hire one of the guys who are supposedly out as of now. Doug's article was so vague and speculative, pretty much useless

[WaltFrazier]

Some analyst put it best in that Toronto interviewing so many candidates means they get like 15 different scouting reports for the team, assuming they ask how coaches would play their team or construct the roster to benefit key players. It is all good intel to have.

It is weird that Scariolo's interview got moved to be a Skype call rather than in-person. They knew the playoff schedule for his team, so I think something must have come up because it seems like a less serious approach to him.

The rumors about Kenny Atkinson interviewing recently could be the reason but it seems strange that he wouldn't have been shortlisted earlier and that he hasn't been a definitive choice. I just think with Bob Myers gone, you could see Steve Kerr take his role and create an opening for KA to step in. Toronto's dithering is going to cost them options.

HC candidates or assistant coach options are drying up:

Sam Cassell went to Boston - would have been a great player development coach
James Borrego went to New Orleans - a really interesting young coach who could have been an option
Kevin Young - former HC candidate but he has now returned to Phoenix to be an assistant

There’s been talk of Kerr eventually taking over for Pop in San Antonio so I think Atkinson would be inclined to stay on in GS if that is the case.

That is really interesting. Steve Kerr in SA. Either way Kenny could have a lead on that HC position in GSW and I would think the situation is more attractive since he knows the org well by now.

I think Scariolo is the choice the playoffs are a seven game series and if it was a sweep June 16 would be the date their season finishes. If it goes 7 games then June 23 would be the latest.

To add to the list of guys off the assistant coach/Head coach option. The Phoenix Suns are hiring Jazz associate GM David Fizdale as an assistant coach. The longer this takes the weaker the options we have to fill out the bench.

Forget about the draft, but guys want to get their summer plans in order. Toronto into 5 weeks of this hunt and if not wrapping up this week, we might have more coaches lose interest.

Can we agree Toronto is just slow? Slow to respond to the trade market/deadline, slow to sign FAs unless their own, and slow to hire a coach. Are they a team suffered from paralysis by analysis?

Paralysis by analysis epitomized by the giant computer/video thing at OVO center

[MavCarter]

I honestly like kenny atkinson more than sergio but the longer this drags on the more i think its sergio. Im assuming the raptors have to wait until his season is over to negotiate some sort of buyout with his club before they can announce

[ArthurVandelay]

I’d be thrilled with Darko. Memphis is amazing at player development

LOL DOUGIE - anything he says is opposite world... So it mean Nash will be HC soon and Jordi will agree to be assistant

He even covered his bases on that, saying they might always circle back and hire one of the guys who are supposedly out as of now. Doug's article was so vague and speculative, pretty much useless

He covered all the bases and his @ss - twice!

[ATLTimekeeper]

Kenny and Sergio are win right now coaches. They're not going to tank it out. So, if the Raptors get the strong sense they can't afford FVV/Poeltl/Trent and don't want to pay Siakam, then it makes no sense to hire those two guys. In that case, they may open the competition back up to Nash and Fernandez. Those guys may still try to win, but they would have worse tools to work with.

[Kreamy]

I think all this talk about the type coach determining the direction of the team is overstated and silly. Hiring a coach is a long-term play. Masai could decide to blow up the team this summer or next summer. We're not going to hire a new coach everytime we change directions.

[BDE]

Kenny and Sergio are win right now coaches. They're not going to tank it out. So, if the Raptors get the strong sense they can't afford FVV/Poeltl/Trent and don't want to pay Siakam, then it makes no sense to hire those two guys. In that case, they may open the competition back up to Nash and Fernandez. Those guys may still try to win, but they would have worse tools to work with.

I dont see how keeping FVV and Siakam are Win-Now moves though.

If we trade Siakam for the 3rd pick - for example - and if Scoot is there, do we really take a step back? If we trade FVV for a 1st or future considerations , do we take a step back or forward with that?

We missed the playoffs with those two and Nurse's stubborn coaching. Making some changes in that regard shouldn't necessarily equate to taking a step back.

[Yeezus_]

I think all this talk about the type coach determining the direction of the team is overstated and silly. Hiring a coach is a long-term play. Masai could decide to blow up the team this summer or next summer. We're not going to hire a new coach everytime we change directions.

Exactly.

I also feel like it’s difficult to really hire a good coach, especially since all these coaches are in the top 1% already. It’s hard to find the best of the best and it takes time to evaluate.

[ATLTimekeeper]

Kenny and Sergio are win right now coaches. They're not going to tank it out. So, if the Raptors get the strong sense they can't afford FVV/Poeltl/Trent and don't want to pay Siakam, then it makes no sense to hire those two guys. In that case, they may open the competition back up to Nash and Fernandez. Those guys may still try to win, but they would have worse tools to work with.

I dont see how keeping FVV and Siakam are Win-Now moves though.

If we trade Siakam for the 3rd pick - for example - and if Scoot is there, do we really take a step back? If we trade FVV for a 1st or future considerations , do we take a step back or forward with that?

We missed the playoffs with those two and Nurse's stubborn coaching. Making some changes in that regard shouldn't necessarily equate to taking a step back.

Yes. Siakam and Fred are good NBA players. Scoot was a bad GLeague player. They were .500. They would be in the .300s with those moves and hope to turn it around 2-3 years from now. Sergio isn't coming over just to babysit and tell Scoot his airballs look good leaving his hand.

[WuTang_CMB]

Raptors are not tanking in any scenario ie. younger vs older coach, getting rid of fred.

Masai wants to develop and win (45-50 wins) at the same time just like the Casey years.

I'd guess there will be some early growing pains with Darko/Jordi vs Sergio/Atkinson just from pure experience

But I think we need to realize we aren't rebuilding but rather "re-tooling" while staying competitive. And then add more talent as we go. That's just how I'm viewing our situation (rightly or wrongly)

[Yeezus_]

Raptors are not tanking in any scenario ie. younger vs older coach, getting rid of fred.

Masai wants to develop and win (45-50 wins) at the same time just like the Casey years.

I'd guess there will be some early growing pains with Darko/Jordi vs Sergio/Atkinson just from pure experience

But I think we need to realize we aren't rebuilding but rather "re-tooling" while staying competitive. And then add more talent as we go. That's just how I'm viewing our situation (rightly or wrongly)

I don’t think they will tank either. Though if they decide to go ‘younger’ it will probably be trading Fred/Siakam and acquiring young talent with upside but still competing to win games. You can’t really tank if Barnes takes a step forward in year 3 either.