Toronto Raptors: 5 candidates to replace Dwane Casey as head coach

The Toronto Raptors have fired Dwane Casey, despite him being the franchise’s winningest head coach. Here are five potential replacements.

By all indications, 2017-18 was a banner season for the Toronto Raptors. They finished the year with a franchise-record 59 wins, clinching the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs for the first time in team history.

Things were going according to plan when No. 1 Toronto eliminated the No. 8 Washington Wizards 4-2 in the first round. However, the magical run was cut short when LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers swept the Raps 4-0 in the conference semifinals. Toronto lost the deciding Game 4 by 35 points.

After such an unsatisfying result, the Raptors front office felt it was time to move in another direction. On May 11, head coach Dwane Casey was relieved of his duties.

Casey’s ousting is surprising in a number of ways. The National Basketball Coaches Association unanimously named him Coach of the Year two days prior. Casey also leaves the position as the winningest coach in franchise history with a 320-238 record.

However, according to Michael Grange of Sportsnet in Canada, losing to the Cavs for the third consecutive postseason — looking sluggish and unprepared at times in the process — proved to be the breaking point. The Raptors are 2-12 against Cleveland over that span and losers of their last 10 playoff meetings.

So who are some potential candidates that could be roaming the sidelines of The North next? Will the Raptors bring in another experienced coach or hire from within?