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

4. Jerry Stackhouse

Jerry Stackhouse is another intriguing in-house prospect in the search to replace Dwane Casey. Stackhouse is the current head coach of Toronto’s G League affiliate, the Raptors 905. In his two seasons in Mississauga, Stackhouse has led the 905 to a 70-30 record and two D/G League Finals appearances. His team won it all in 2017 over the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, but fell short in 2018 at the hands of the Austin Spurs.

Stackhouse was also an assistant under Casey during the 2015-16 season. Therefore, he has both head coaching experience and a connection with some of the Raptors’ current players, such as DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry and Jonas Valanciunas.

The downside, however, is that Stackhouse apparently has a more old-school approach to preparing his players. While it may push the team to give their all, Michael Grange of Sportsnet worries that this it would eventually cause tension between him and his players.

"“He’s a hard driver, runs long and demanding practices and there are concerns he and Lowry might not co-exist over time.”"

However, if Raptors president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri is willing to take that risk and hire him anyway, he may have to act quickly. Stackhouse has already interviewed with the New York Knicks, Orlando Magic and Charlotte Hornets for their coaching vacancies.

The Knicks job has since been filled by David Fizdale, and the Hornets job has gone to James Borrego. Still, Jerry Stackhouse is still a hot commodity on the coaching circuit and could be scooped up sooner rather than later.