The Toronto Raptors had an abrupt ending to their very successful season. They won the Atlantic division (again), they hit a franchise record 49 wins, and beat a bunch of other statistical records for the franchise throughout their 82 game season. Their last 4 games, weren’t so memorable.
Dwane Casey and his players, lost 4 straight games to the Washington Wizards in a first round sweep. The Raptors didn’t look like themselves defensively, offensively, and their star players in Lowry, DeRozan and Lou Williams choked, and in those situations, we all know who the blame goes to, the coach. Dwane Casey has done a great job as a coach so far, essentially turning this team from a constant lottery team to a some what good NBA team. That doesn’t go to say that he doesn’t have any faults. He’s been known to be stagnant offensively, and defensively be too predictable.
Despite rumors that he may have been in the hot seat for the Raptors going into his 4th season with them, those rumors were erased earlier today, when we were told he would return as Raptors coach. Mitch Lawrence of NBC New York:
#Raptors‘ Dwane Casey no longer on hot seat. Per league sources, he’s returning to Toronto for next season, probably with new assistants.
— Mitch Lawrence (@Mitch_Lawrence)
So if Dwane Casey is okay, and all they are getting is new assistants, what is the next big change for the Raptors? GM Masai Ujiri will have to look through his roster and look for what’s missing. Can Toronto finally get their hands on a big name free agent, or will Masai have to find another crafty trade? Lots of questions stand for the Raptors heading into the next season. Except Drake, we know he’s going to be there.
