After a tough season in which they didn’t make the playoffs and Nurse was fired, the Toronto Raptors are looking for their next new head coach, know who has the best odds
Now, the Canadian franchise wants a change at the top right away, and there are several good options who should be considered.
Ime Udoka emerges as odds-on favorite for Toronto Raptors head coach position
Sportsbooks say that Ime Udoka, who used to be the bench boss for the Boston Celtics, is now the odds-on favourite to get the prized job. Fans and experts are also thinking about Raptors assistant coach Adrian Gryphon and former Los Angeles Lakers coach Frank Vogel as possible candidates.
Toronto Raptors next new head coach odds and favorites names
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Udoka was the favourite to win NBA Coach of the Year for the 2021-2022 season, but he was banned for life for having an unsuitable relationship with a female staff member. Later, the former NBA wing became a big name in the Brooklyn Nets’ search for a new coach, but a public outcry caused the team to change its mind and pick Jacque Vaughn instead.
Ime Udoka’s coaching record makes him top contender for Toronto Raptors
Even though he had been in trouble in the past, Udoka did a great job as a coach for the Celtics in his only year on the job. He led the team to a 51-31 record and a spot in the NBA Finals.
The league recognised his calm leadership and excellent play-calling by naming him NBA Coach of the Month in February and March, when the Celtics made a great second-half comeback after starting the season 18-21. Udoka is still a risky hire because of what he did a year ago, but it’s only a matter of time before a club gives him a second chance.
Adrian Griffin: Could the Toronto Raptors promote from within for next Head Coach?
Except for Nurse and Raptors president Masai Ujiri, there aren’t many people who know more about how the Raptors work than Adrian Gryphon. The former nine-year pro has been an assistant with the team since 2018. He was a big part of making the Raptors, a team that was once ignored, world champions. If Toronto wants to raise from within, he would be a good choice because he knows the team well and gets along well with the stars.
The Raptors will have to move quickly if they want Gryphon, though, because the 48-year-old has already set up talks with the Houston Rockets and the Detroit Pistons. Both teams are looking for a new head coach.
Former Lakers coach Frank Vogel also a strong contender for Toronto Raptors
Frank Vogel, who was fired by the Los Angeles Lakers at the end of the 2021–22 season, is another possibility for the Raptors’ head coach job. Vogel was fired just two years after he helped LA win its 17th championship, but it wasn’t all his fault.
Los Angeles was one of the teams in the league with the most injuries that year. Anthony Davis played in only 40 games, and LeBron James played in only 56. The bad decision to get Russell Westbrook hurt the team’s balance, and the fact that he couldn’t shoot well and didn’t want to change did in the team from the start.
Vogel is a recognised defensive tactician who spent six years with the Indiana Pacers and went 250-181 during that time. His experience and history of helping young players improve would be huge tools.
Toronto Raptors next coach odds
| Coach | Odds |
|---|---|
| Ime Udoka | -110 |
| Adrian Griffin | +300 |
| Frank Vogel | +600 |
| Kenny Atkinson | +600 |
| Steve Nash | +800 |
| Jerry Stackhouse | +800 |
| Sam Cassell | +800 |
| Charles Lee | +1,000 |
| Earl Watson | +1,000 |
Choosing the next Toronto Raptors head coach will be hard
As the Raptors start looking for a new head coach, the team’s management will have to carefully consider what’s good and bad about each prospect. Udoka is a risky move that could pay off big, while Gryphon has a lot of experience with the team and is loyal to it. Vogel has a good track record and a lot of knowledge in the league, but he may also bring some problems with him.
No matter who the Raptors pick, one thing is certain: the team needs a new start and a new direction. Fans and experts will both be paying close attention to see who takes charge and guides the team to a better future.