Multiple reports on Tuesday indicated that the Raptors are believed to be leaning toward making a coaching change and replacing Dwane Casey. If that’s the case though, team president Masai Ujiri didn’t tip his hand when he spoke to the media today, telling reporters that Toronto’s evaluation process is ongoing — not just for Casey, but for all aspects of the organization.
As for Casey himself, he still spoke of the Raptors as “we” during the press conference, and sounded like someone ready to move forward with the club, joking that the team hadn’t changed the locks on him within the last couple days.
While we wait to see whether the Raptors decide to move on from Casey, let’s round up a few more notes out of Toronto, including more items from today’s presser:
- Asked about the possibility of blowing up the roster and tanking, Ujiri dismissed that idea, per Ryan Wolstat of The Toronto Sun (Twitter link). “We’re not doing that (tanking) here,” Ujiri said, adding that the plan is to continue trying to contend while simultaneously identifying and developing young talent.
- Ujiri also said that it’s his job to find ways to improve the Raptors’ roster despite the club’s cap limitations, tweets Wolstat. “Put it on me. We’ll get better here,” Ujiri said.
- The Raptors’ decision to sign Norman Powell to a four-year, $41MM+ extension last offseason looks questionable, given that Powell wasn’t a real part of the team’s rotation down the stretch. However, Ujiri remains optimistic, pointing out that every NBA team is looking for wings, and the Raps still believe Powell can be that sort of two-way player (Twitter link via Eric Koreen of The Athletic).
- Fred VanVleet, a restricted free agent this summer, says winning will be his top priority as he considers his next deal, but he sounds interested in staying in Toronto (Twitter link via Wolstat). “I love it here,” VanVleet said. “This is the place that gave me a chance, gave me the opportunity. I’m a loyal guy.” As Blake Murphy of Raptors Republic tweets, VanVleet will see a specialist and spend time this summer reworking his shooting form after suffering a shoulder injury last month.
- A panel of ESPN writers offer up four potential trade ideas involving DeMar DeRozan in the event that the Raptors look to drastically reshape their roster.
The Raptors and Nic Batum had serious mutual interest when he was a FA a few years back. Maybe a Batum for Valanciunas and Powell deal?
How about Wiggins to Toronto for DeRozan? He could play the 2 and 3. DeRozan is not a superstar, he needs to go play somewhere with a guy like Butler and Towns to make a trio that could work better together.
Trade DeRozan for a worse version of DeRozan on a worse deal
He’s only 23 and hasn’t peaked. How much better will DeRozan get? At least with Wiggins you can expect improved play due to a new system and change of scenery and he will be improved next season.
I don’t think minny would do that deal.
I think Minnesota would. not sure the raps would
How do you know Wiggins will improve his play next season? This is just nonsense.
Allows Wiggins to be the man, and allows DMDR to play the role more suited to him – 2nd/3rd string. Although, Butler plays the same role/game, so Minny might not work.
Your 2nd or 3rd fiddle cant make 28M
Wiggins is also from Canada…
seems to me firing casey would be mistake .. you have to look at the fact that lowry disappears in the big games he was a total non factor … and it doesn’t seem derozan has the goods to make clutch plays ..I would like to see the raptors keep casey as coach and trade lowry .. just off the top of my head maybe send him to the cavs for hood,clarkson and korver.. sign rondo to give you some grit maybe.
the raps problem is they need a baller. they have too much finesse and while that can work in the regular season, in the playoffs, teams focus on taking away a player or two. what the raps needed was a biyombo
They could have Biyombo for the asking
they still got their butts handed to them when they had biyombo .. you are ever going to go far with lowry as the main piece which is they the rox traded him to TOR in the first place.