Dwane Casey led the Toronto Raptors to the best regular season in franchise history. After bringing back the team's core, the Raptors introduced a revamped offensive strategy and unleashed the most lethal bench mob in the league. Toronto won 59 games and clinched the East's No. 1 seed.
Everyone knows what came next, though. LeBron James continued his dominance over the franchise. Cleveland swept Toronto in the second round, and the "LeBronto" and "Brontario" jokes haven't stopped since. The Cavs are suddenly thinking they could have a shot at the title, and the Raptors are left searching for answers.
Rumors have indicated Toronto may part ways with Casey, who has had tremendous regular-season success but hasn't been able to lead his squad past the Cavs. TSN reported the team is "strongly leaning" toward making a change.
According to a new report, however, Casey's peers hold him in high esteem. The New York Times reports that Casey has received the National Basketball Coaches Association's Coach of the Year award.
To be clear, this isn't NBA Coach of the Year—that honor will be handed out at the NBA Awards, which will air on TNT, June 25. Still, this is quite an honor for a guy whose name keeps popping up in he-could-be-fired conversations.
Asked Casey if he expects to be coaching the Raptors next season: "Nobody's told me any different and until they do I'm still here... Nobody's changed my key lock," said he hasn't gotten an assurances from Masai yet either.
Casey said he's met with Ujiri and, while he didn't get an assurances on his future with Toronto, they remain on the same page. Organization's goal is to find a way to translate reg. season success to playoffs. Still referring to Raptors as "we".
The Raptors have several highly sought-after assistant coaches—Nick Nurse and Rex Kalamian, as well as the team's G-League head coach, Jerry Stackhouse—so many have speculated Toronto could give Casey the boot and promote one of them. Nurse would likely be the favorite.
Cleveland awaits its opponent in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics and 76ers will square off in Game 5 in Boston Wednesday at 8 p.m. EST. Boston, which leads 3-1, would advance with a W.
