announced on Saturday afternoon that the Toront꧟o Raptors have found their next head coach.
The franchise is reportedly finalizing a deal to hire current Memphis Grizzlies assistant Darko Rajakovic. The 44-year-old has served as an assistant on Taylor Jenkins’ staff since 2020. He previously served as an assistant in both Oklahoma City and Phoenix, as well.
The Raptors chose to move on from championship head coach Nick Nurse shortly after their season ended at the hands of the Chicago Bulls in the Play-In Tournament. Nurse is now headed to Philly as the 76ers’ new leading man.
The organization is now at a crossroads as it tries to decide what to do with a roster blended with old and new talent. Recent Toronto staples like Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. are set to hit free agency this summer, while names like OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam are entering the final year of their respective deals. Exactly what a first-time head coach hire in Rajakovic means for the trajectory of the roster is unclear, but it wouldn’t be shocking to see the Raptors take a small step back as they prioritize building around former ROY winner Scottie Barnes.
Anyway, the Toronto Raptors’ gig was the final domino to fall when it came to head coach openings this offseason. The Rockets, Bucks, 76ers, Suns, and Pistons all filled their vacancies in recent weeks.
