After a postseason letdown in the second round of their postseason run, Toronto Raptors head coach Dwane Casey has been assured he will resume his coaching duties next season.
This comes only weeks after president Masai Ujiri stated the front office would look at changes all around the roster and “evaluate” many aspects of the team.
“Yes… I think people mistook Masai's comments,” Casey said on TSN 1050's “Naylor & Landsberg” show in regard to comments Ujiri made about an organizational culture change. “We had a good meeting, and we've had meetings since then.”
The Raptors have indeed tried that ISO-driven offense for several years now, and even with career-best seasons by the backcourt tandem of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, the team has failed to get through the East's elite.
“I think people panicked. It was after an emotional series against Cleveland,” Casey said. “We're doing some good things, and things we could do much better with, and that's what we plan on doing this summer and also in the fall when we go to training camp.”
Toronto now has to ponder the possibility of signing Lowry back to the team or letting him go in favor of shaping a different team next season.
The 31-year-old point guard is bound to draw plenty of interest from teams, even more so now that he's stated he will look for the best place to win a championship.
Casey's job was immediately in question, despite him making multiple changes in both series, attempting to change the performance of his team. While it proved a brilliant move in the first round, there was nothing the man at the helm could do to prevent a Cleveland assault with Lowry sidelined with an injury.
Regardless of failing to make the Eastern Conference Finals, Casey still wants Lowry back and has said all the right things if he hopes for his return next season.
“He's earned the right to become an unrestricted free agent,” Casey said. “He has a decision to make. Kyle loves Toronto, he loves the city. He's got a huge decision to make for him and his family.”
Follow Us
Subscribe