The Toronto Raptors‘ exit meetings were filled with addressing the numerous holes in the organization, one that will have to re-assess the state of the franchise after a resounding 4-0 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, one year removed from a 4-2 loss to the same team in the Eastern Conference finals.
One of the main aspects in question is the impending future of 31-year-old point guard Kyle Lowry, who will opt out of his contract and has been vocal about making a championship ring his main objective in the offseason.
President/general manager Masai Ujiri said the team's intent was to bring the All-Star point guard back into the fold, but that it's not realistic to bring him, Serge Ibaka, P.J. Tucker, and Patrick Patterson back at once as all four are free agents.
“It's our jobs to do everything we can to get Kyle to come back… we want him back,” said Ujiri, according to TSN's Josh Lewenberg.
Ujiri also said the front office would have to evaluate everything again due to the last two postseason letdowns.
“There are things I question. I think our style of play is one of the things we're going to evaluate,” he said. “We've done it the same over and over again. Is it going to work? The one-on-one style we play… we have to question that.
“All I know is what we're doing has not worked and we have to evaluate that. I have to evaluate that”
Another bit in question is if head coach Dwane Casey will remain at the helm by the start of next season, or if the Raptors will choose to hire a different boss to make a cultural change in the team's approach to basketball.
Ujiri said he has the full backing of ownership to do as he sees fit, whether that is going over the luxury tax, rebuilding, or anything else, according to Lewenberg.
“It's easy to defend when you play one-on-one. It's predictable. We talked about it with coach… now it's time to really address it,” said Ujiri, which had an eerie tone regarding Casey's job safety. “I don't think it's a matter of changing players but how do we change the way we play, the way we approach the game?
“We're trying to be progressive thinkers here and not just pound, pound, pound on something that hasn't worked.”
Lewenberg said his gut feeling is a “60/40” in favor of a coaching change this offseason.
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