[octothorp]

IMO this is definitely an organizational failure. Not necessarily saying this is the wrong decision right now, but letting the relationships get to the point where they had to take this step is a failure... squandered one of the few advantages they had.

I agree with Ujiri that this wasn't a fun season of basketball to watch, and too many guys were playing selfish, and that bringing in Poeltl actually really helped with that to a certain extent (and then Nurse's weird comments blew up any gains that had been made during that time).

I'm really curious about where they go for coaching next. If it's Ime, I'm going to want some assurances from the organization that the worst rumours about what happened in Boston (him having an affair with a subordinate and then harassing her and making things uncomfortable for her after she broke it off) aren't true. Really though, after listening to the press conference and how he talks about organizational values and character and needing a coach who helps them get back to who they really are, that really doesn't sound like Ime. I think if they were already leaning to him, as some people have suggested, Masai would have talked more about the importance of scheme and Xs and Os in a new coach.

Still, either Ime or Vogel (who has had a lot of success with long, rangy defensive lineups kinda similar to the Raptors' current lineup), would suggest a focus on trying to win with the current group, while some other guys like Atkinson, Mutumbo, Stackhouse, or Mahalala would point toward a renewed focus on development; Adrian Griffin might be the balanced option. I think an underrated problem that the Raptors have had over the last few years is that they just lost so many good assistants... maybe that's personality, maybe that's the perception that Nurse was going to be here for the long haul so there was little chance of advancement.

Personally I really like the fit of Atkinson; I think the way Brooklyn played under him is really the style the Raptors currently need: more pace, more fun. Even though it worked out with Nurse, hiring first-time coaches is more risky than necessary, and I'm not sure any of the likely first-time candidates really have a high ceiling.