There have been some rumblings in recent days that Dwane Casey could be fired this offseason, and his peers apparently feel the Toronto Raptors would be parting ways with one of the best coaches in the league if they chose to go that route.
Marc Stein of the New York Times reports that Casey has been voted the National Basketball Coaches Association’s Coach of the Year, which is separate from the NBA’s version of the award. The NBCA introduced its own Coach of the Year Award last year, and the winner is decided by the league’s 30 head coaches. The NBA’s Coach of the Year Award is decided upon by members of the media.
Casey led the Raptors to their best season in franchise history this year with 59 wins, though it ended in disappointing fashion when they were swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semis. Despite the success and respect from his fellow coaches, there have been reports that the Raptors are leaning toward making a coaching change.
One of the reasons Casey could find himself on the chopping block is that he does not seem to be getting along with DeMar DeRozan, who is Toronto’s best player. DeRozan was benched for the final 14 minutes of Game 3 after he struggled mightily against Cleveland, and Shaq and Charles Barkley had a heated argument over it on Tuesday that turned personal.
If Casey is fired by the Raptors, he won’t be on the unemployment line for very long.
