Toronto Raptors Next Coach Odds: Adrian Griffin Emerges as Favorite
The Nick Nurse era has ended in Toronto, not with a bang, but a whimper.
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The Toronto Raptors unceremoniously fired the former NBA Coach of the Year on Friday, April 21 after a season in which the team sputtered badly and ultimately missed the playoffs. It’s quite a fall from grace for the well-regarded Nurse, who was deemed a national hero by many after leading Toronto to its first NBA title in 2019.
Team statement. pic.twitter.com/5nV9Jlts39 — (((Eric Koreen))) (@ekoreen) April 21, 2023
Sportsbooks are now posting Toronto Raptors next coach odds as the Canadian franchise seeks an immediate change at the top. Current Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin has emerged as the slight favorite to land the coveted position, but there are plenty of other deserving candidates who merit consideration.
Let’s take a look at the latest odds and examine the biggest names on the board.
Toronto Raptors next coach odds
Toronto Raptors next coach favorites
Adrian Griffin (+250)
With the exception of team president Masai Ujiri, few people have a better feel for the Raptors’ organization than Adrian Griffin. The former nine-year pro has been an assistant with the franchise since 2018 and played a critical role in transforming the once overlooked Raps into world champs. His institutional knowledge and solid relationship with the team’s stars make him an appealing choice if Toronto wants to promote from within.
The Raptors will have to act fast if they’re truly serious about Griffin, however, as the 48-year-old has also lined up an interview with the Detroit Pistons and was briefly targeted by the Houston Rockets before they chose to jumpstart their rebuild with Ime Udoka.
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Kenny Atkinson (+380)
Type “coaching vacancy” into Google and you’ll find dozens of articles touting the virtues of Kenny Atkinson, whom many consider to be one the sharpest minds in the biz. The Huntington, New York native began his career as an assistant with the Knicks and Hawks before becoming the main bench boss with the Nets from 2016-20. The franchise was an unmitigated mess at the time of his hiring, but Atkinson whipped the Nets into shape and guided them to a 14-game improvement and a playoff berth in 2019.
Atkinson has spent the past two seasons with the Warriors and was a critical part of the brain trust that helped Golden State raise its fourth title banner since 2015. The question isn’t if he’ll become a head coach again, but when.
Sam Cassell (+800)
Sam Cassell has come a long way from celebrating baskets with his patented “big balls” dance. The former All-Star point guard has learned to put his ego and brashness aside and has matured into a respected assistant following lengthy stops with the Wizards, Clippers, and 76ers.
The 53-year-old Cassell has a well-earned reputation as a player’s coach and is a proven winner who captured three titles during his 15-year career.
Frank Vogel (+800)
Nurse isn’t the only coach who knows what it feels like to get canned soon after leading a team to the promised land. Frank Vogel was fired by the Los Angeles Lakers at the end of the 2021-22 season, just two years removed from helping LA earn it’s 17th banner.
Granted, the Lakers did stumble to a miserable 33-49 record during his final year on the sidelines, but the end result was hardly Vogel’s fault entirely. Los Angeles was among the most banged-up squads in the league that year, with Anthony Davis logging just 40 games and LeBron James appearing in only 56. The team’s spacing was also severely hampered by the ill-advised acquisition of Russell Westbrook, whose poor shooting and unwillingness to adapt doomed the team from the beginning.
Aside from that obvious blemish on his resume, Vogel is a respected defensive tactician who posted a 250-181 record during his six seasons with the Indiana Pacers. His experience and track record for developing young players would be tremendous assets.
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