Sources have reported that the Toronto Raptors are set to appoint Memphis Grizzlies assistant Darko Rajakovic as their new head coach. After offering Rajakovic the job on Saturday, the two sides are believed to be finalizing a contract that is set to be completed soon.

Having arrived from his native Serbia in 2012 to serve as the G League head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Rajakovic later advanced to the Thunder’s bench before taking on assistant coaching roles with the Phoenix Suns and the Memphis Grizzlies. He then climbed the ranks to become the top assistant of Grizzlies’ head coach Taylor Jenkins.

It is believed that Rajakovic engaged in a grueling process of convincing Raptors president Masai Ujiri and general manager Bobby Webster why he is an appropriate hire for the head coaching role. According to the Raptors’ leadership, the team was in search of a versatile coach with the ability to mold a competitive team based on its existing roster of veterans while also nurturing young talent.

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ESPN’s analyst JJ Redick, who played for 15 seasons in NBA before retiring in 2021, is one of the candidates the Toronto Raptors are considering for their head coaching vacancy.

According to ESPN’s NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, Redick met with Raptors’ brass this week in Toronto. He is one of the dozen candidates that took part in the first round of interviews.

Toronto’s interest in Redick isn’t a surprise since he is respected in NBA circles for his basketball acumen and was courted by other teams for assistant positions in the past. However, the lack of coaching experience might work against him, considering that the Raptors are in win-now mode.

The Raptors fired head coach Nick Nurse following a disappointing 2022-23 campaign in which they missed out on the playoffs. The franchise reportedly initially wanted to replace him with former Boston Celtics’ head coach Ime Udoka, but he ended up accepting the job with the Houston Rockets.

JJ Redick played for six different NBA franchises during his career, including the Orlando Magic, the Los Angeles Clippers, and the Philadelphia 76ers. He averaged 12.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game over the course of his time in NBA while being considered one of the better three-point shooters in the league.

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The “Tampa Bay Raptors” are here to stay. At least until the 2020-21 NBA season wraps up.

The Raptors confirmed on Thursday that they would continue playing their home games in Tampa Bay’s Amalie Arena throughout the remainder of the current NBA season. According to the team’s announcement, the decision was made due to “ongoing border restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and mindful of public safety measures in Canada.”

The Raptors were forced to find a new home after it became evident that they wouldn’t be able to play their home games in Toronto and their Scotiabank Arena this season due to the coronavirus pandemic. Several cities were in play as their substitute home, including Kansas City, but the organization decided to settle in Tampa Bay.

So far, the switch has been tough on the Raptors as they had a rough start of the season. They have a 12-13 record and are currently tied for No. 5 in East with the Indiana Pacers.

“Home is where the heart is, and our hearts are in Toronto,” said Raptors president Masai Ujiri. “We think often of our fans, of our Scotiabank Arena family, and all those we are missing back home, and we can’t wait until we can all be together again.”

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Toronto Raptors are considering calling Tampa Bay their home for 2020/21 NBA season if Canada keeps travel restrictions due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

According to Tampa Bay Times‘ Eduardo A. Encina, Raptors already engaged in preliminary discussions with the city officials.

If they choose Tampa Bay, Raptors would be the first NBA or WNBA basketball team in the city. They would be playing in Amalie Arena, currently the home of reigning Stanley Cup champions Tampa Bay Lightning.

“Ideally, the Raptors are able to play their upcoming season in Toronto, but should that not be possible, we would have a strong interest in working to successfully meet and exceed their expectations as an alternative host,” said Tampa Bay Sports Commission’s executive director Rob Higgins about the possibility. “We’ve enjoyed our preliminary conversations with their organization and stand ready to assist if needed.”

It is important to note that the Raptors haven’t made up their mind yet and that they are considering several other options as well. Also, the team is hoping that the Canadian government might loosen its restrictions soon, enabling them to remain in Toronto. At the moment, Canada requires all “non-essential” visitors to quarantine for two weeks upon entering the country.

The new NBA season is scheduled to tip-off on December 22nd, while the teams are expected to enter training camp on December 1st.

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Toronto Raptors find themselves in a strange situation this offseason. Although they are reigning NBA champions, Raptors are poised to head down the rebuilding path after their best player Kawhi Leonard decided to leave in the free agency and join the LA Clippers. 

Raptors currently have several veteran players on their roster – mainly Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol, and Serge Ibaka – that can help them remain competitive and fight for the playoffs. But as all three are on expiring contract, the team was expected to move them and get some assets in return. However, Toronto won’t do this just yet.

TSN’s Josh Lewenberg recently reporter that Raptors “have no intentions” of moving their veteran players and will see if the group manages to remain competitive in the new NBA landscape.

“As for veterans Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka – who are all on expiring deals – the Raptors have no intention of moving them, at least not before the season, according to sources,” – writes Lewenberg. “Like he did with previous Raptors teams, team president Masai Ujiri will give this group an opportunity to sink or swim before choosing a path and deciding what comes next.”

One of the reasons why the Toronto Raptors might keep Lowry, Gasol, and Ibaka, is to give their fans a reason to come to arena on game nights. This group, combined with young stars like Pascal Siakam has potential to maybe even reach the second round in the playoffs and give the city of Toronto a bit more basketball excitement. Also, it would not be a good image for the Raptors if they end up in the lottery just one year after lifting the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.

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Sources have reported that the Toronto Raptors are set to appoint Memphis Grizzlies assistant Darko Rajakovic as their new head coach. After offering Rajakovic the job on Saturday, the two sides are believed to be finalizing a contract that is set to be completed soon.

Having arrived from his native Serbia in 2012 to serve as the G League head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Rajakovic later advanced to the Thunder’s bench before taking on assistant coaching roles with the Phoenix Suns and the Memphis Grizzlies. He then climbed the ranks to become the top assistant of Grizzlies’ head coach Taylor Jenkins.

It is believed that Rajakovic engaged in a grueling process of convincing Raptors president Masai Ujiri and general manager Bobby Webster why he is an appropriate hire for the head coaching role. According to the Raptors’ leadership, the team was in search of a versatile coach with the ability to mold a competitive team based on its existing roster of veterans while also nurturing young talent.

The post Raptors to Hire Darko Rajakovic as Head Coach appeared first on SportzBonanza.

ESPN’s analyst JJ Redick, who played for 15 seasons in NBA before retiring in 2021, is one of the candidates the Toronto Raptors are considering for their head coaching vacancy.

According to ESPN’s NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, Redick met with Raptors’ brass this week in Toronto. He is one of the dozen candidates that took part in the first round of interviews.

Toronto’s interest in Redick isn’t a surprise since he is respected in NBA circles for his basketball acumen and was courted by other teams for assistant positions in the past. However, the lack of coaching experience might work against him, considering that the Raptors are in win-now mode.

The Raptors fired head coach Nick Nurse following a disappointing 2022-23 campaign in which they missed out on the playoffs. The franchise reportedly initially wanted to replace him with former Boston Celtics’ head coach Ime Udoka, but he ended up accepting the job with the Houston Rockets.

JJ Redick played for six different NBA franchises during his career, including the Orlando Magic, the Los Angeles Clippers, and the Philadelphia 76ers. He averaged 12.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game over the course of his time in NBA while being considered one of the better three-point shooters in the league.

The post Raptors Interview ESPN’s JJ Redick for Head Coaching Job appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The “Tampa Bay Raptors” are here to stay. At least until the 2020-21 NBA season wraps up.

The Raptors confirmed on Thursday that they would continue playing their home games in Tampa Bay’s Amalie Arena throughout the remainder of the current NBA season. According to the team’s announcement, the decision was made due to “ongoing border restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and mindful of public safety measures in Canada.”

The Raptors were forced to find a new home after it became evident that they wouldn’t be able to play their home games in Toronto and their Scotiabank Arena this season due to the coronavirus pandemic. Several cities were in play as their substitute home, including Kansas City, but the organization decided to settle in Tampa Bay.

So far, the switch has been tough on the Raptors as they had a rough start of the season. They have a 12-13 record and are currently tied for No. 5 in East with the Indiana Pacers.

“Home is where the heart is, and our hearts are in Toronto,” said Raptors president Masai Ujiri. “We think often of our fans, of our Scotiabank Arena family, and all those we are missing back home, and we can’t wait until we can all be together again.”

The post Raptors Will Play in Tampa Bay for Remainder of 2020-21 NBA Season appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Toronto Raptors are considering calling Tampa Bay their home for 2020/21 NBA season if Canada keeps travel restrictions due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

According to Tampa Bay Times‘ Eduardo A. Encina, Raptors already engaged in preliminary discussions with the city officials.

If they choose Tampa Bay, Raptors would be the first NBA or WNBA basketball team in the city. They would be playing in Amalie Arena, currently the home of reigning Stanley Cup champions Tampa Bay Lightning.

“Ideally, the Raptors are able to play their upcoming season in Toronto, but should that not be possible, we would have a strong interest in working to successfully meet and exceed their expectations as an alternative host,” said Tampa Bay Sports Commission’s executive director Rob Higgins about the possibility. “We’ve enjoyed our preliminary conversations with their organization and stand ready to assist if needed.”

It is important to note that the Raptors haven’t made up their mind yet and that they are considering several other options as well. Also, the team is hoping that the Canadian government might loosen its restrictions soon, enabling them to remain in Toronto. At the moment, Canada requires all “non-essential” visitors to quarantine for two weeks upon entering the country.

The new NBA season is scheduled to tip-off on December 22nd, while the teams are expected to enter training camp on December 1st.

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Toronto Raptors find themselves in a strange situation this offseason. Although they are reigning NBA champions, Raptors are poised to head down the rebuilding path after their best player Kawhi Leonard decided to leave in the free agency and join the LA Clippers. 

Raptors currently have several veteran players on their roster – mainly Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol, and Serge Ibaka – that can help them remain competitive and fight for the playoffs. But as all three are on expiring contract, the team was expected to move them and get some assets in return. However, Toronto won’t do this just yet.

TSN’s Josh Lewenberg recently reporter that Raptors “have no intentions” of moving their veteran players and will see if the group manages to remain competitive in the new NBA landscape.

“As for veterans Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka – who are all on expiring deals – the Raptors have no intention of moving them, at least not before the season, according to sources,” – writes Lewenberg. “Like he did with previous Raptors teams, team president Masai Ujiri will give this group an opportunity to sink or swim before choosing a path and deciding what comes next.”

One of the reasons why the Toronto Raptors might keep Lowry, Gasol, and Ibaka, is to give their fans a reason to come to arena on game nights. This group, combined with young stars like Pascal Siakam has potential to maybe even reach the second round in the playoffs and give the city of Toronto a bit more basketball excitement. Also, it would not be a good image for the Raptors if they end up in the lottery just one year after lifting the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.

The post Raptors “Have No Intentions” to Move Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol or Serge Ibaka appeared first on SportzBonanza.