Dwane Casey, Toronto Raptors
The Raptors are going for it. They flipped a first rounder and Terrence Ross for Serge Ibaka and are now reportedly pursuing swingmen. With Kyle Lowry due for a max contract this summer and decisions to make in regards to Ibaka and Patrick Patterson, this is Toronto’s best chance to get past the Cleveland Cavaliers and Masai Ujiri knows it.
If they can pull off the miracle this May, then, obviously Casey’s job isn’t just safe but they may build a statue of him.
But if they don’t, things get dicey. It’s tough to blame Casey if Toronto loses to Cleveland, but at some point, something has to change unless the Raptors are content with being a permanent walkover. If they lose to a different team — the Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards or a first-round opponent, say, the Indiana Pacers — blame will fall firmly at Casey’s feet.
Toronto doesn’t just have the best point guard in the East, they spent $139,000,000 on DeMar DeRozan last summer, traded for Ibaka and handed out big money to Jonas Valanciunas and DeMarre Carroll in years past. They’ve built themselves up as the Cavs’ main rival in the East, but eventually they at least have to make Cleveland sweat in the playoffs.
After Toronto’s 5-11 run heading into the All-Star break, it’s tough to see them getting past the second round. Currently the No. 4 seed in the East, that’s when they’ll play the Cavs if things hold. Another noncompetitive series could spell doom for Casey.