HoopsHype.com Rumors

Gary Washburn: The #Raptors have asked for permission to speak with #celtics asst. Tyronn Lue for position on Dwane Casey's staff, according to Danny Ainge Twitter @GwashNBAGlobe

Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, Danny Ainge, Coaching, Dwane Casey, Tyronn Lue 

Ryan Wolstat: For those on edge of seat re: Raptors/Colangelo, don't be. As has been case from start, decision expected soon, but not immediately. Twitter @WolstatSun

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey 

Before Leiweke's hiring Friday, sources told ESPN that the Raptors were strongly considering retaining Casey and Colangelo. There's no question his presence throws their futures into immediate doubt. ESPN.com

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey, Bryan Colangelo 

However, sources say there has been no appetite at the MLSE board level to replace either Colangelo or Casey. Instead, it appears the franchise will continue to attempt to force round pegs into square holes and hope for the best. Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Dwane Casey, Bryan Colangelo 

But Casey did admit he might have handled things better. “One thing I was guilty of with Kyle is — and I probably hindered him a little bit — was making sure he got the ball to DeMar (DeRozan) first, then to Jonas rolling to the basket because we have all those weapons. “Where Kyle’s strength and his gift is, is attacking the rim, attacking the basket. He stubbornness and his toughness is also a gift.” Toronto Star

Toronto Raptors, Dwane Casey, Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan 

Coming off a 34-48 season that was ruined by a 4-19 start and make marginally tenable but a strong finish, Colangelo offered an impassioned defence of coach Dwane Casey. “I can absolutely tell you that coach Casey and I get along in a way that most coaches and management people do: We challenge each other.” Toronto Star

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey, Bryan Colangelo 

And with Casey also entering a final, guaranteed year of a three-year deal, until something is said with finality, questions will abound. “I’m anticipating that will be resolved in the next two or three weeks,” Colangelo said of his future. “If I am back, there is no question who the coach will be. Dwane Casey is the coach.” Toronto Star

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey, Bryan Colangelo 

Eric Smith: Colangelo says if he's back there is no question who the coach will be: Dwane Casey. Adds reports of him & casey not getting along are bogus Twitter @Eric__Smith

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey 

A league source says no coaching change is expected in Toronto, where Dwane Casey already has had his option for next season picked up. There's no word yet on an impending decision by the Raptors' ownership board on whether to pick up president Bryan Colangelo's option for next season. Colangelo and Casey have clashed stylistically at times, and there has been persistent speculation that they'd have difficulty working together again. CBSSports.com

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey 

Dwane Casey knows change is inevitable from one season to the next in the NBA. It’s just part of the game. But there is one change Casey hopes doesn’t come to pass. “I want Bryan back,” Casey said of Raptors president and GM Bryan Colangelo who does not have a contract past July. “Bryan hired me here. I don’t want to go into another year with a new general manager. Change is part of the NBA but I’d much rather have Bryan back, a guy I’ve worked with and been with. We know each other and I know he knows what we’re looking for, what we’re trying to do.” Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey, Bryan Colangelo 

Bryan Colangelo categorically denies he made any attempt to fire coach Dwane Casey during the NBA season. In a text message response to columnist Steve Simmons, who reported in Wednesday’s Toronto Sun that Colangelo had tried to oust Casey during the season, the Raptors general manager wrote: “Your speculation about me trying to fire DC this year is absolutely false. Your ‘insiders’ are not accurate.” Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey, Bryan Colangelo 

There is no question the coach and the GM haven’t been in complete agreement on all fronts this season, but that can be said for every other coach/GM relationship in the league as well. The two have been together for two seasons and Casey, who has a year remaining on his own deal, would like to see it get to three. “He’s done a good job of taking big steps, of getting assets and pieces of a core together. I’d like to finish it out, and I’d like to do it with Bryan.” Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey, Bryan Colangelo 

There are those in and around the organization convinced that a Colangelo return would mean the end of Casey’s tenure in Toronto regardless of the remaining year on his deal. Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey, Bryan Colangelo 

Of course, these are the same people who are convinced the two men stopped talking to one another midway through the season. On that front, we can unequivocally state they are wrong. While the vast majority of whatever meetings the two men conducted over the course of the year have come behind closed doors, there have been at least three times in the past two weeks when the doors to the gym opened at the conclusion of practice and the GM and coach were locked in conversation. Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey, Bryan Colangelo 

When the analytics team is sharing their opinion and the coaching staff is saying the opposite in the following paragraph in Lowe’s piece, that’s a less-than-optimal situation for a franchise that is in the middle of a five-year playoff drought. Raptors president and general manager Bryan Colangelo was quick to deny any rift between the two sides. “There is absolutely no rift between the front office and coaches concerning the use of analytics,” he answered via email. “If anything, it’s more about coaches and management (the basketball guys) challenging the analytics team (the numbers guys) on the premise that you disregard or abandon pure and simple basketball ideology. Healthy debate is surely part of the process, but we are all learning and evolving in this very interesting space.” SportsNet

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey, Bryan Colangelo 

Colangelo wasn’t the only one deflecting attention from the differing opinions among coaching staff and the analytics team. “You have friction between yourself and players, yourself and your own coaching staff,” coach Dwane Casey told the media on Tuesday afternoon. “I think the challenge — I don’t say friction — I think the challenge is using it in the right way where it’s not the only piece, the only tool that you use. There are many tools you use to prepare your team to play. There’s not friction. There’s one piece. “Everybody wants to get their point across. Analytical people want to say, ‘This is the tool to use.’ Scouts want to say, ‘My tool is important.’ At the end of the day, the bottom line is, whether it’s (through) personnel or analytics, is winning.” SportsNet

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey, Bryan Colangelo 

Dwane Casey, Toronto's head coach: "It's a good backup for what your eyes see." Casey added, "It may also shed light on something else," a sentiment both Nori and Sterner echoed at points. "But you can't make all your decisions based on it, and it can't measure heart, and chemistry, and personality." Sterner: "It helps reinforce your gut. Most of the time, your gut is pretty much right." Nori: "More than anything, it's a tool to help confirm what your eyes see." Grantland

Toronto Raptors, Dwane Casey, Statistics 

“Even though we want to find out what we have, guys are going to earn their minutes,” Casey said. “Guys are still going to come in and out of the game. But again, you’re not just going to stay out there and say, ‘OK, we’re going to play the rookies.’ No, it doesn’t work that way. We’re cheating the program if we coach those guys that way. That’s the way it’s going to be.” National Post

Toronto Raptors, Dwane Casey 

Bargnani returned from a 26-game absence caused by a torn ligament in his elbow against the Celtics. When he entered the game, there were audible boos to go along with cheers. Coach Dwane Casey expressed discontent with the jeers on Wednesday, and did so again on Thursday. “I was disappointed a little bit in the fans booing him,” Casey said. “This kid had a torn tendon. It’s not like he had a backache or a headache or a toothache. He had a torn tendon in his arm, a legit injury. I was concerned about that. He was fine. He bounced back. He used it as a chip on his shoulder, which I like. Fans can boo who they want to. This kid, he responded last night.” National Post

Toronto Raptors, Dwane Casey, Andrea Bargnani 

Lang Greene: According to Raptors head Dwane Casey, the goal for this season is making the playoffs. The Rudy Gay trade puts the team all in. Twitter @LangGreene

Toronto Raptors, Rudy Gay, Dwane Casey