New Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic has his work cut out for him.
But he won’t be alone while trying to turn his team around.
Marc J. Spears is reporting that the Raptors have several new acquisitions to the coaching staff.
Those new hires are Pat Delany, Jama Mahlalela, James Wade, Mike Batiste, Vin Bhavnani, Drew Jones, and Ivo Simović.
Additionally, Jim Sann is returning to the staff for his eighth season.
Joining new Toronto Raptors Head Coach Darko Rajaković on the front of the bench are Pat Delany, Jama Mahlalela and James Wade. Mike Batiste, Vin Bhavnani, Drew Jones and Ivo Simović also join the coaching staff. Jim Sann returns.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) July 4, 2023
Many NBA fans might not know all of those names.
Delany worked as an assistant for the Washington Wizards, Orlando Magic, and Charlotte Hornets, while Mahlalela cut his teeth working with the Golden State Warriors.
In fact, all of these men have worked throughout the NBA, G League, and WNBA too.
With all these hires, it is clear that things are changing for the Raptors.
The team has already lost one of its biggest stars in Fred VanVleet.
They have also added Dennis Schroder, Jalen McDaniels, and Jakob Poeltl.
For now, other stars like Pascal Siakam and Gary Trent Jr. are still on board for the next season and might even get contract extensions soon.
Rajakovic will have a roster of talented stars who are ready to play hard but he will have to tweak the way they work so they can return to postseason greatness.
The Raptors have been all over the Eastern Conference standings lately.
They won a championship just a few years ago, of course.
Since then, they have fallen as low as 12th place in the East, as high as 5th, and ended last season as the 9th-best team in their conference.
Rajakovic and his coaching staff will be looking to make this team consistent – and consistently great.
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