New Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic’s top three tasks as training camp begins on Monday

For the first time in more than a decade, the Raptors will have a completely new coaching staff, without any familiarity, relationships or preconceptions about the players.
The big deal Raptors fans wanted never came to fruition during a quiet summer.

But to say that group president Masai Ujiri “did nothing” as claimed on social networks, is to ignore reality.

What he did was very bold and would change the team a lot and change its fortunes. This puts undue pressure and responsibility on a man and represents a real sea change.The big deal that Raptors fans wanted never came to fruition during a quiet summer.

But to say that group president Masai Ujiri “did nothing” as claimed on social networks, is to ignore reality.

What he did was very bold and would change the team a lot and change its fortunes. This puts undue pressure and responsibility on a man and represents a real sea change.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
For the first time in more than a decade, the Raptors will have an entirely new coaching staff – no familiar players, no connections or prejudices. No, Toronto didn’t trade for Damian Lillard and didn’t make anything close to a blockbuster move. But replacing Nick Nurse with Darko Rajakovic is a big step forward.

This is the first time in Ujiri’s 10-year tenure that a completely new voice and philosophy will take the helm. Ujrii kept Dwane Casey when he returned to Toronto 10 years ago and re-signed Casey when the opportunity arose.

Even when he left Casey, it was to join a trusted assistant, Nurse, who had his own style, but only because he knew the players’ abilities after five years on the bench. Rajakovic? There’s no connection, no head coaching history to measure that. He has a new squad and a new team – only Jama Mahlalela has ties to the franchise and he’s been out of action for four seasons – and an old big target is behind him.The big deal Raptors fans wanted never came to fruition during a quiet summer.

But to say that group president Masai Ujiri “did nothing” as claimed on social networks, is to ignore reality.

What he did was very bold and would change the team a lot and change its fortunes. This puts undue pressure and responsibility on a man and represents a real sea change.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
For the first time in more than a decade, the Raptors will have an entirely new coaching staff – no familiar players, no connections or prejudices. No, Toronto didn’t trade for Damian Lillard and didn’t make anything close to a blockbuster move. But replacing Nick Nurse with Darko Rajakovic is a big step forward.

This is the first time in Ujiri’s 10-year tenure that a completely new voice and philosophy will take the helm. Ujrii kept Dwane Casey when he returned to Toronto 10 years ago and re-signed Casey when the opportunity arose.

Even when he left Casey, it was to join a trusted assistant, Nurse, who had his own style, but only because he knew the players’ abilities after five years on the bench. Rajakovic? There’s no connection, no head coaching history to measure that. He has a new squad and a new team – only Jama Mahlalela has ties to the franchise and he’s been out of action for four seasons – and an old big target is behind him.Leave a comment and let us know what you think. Be the first to comment
He was brought in there by Ujiri, who found the 44-year-old Serbian on the Memphis Grizzlies coaching staff and named him Toronto’s new head coach after a long search.

What should Rajakovic do at training camp, which begins Monday with media day in Burnaby, British Columbia? Below are three main tasks.

Who are the Raptors starters?
We can say that there are six people: Dennis Schröder, Gary Trent Jr., Scottie Barnes, O.G. Anunoby, Pascal Siakam and Jakob Poeltl – and one of them will be the odd one out. This is quite similar to last season’s trade of Schröder for Fred VanVleet, so logic would dictate that the World Cup MVP fits this role without issue.

But if Rajakovic is determined to give Barnes more of a ball-handling and decision-making role, could the coach bring Schröder off the bench?

Probably not, and it’s unclear whether Barnes has the skills to be a full-time point guard, but perhaps the new coach will seriously consider it.The big deal Raptors fans wanted never came to fruition during a quiet summer.

But to say that group president Masai Ujiri “did nothing” as claimed on social networks, is to ignore reality.

What he did was very bold and would change the team a lot and change its fortunes. This puts undue pressure and responsibility on a man and represents a real sea change.
Leave a comment and let us know what you think. Be the first to comment
He was brought in there by Ujiri, who found the 44-year-old Serbian on the Memphis Grizzlies coaching staff and named him Toronto’s new head coach after a long search

What should Rajakovic do at training camp, which begins Monday with media day in Burnaby, British Columbia? Below are three main tasks.

Who are the Raptors starters?
We can say that there are six people: Dennis Schröder, Gary Trent Jr., Scottie Barnes, O.G. Anunoby, Pascal Siakam and Jakob Poeltl – and one of them will be the odd one out. This is quite similar to last season’s trade of Schröder for Fred VanVleet, so logic would dictate that the World Cup MVP fits this role without issue.

But if Rajakovic is determined to give Barnes more of a ball-handling and decision-making role, could the coach bring Schröder off the bench?

Probably not, and it’s unclear whether Barnes has the skills to be a full-time point guard, but perhaps the new coach will seriously consider it.The big deal Raptors fans wanted never came to fruition during a quiet summer.

But to say that group president Masai Ujiri “did nothing” as claimed on social networks, is to ignore reality.

What he did was very bold and would change the team a lot and change its fortunes. This puts undue pressure and responsibility on a man and represents a real sea change.

Leave a comment and let us know what you think. Be the first to comment
He was brought in there by Ujiri, who found the 44-year-old Serbian on the Memphis Grizzlies coaching staff and named him Toronto’s new head coach after a long search.

What should Rajakovic do at training camp, which begins Monday with media day in Burnaby, British Columbia? Below are three main tasks.

Who are the Raptors starters?

We can say that there are six people: Dennis Schröder, Gary Trent Jr., Scottie Barnes, O.G. Anunoby, Pascal Siakam and Jakob Poeltl – and one of them will be the odd one out. This is quite similar to last season’s trade of Schröder for Fred VanVleet, so logic would dictate that the World Cup MVP fits this role without issue.

But if Rajakovic is determined to give Barnes more of a ball-handling and decision-making role, could the coach bring Schröder off the bench?

Probably not, and it’s unclear whether Barnes has the skills to be a full-time point guard, but perhaps the new coach will seriously consider it.

Who else is in the Raptors’ rotation?
Therefore, the top 6 seems to have stabilized. What does the rest of Rajakovic’s rotation look like? One would certainly think that Chris Boucher and Precious Achiuwa would extend that number to eight. But after that, there was no shortage of questions.

If Rajakovic and the team’s management are in development mode, guys like Christian Koloko and rookie Gradey Dick should probably be a look, and Jalen McDaniels is intriguing.

But what about veterans like Thad Young and Otto Porter Jr. so what? Do they have an overview of playing time unless there is an emergency? And Malachi Flynn and Jeff Dowtin Jr. What if they make it past the camp?

Being young – Koloko, Dick and McDaniels are behind the top six along with Achiuwa and Boucher – seems to make more sense.

What style will the Raptors play?

This is a much more traditional lineup than the 6-8 lineup Nurse had to deal with before Poeltl returned less than halfway through last season. Rajakovic has not made any public statements about what he would like to see his team do, specifically

Does he try to fit in somewhere? Can he maintain the ball-pressure defense that is Nurse’s trademark? How about adding some boxes and one or triangles and two in shapes that nurses love to use?

Given that there is no track record, seeing what Rajakovic wants to do in defense will be a big story throughout pre-season.

The annoying thing is that the new coach said he really likes the ball and the player’s movement. Without a lot of footage at his disposal, this makes the most sense so far.