The Toronto Raptors have reportedly settled on their new head coach just days before the 2011 NBA Draft.
On Friday, we noted that Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Dwane Casey had reportedly established himself as the favorite to coach the Raptors.
On Monday, ESPN.com reported that the Raptors and Casey have "reached an agreement in principle." The Toronto Star and the Dallas Morning News both reported that Casey could be introduced as the team's next head coach as early as Tuesday.
CBSSports.com's Ken Berger confirms that the Raptors and Casey have reached an agreement in principle.
Casey's only head coaching experience came with the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 seasons, when he went 53-69. He has had his name floated many times in recent years for head coaching positions, but he's never been able to seal the deal. Most recently, the Golden State Warriors elected to hire Mark Jackson after giving Casey consideration.
In Toronto, Casey inherits a mish-mashed roster with young talent that has yet to fully form and has struggled mightily on the defensive end. He will replace former Raptors coach Jay Triano, who was shifted into a consulting role by GM Bryan Colangelo a few weeks back.
The timing of Casey's hire means he will likely have input on who the Raptors select with the No. 5 overall pick in Thursday's draft. He is known for preaching defense, so players like Kawhi Leonard and Bismack Biyombo could get a bump in Toronto's eyes.
Boston Celtics assistant coach Lawrence Frank was also reportedly a finalist for the Raptors head coaching position.
