The 2019 championship coach for the Toronto Raptors had some words for President Masai Ujiri with implications of his departure being overdue. As anticipated, debatably the best candidate to take over any franchise is in the midst of being hosted at a high-bidding auction. There is an extensive pool of interest.
NBA: How Does Nick Nurse Look With These Teams?
Nurse going to his former division rival, the Philadelphia 76ers, would be pretty interesting. He faced off against them twice in the playoffs, last season and en route to their title in β19, on the greatest shot in NBA history to beat the buzzer in a game 7. You might remember. He has certainly had conversations with Joel Embiid in the past about the correct time the whistle should be blown and the gameβs physicality in relation to fouls.
Nurse has commonly brought a defensive philosophy through his four years in the association, with Toronto commonly claiming dominance within the top 10 or five. Of course, he will likely ease his decision-making process, with a large portion depending on the new look of these rosters. Principally, Philadelphia.
James Harden is declining his player option and becoming an unrestricted free agent, with rumors of a return to Houston lingering for some time. Harden did say on his Instagram story that, apparently, experts may not always be experts, but we will see what happens. If James is out, Nurse could have an opportunity to potentially coach another superstar that Philadelphia could pursue. Already having a relationship or many conversations with a glimpse of Embiid, Tyrese Maxey will only improve with Nurse embedding more of a consistent defensive identity for Maxey and the team.
Nurse also took down Milwaukee on the way to their title. For one of the best systems in the game that has prominently been atop the league for a while now, there is also a chance they may have a new look around their All-Star tandem as well. It all depends on the free-agent choices of Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez.
Nurse has also demonstrated the ability to get the most out of each member of his lineup. He, Pascal Siakam, and Fred Van Vleet are all in the same realm of developing within the system and working their way into eye-opening stardom. The 55-year-old can do that within the Bucksβ system, as they may be the most motivated and desperate for someone to hold them accountable that they have been in this window. Whether embedded pieces that are ready to break out and grow their game or new stars.
NBA: Do the Suns have an edge in landing Nick Nurse?
The Sunsβ new owner, Matt Ishbia, has formally and loudly made his plans for the Suns known. Change of scenery. It was shocking they let go of Monty Williams, with he and Nurse having among the best coaching winning percentages in the league through their last few winning campaigns.
Phoenix has potentially a duo that could be the best to ever lace up in their hands. Thus far into their summer, the Suns have not been popping champagne when it comes to the idea of keeping Deandre Ayton and Chris Paul, with both of them heavily rumored to be on the hot seat in deals.
If Nurse were to wish to decide his future quickly, in about a monthβs time, this Julyβs free agents could be even more interested in Arizona with Nurse leading the way. The Suns also had a giant fall-off defensively, saying goodbye to Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson in the Kevin Durant trade, paving the way for Nurse to bring that defensive edge.
Whether it is applied to new faces with Durant and Devin Booker (who, yes, would likely both love to have Nurse), maybe CP3 or Ayton, or even Terry Rozier, who is even a face that Ishbia has shown interest in for Phoenix, Actually, do you know who else? Van Vleet. Could Nurse and his initiator reunite in the desert for a quest toward another championship together?
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Author: Rob Greene
May 24, 2023 | 6:00 pm
