Raptors faith in coach Darko Rajakovic only adds to pressure of making playoffs
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Reportedly, the Raptors made the pre-emptive move to exercise the club option on Darko Rajakovic’s contract even before opening night on Oct. 23 when the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have emerged as legitimate title contenders, came to town.
The fact the Cavs left Toronto with a 136-106 win didn’t seem to justify the Raptors’ faith in the coach whom the franchise took a flyer on when they pegged the rookie to lead the team.
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And neither, it seems, did the club feel last year’s horrible end to a truly miserable season was grounds to lose faith in Rajakovic.
Whether players enjoy playing for the affable coach is completely immaterial and nor should anyone take stock in how close this unit has been.
Remember, the NBA is a bottom-line, cut-throat business where personal feelings have no bearing on success.
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Despite the team’s recent success — the Raptors are in Chicago to play the Bulls Tuesday night riding a four-game win streak and are poised to match their season-high streak if a win is posted in the Windy City — the Raptors are nowhere near championship worthy.
Brandon Ingram is a skilled wing, but no one will know how his talents will blend with Scottie Barnes.
The team’s young core has acquitted itself well, but no one knows how many of this group will be part of next year’s squad.
No one can say how the front office manages a roster that is top-heavy in wings and short on size.
Changes await this off-season, but no change will be made to the head coach.
Rajakovic has security, in theory, but coaching is such an insecure profession that any extended losing streak in a coming season — when the Raptors will be playing under the weight of expectations — opens the possibility of change.
From a rebuild to posturing for a playoff spot, the Raptors can make the jump if the right moves are engineered this summer.
The team’s main pieces will be entering the primes of their career, while the extended minutes given to so many rookies should pay dividends, either on the floor or if used as part of a trade package.
Given the franchise-altering trades in Rajakovic’s rookie season, it was impossible to provide a proper assessment of his work.
The franchise didn’t care, but the team’s primary decision-maker in chairman Masai Ujiri hand-picked the rookie head coach and, as a result, the two are joined at the hip.
If Rajakovic is a good coach or a bad coach, no one knows, but he is the coach and will be the coach next season and the following season after the club reportedly picked up its team option.
Based on the source of the report provided by Sportsnet’s Michael Grange, no one should question it because Grange is a seasoned reporter who is well connected.
One can question why the team took the leap of faith so early last summer, but that amounts to proverbial water under the bridge.
What can’t be questioned is Rajakovic’s commitment, even though it is questionable how the Raptors have approached this season.
A true rebuild would have involved losing as many games as possible to produce the highest lottery odds for the coming draft.
Those who haven’t watched Cooper Flagg until Duke’s run to the Final Four can now attest to how this prospect will alter an NBA franchise.
Following Sunday’s win over a Philadelphia 76ers team missing 10 players, the Raptors moved closer to the San Antonio Spurs for the eighth-worst record and subsequently the eighth-best lottery odds than they are to the Brooklyn Nets for the seventh-worst record and seventh-best lottery odds.
Every possession by Rajakovic is viewed as his last, most timeouts he calls often lead to well-schemed sequences or getting his team to play with more engagement on defence.
Defensively, the Raptors have been better at a time while their opponents have only gotten worse.
Since a Jan. 11 loss in Detroit, the Raptors have gone 20-16 and they ended the month of March with a 10-5 record.
Depending on how the lottery plays out, the Raptors will add another prospect.
It won’t be, barring some extreme turn in fortune, Flagg.
One is left to wonder if no player is available that addresses an obvious need, whether it’s size or perimeter shooting, does the team explore trade options?
Unless no trade involving one of the key players is engineered, a starting five of Immanuel Quickley, Barnes, Ingram, RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl does look enticing.
Is it good enough to compete for a top-four spot in the East is a question that can’t be answered until the group is on the floor.
Ujiri’s competitive nature is second to none. He clearly believes in Rajakovic and has maintained his belief since the day he introduced the coach.
A 2025-26 season that sees the Raptors take a major step might even lead to the decision of extending Rajakovic. His appreciation of coaching the Raptors is authentic, his love of the city legitimate and his support for his players in genuine.
All those qualities are good and should be commended, but wins are what matter.
Nine head coaches preceded Rajakovic when he was hired. By picking up the club option, Rajakovic, in theory, will be around four years and will join the likes of Butch Carter and Lenny Wilkens in terms of tenure. The club’s three longest-tenured head coaches are Sam Mitchell, Nick Nurse and Dwane Casey. All five of the above led the Raptors to the playoffs.
While picking up the option on Rajakovic’s contract is the right move, the Raptors have to make the playoffs next season.
Failure to qualify and all bets are off — contract security or not.
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