According to Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca, San Antonio Spurs Assistant Coach Ettore Messina and Toronto Assistant Coach Nick Nurse are believed to be the two leading candidates for the Raptors’ vacant head coaching position.
Lewenberg states that a decision on a head coach could be determined as early as this week or sometime next week.
Messina has already had two interviews with the Raptors, while he had previously interviewed with the Milwaukee Bucks about their head coaching position before Mike Budenholzer was hired, and the Charlotte Hornets before they hired Messina’s former colleague with the Spurs, James Borrego.
Though he’s not a leading candidate, Ime Udoka also interviewed with the Raptors regarding their head coaching vacancy and he’s still in consideration for the Detroit Pistons’ head coaching position.
Messina has been a Spurs assistant coach for the past four seasons and prior, he built an impressive resume coaching overseas, where he was named one of the Euroleague’s 10 Great All-Time coaches in 2008.
