NBA: Toronto Raptors Working On Contract Extension For Dwane Casey

Dwane Casey has done an amazing job with the Toronto Raptors this season. According to NBC Sports, the Raptors and Casey are expected to start talking about a potential contract extension. He had the second best record in the Eastern Conference with 56 wins. They were one game behind LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Casey has exceeded expectations this year. He led them to the Eastern Conference Finals. Casey has also led them to the NBA Playoffs for the past three seasons.

Dwane Casey was first hired by the Toronto Raptors in 2011. He led them to the NBA Playoffs three times in his five years with the team. Casey stepped into a team that was looking to rebuild after they lost franchise superstar Chris Bosh to the Miami Heat. His first season with the team, he led them to a 23-43 record. That would be expected with the roster they had.

Dwane Casey’s second season in the National Basketball Association improved from the first year. He led them to a 34-48 record. Toronto Raptors management decided to improve the roster by trading for Kyle Lowry. They brought him in a trade with the Houston Rockets. The Raptors gave up a first round pick to acquire him. Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri also traded for small forward Rudy Gay in a three-team trade. The team also saw the debut of the 2011 NBA Draft first round pick Jonas Valanciunas. They didn’t make it to the NBA Playoffs that year.

During the offseason, they traded Andrea Bargnani to the New York Knicks. In Dwane Casey’s third season with the Toronto Raptors, they were not expected to make it into the NBA Playoffs. They were in a weak Atlantic Division, and they found themselves as contenders to win the division title despite having a losing record. In the month of December, the Raptors traded Rudy Gay to the Sacramento Kings for Patrick Patterson, Greivis Vasquez, and John Salmons. That trade marked a turning point in the season for the team. They went on 10-2 run from being 6-12 record. The team finished the season with a 48-34 record. It was the best winning record in the team’s history. They were first in the Atlantic Division and third in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors were eliminated in the first round by the Brooklyn Nets in seven games.

The Toronto Raptors and Dwane Casey had high hopes coming into their fourth season together. They traded for Norman Powell during the NBA Draft. The Raptors signed DeMarre Carroll, Cory Joseph, and Bismack Biyombo during the offseason. They lost last year’s Sixth Man of the Year in Lou Williams. He left them to go join the Los Angeles Lakers. This season marked the Raptors first 50-win season since joining the league. They finished the year with 56-26 record, which set a franchise record.

The Toronto Raptors defeated the Indiana Pacers in seven games of the first round of the NBA Playoffs. This was the second playoff victory in Raptors franchise history, and the first in a seven game series. In the semifinals, they survived against the third-seeded Miami Heat in a tough seven game series. This was the first time the team had advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. The Raptors lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in six games.

Dwane Casey has done an amazing job since being hired by the Toronto Raptors. Casey currently still has one season left on his contract. The Raptors giving an extension to Casey would be a smart move for both sides. He connects with his team and knows how to get the best out of his players.

[Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images]