Can we try to be friends?
After an 8-9 start, and on the heels of a 39 point loss last night in Denver, the Toronto Raptors axed Sam Mitchell this afternoon.
Am I surprised? No, not at all.
ESPN tells us…
“This is a difficult but necessary step the franchise must take,” Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo. “We appreciate all that Sam has done for the organization, applaud him for his successes and wish him nothing but the best with his future in basketball.”
Mitchell will be replaced by Raptors assistant coach Jay Triano on an interim basis. He is in his seventh season as a Raptors assistant. A native of Niagara Falls, Triano coached the Canadian men’s national team from 1998-2004, posting a 52-42 record.
Well at least this is ending on relatively good terms. I always liked Mitchell on a personal level, and he did do a lot for the team and the development of Bosh and Calderon. TJ Ford would probably give Mitchell a lot of credit for revitalizing his career too.
Make it happen, BC.
I have to admit though, I’m pretty psyched for the move. I’ve already heard some pretty big names being thrown around as possible replacements for Mitchell(Jeff Van Gundy, Flip Saunders), but the man I’d like to see get the chance is Avery Johnson. I know he messed up in Dallas but I think he’d mesh well with O’Neal, Bosh and Calderon, all in a different way.
In the meantime, Jay Triano will be getting his Head Coaching shine on. I’m not going to hate on JT, I’m sure he’ll do a fine job given the circumstances (team is playing awful, in the middle of a tough road trip…), but the sooner the Raptors get their new guy — the better. I wouldn’t sacrifice finding the right guy over speediness by any means, but at the same time I doubt Colangelo made this move without someone else in mind.
