NBA 2018-19: Predicting the 5 best new head coaches

#3 Nick Nurse

Nick Nurse

The Toronto Raptors made two of the smartest moves in the offseason that increases their flexibility in the long term and allows them to compete with a win-now mentality in the short term. Masai Ujiri's decision to trade Raptors fan favourite and perennial All-Star DeMar DeRozan in exchange for 2014 Finals MVP and 2-time Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard has raised this team's ceiling on both ends of the floor and has understandably taken up enough press on its own.

But the key to the Raptors having a successful 2018-19 season is rooted in their new head coach Nick Nurse, who was an in-house promotion to the role that was vacated following Dwane Casey's firing in June. Nurse was the assistant coach who convinced Casey to change his offense to a more team-oriented one that uses the strengths of everyone on their roster, and he was responsible for the Raptors running that brand of offense through 82 games with extremely encouraging results.

Now in the hot seat, it remains to be seen how well Nurse can integrate two of the league's best defensive studs into his rotations. The Raptors have all the tools necessary to take hold of the #1 seed in the upcoming season if everything falls in place.