NBA Rumors: Raptors Interviewing Assistants Rex Kalamian, Nick Nurse for HC Job

While the Toronto Raptors continue to pursue Mike Budenholzer to fill their head coaching vacancy, they are also looking at internal candidates as possible replacements for Dwane Casey.

According to Marc Stein of the New York Times, Raptors assistants Rex Kalamian and Nick Nurse will both interview for the team's head coaching job Tuesday.

Kalamian has spent the past three years with Toronto but has been an assistant in the NBA for more than 20 years while also working with the Spurs, Thunder, Clippers and Timberwolves.

Although Nurse only has five years on an NBA bench, they have all come with the Raptors. He previously served as a head coach in the G League with the Iowa Energy and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. 

Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer considered both assistants possible replacements for Casey even before Toronto gave him the boot, but O'Connor listed Nurse as the best option. He noted the 50-year-old is "widely considered by executives to be one of the best assistants in the league. Nurse, not Casey, is credited with leading the charge in changing the offensive system."

The Raptors transformed this season from a squad that relied upon mid-range jumpers and one-on-one efforts from DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry into a balanced, efficient attack. The result was the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and the best record in franchise history.

A third straight playoff loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers meant the end of Casey's tenure, but promoting an assistant would allow for some improvements without a massive overhaul.

Considering 10 of the 11 top players in the rotation remain under contract into next season (Fred VanVleet is the only exception), minor changes could be a better option.

Still, Budenholzer remains the "focus" of the Raptors' search, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.