New Assistant Coach... (Exit Jim Todd, Enter Mike Evans)

Looks like the Raptors will promote one of their scouts to take over for Jim Todd:

<font size=""3""><div align="center">Raps pick Evans to take over for Todd</div></font>
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">There will be a new egalitarian look to the Raptor coaching staff next season.

With the departure of Jim Todd to the Milwaukee Bucks and the impending arrival of Mike Evans, Sam Mitchell's staff will comprise three equal parts.

None of the three assistants ? Evans, Alex English or Jay Triano ? will have more responsibility or a greater role than the other and there's a chance, when all the negotiations are finalized, that they will make the same salaries, too.

There was a perception over the last three seasons that Todd was considered the so-called "lead" assistant, given more say than the other two in such things as in-game strategy.

The decision to slightly alter the roles into an equal partnership wasn't what led Todd to return to the franchise that employed him immediately before the Raptors but it did present an opportunity for Mitchell and president and general manager Bryan Colangelo to make the move.

"I'm happy for JT," Colangelo said of Todd, who spent three seasons in Toronto. "It's a good opportunity for him and a chance to go back to an organization he started with.

"Sometimes, it's just time to move on and this may be that time for JT."

Neither of the moves is official yet but should be announced no later than tomorrow. Todd had no comment when reached yesterday, preferring to wait until all the contracts are signed before officially acknowledging the move.

"Jim's a good friend and I want the best for him," said Mitchell.

Evans is being promoted to the bench after working as a Raptor scout since 2004. He has an extensive coaching background, serving as an interim head coach of the Denver Nuggets for the final 56 games of the 2001-02 season, replacing Dan Issel.With the Bucks, Todd joins a three-man staff of head coach Larry Krystkowiak that is made up entirely of ex-Raptor assistants. Brian James, who worked here under Lenny Wilkens and Butch Carter, and Tony Brown, who was the No. 1 assistant to Kevin O'Neill, are already on the Milwaukee staff.</div>
<div align="center">Source: Toronto Star</div>

 

<div class="quote_poster">Chutney Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Doug Smith is a joke and I'm looking forward to seeing how he explains this latest embarrassment (my money's on him pretending like it never happened). I don't know when it happened, but at some point he completely sold out and traded in whatever journalistic integrity he had to become a mouthpiece for the Raptors. His mailbags are ridiculous.

I'm not exactly sure what Todd did on this staff, but I will miss his incredibly pessimistic halftime interviews. I think having to deal with Chuck and Leo, instead of Norma, this year was the last straw.</div>

ahahah ... isn't that the truth?

I'm glad to hear that the other assistants get to take more responsibility now, getting Triano's influence on the staff could be great for the club.

 

I'm glad we brought someone in, but sad Todd is leaving. I don't think much will change for the Raptors, just that hopefully Evans will take over the interviews, but I think that will be Triano's job now.