» Measure Darko Rajakovic’s coaching merits next season

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The dark days of the Darko Rajakovic era in Toronto will soon make way for brighter times when his coaching acumen will truly be measured.

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When he was named to succeed Nick Nurse, the deck was stacked against Rajakovic, a noted developer of young talent.

A changing of the guard would see stalwarts OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam traded as the franchise’s torch would be transferred to Scottie Barnes.

The expected losses would ensue in Rajakovic’s rookie season, including the most lopsided home loss and the biggest setback in franchise history to the New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves, respectively.

In Rajakovic’s second season, the losses continued, but amid the blowouts and near misses some encouraging signs would emerge.

When next season officially tips off, the slate will be clean with the magnifying glass squarely on Rajakovic.

The business of coaching in the NBA is fraught with every coach, regardless of pedigree, fully aware of the job’s fickle and unfair nature.

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On Friday as the Raptors were poised to play host to the Charlotte Hornets, the Memphis Grizzlies, Rajakovic’s former employer, announced head coach Taylor Jenkins had been dismissed.

Jenkins left as the franchise leader in wins.

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The Grizzlies haven’t been playing well since the all-star break and change was needed as the team slipped from the No. 2 seed in the West to the No. 5 seed.

Jenkins became the scapegoat on a team featuring Toronto native and rookie Zach Edey.

“(It’s) not surprising news, it’s shocking news for me,” said Rajakovic on the firing of his friend and former boss.

“I did not see that coming. I know Taylor as a man. I know Taylor as a coach. He’s first class in everything he does. Unfortunately, that’s the business.”

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In late December, the coaching fraternity was rocked to its core when Mike Brown was sacked by the Sacramento Kings less than halfway through his third season and six months after signing a three-year contract extension.

One-time Raptors wing Doug Christie was named interim coach.

Brown was the unanimous choice as coach of the year in his first season with the Kings in 2022-23 when he helped Sacramento end the longest playoff drought in NBA history at 16 seasons.

Jenkins isn’t as decorated as Brown, which might help explain why his dismissal did not send shockwaves through the coaching ranks.

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The Grizzlies have not been playing well and with their playoff seeding sliding as the post-season approaches, a case for a change could be made.

To say Rajakovic is a good coach would be a stretch.

To say Rajakovic is a bad coach would be stupid.

Somewhere in between one may be able to find the truth, but the reality is no one knows.

Change has been the one constant almost from the moment Rajakovic began his time in Toronto.

The other constant has been losses, but they were inevitable when a different lineup gets thrown out at virtually every jump, when front-line players who may or may not be worthy of starting are injured and when the club’s head honcho in Masai Ujiri anoints the season as a rebuild on media day.

When the Raptors faced the Hornets, Rajakovic rolled out his 35th different starting lineup of the season.

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One suspects that number will only increase with eight games remaining.

Six times the Raptors have lost as many as four games in row, including a season-high 11 during a miserable stretch in December capped off the Boston Massacre on New Year’s Eve when the reigning champion Boston Celtics handed Toronto a 125-71 defeat, marking the largest margin of defeat in Raptors history.

Two weeks later, the Raptors make amends by beating the visiting Celtics.

Rajakovic is a competitor who has at times shown more competitive spirit than his players.

The growth from his rookie season can be found in how critical he has been while at the same time refusing to single out any individual.

His quick timeouts only reinforced his disdain at the way the Raptors played, especially on the defensive end.

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The way the Raptors have played during the month of March illustrates how Rajakovic has never stopped coaching and teaching.

Losses would be preferred knowing each defeat only increases the Raptors’ lottery odds of drafting Cooper Flagg.

Teams like Charlotte under rookie head coach Charles Lee aren’t very good, made even weaker with the news star point guard LaMelo Ball will be sidelined for the remainder of the season because of ankle and wrist injuries.

Charlotte will return to Scotiabank Arena on April 9, which will coincide with Toronto’s home finale.

Rookies, such as undrafted Jamison Battle, who got the start Friday, have shown flashes under Rajakovic.

It’s anyone’s guess how many of the team’s rookie group will be around when a new season tips off.

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One player who will be on the roster is Brandon Ingram, who has yet to play for the Raptors and is unlikely to make his debut this season because of a high ankle sprain he suffered months ago when he was a member of the New Orleans Pelicans.

When the 2025-26 season tips off, the Raptors will be expected to contend for a playoff spot.

The roster will be deeper, giving Rajakovic options, whether it applies to a rotation or whether it applies to a style of play he wants to establish.

Next season is shaping up as the true and legitimate time for Rajakovic’s coaching chops to be properly assessed.

If he’s able to integrate Ingram, Barnes and Immanuel Quickley into a functional threesome, Rajakovic will succeed.

If he can’t, he’ll become the latest victim of the coaching chopping block.

No one ever said the NBA was fair because everyone knows it’s a cut-throat business.

There’s a shelf life to every head coach not named Gregg Popovich or Eric Spoelstra.

Coaches develop tenure when they have talent.

Toronto’s talent will be the best Rajakovic will coach next season.

And only then will the best or worst of his coaching skills be judged.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com

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