Report: Raptors' front office unhappy with Nurse's comments on coaching future

The Toronto Raptors' front office wasn't pleased with Nick Nurse's decision to openly contemplate his coaching future before a late March game against the Philadelphia 76ers and has expressed that sentiment to him, sources told TSN's Josh Lewenberg.

Nurse told reporters on March 31 he was going to take some time during the summer to decide whether he'll return to Toronto next season.

While the fifth-year bench boss didn't provide a definitive answer on his future during Thursday's exit interviews, he said communication with president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri and the rest of the Raptors' brass has been transparent.

"I don't have a whole lot of uncomfortable days working with (Ujiri) there," Nurse told reporters, according to The Athletic's Eric Koreen.

Nurse added: "The discussions are solid and open. He's asking me about things and I'm asking him about things. I think we're heading in the same directions."

Nurse, 55, has one year remaining on a contract extension signed in September 2020. The native of Iowa is 227-163 during his Raptors tenure, with the team posting a sub-.500 record just once.

Nurse guided the Raptors to their first and only championship in 2019 and earned Coach of the Year honors the following season.

The Houston Rockets have reportedly tabbed Nurse as a top target for their head coaching vacancy should he become available. Nurse coached the Rockets' G League affiliate before joining Toronto, guiding the team to a league title in 2013.