Ime Udoka Takes Jab at Raptors With a '5-Seed Ceiling' During Rockets Press Conference

Ime Udoka seemed to take a shot at the Toronto Raptors as a middle-tier team with a 'five-seed ceiling' during his press conference with the Houston Rockets

David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Ime Udoka wasn’t particularly subtle when it came to the Toronto Raptors and why he opted to sign with the Houston Rockets for next season.

All indications are the Raptors were interested in Udoka, the former Boston Celtics coach who was announced as the new head coach of the Rockets on Wednesday. Udoka had interviewed for the Raptors’ gig in 2018 following the departure of Dwane Casey before Toronto ultimately promoted Nick Nurse. This time, though, it sounded like he wasn’t too excited about the prospect of joining the Raptors.

“Houston and Detroit were the two (coaching vacancies) that opened up immediately and Toronto right after that,” Udoka told reporters in Houston.

“Honestly, this is more attractive than a lot of the mid-level teams that kind of have that ceiling, that five-seed ceiling … I’d rather start with the young core group and try to build something great here.”

It’s hard to imagine he wasn’t referencing the Raptors with that jab considering Toronto was a fifth seed in the Eastern Conference last season before flaming out in the play-in tournament this year.

In a sense, he’s right, though. Houston has a trove of with young players including the No. 2 pick in the 2021 draft, Jabari Smith Jr., the No. 3 pick in the 2022 draft, and Alperen Sengun, the 16th pick in the 2021 draft. That’s on top of the second-best lottery odds, a 14% chance to land Wictor Wembanyama this summer, and $64.2 million in projected practical cap space, per Spotrac.

It may be time for Toronto to look in the mirror and take in what the rest of the league appears to be saying to the Raptors. A once coveted job in Toronto seems to have lost some of its luster as the team toils in the middle without a clear direction out.

Further Reading

Jerry Stackhouse has characteristics Nick Nurse didn't as Raptors' coaching search continues

With Dame Lillard to the Raptors rumors underway, Toronto faces same old problem

Masai Ujiri provides some clarity on Raptors' Jeff Dowtin Jr. decision