Mike Batiste expected to join Raptors coaching staff / News - Basketnews.com

Raptors are expected to add Mike Batiste and Vin Bhavnani to their coaching staff. They will join Jama Mahlalela, Pat Delany, and Ivo Simovic.

Credit: AP - Scanpix Credit AP - Scanpix

Toronto Raptors are expected to add Mike Batiste as assistant coach to Darko Rajakovic's staff, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

Mike Batiste

Position:PF, CAge:45Height:204 cmWeight:102 kgBirth place:Inglewood, United States of AmericaProfileNewsStatistics

In addition to Batiste, Vin Bhavnani is likely to land a deal with the Raptors, per the same report.

They are expected to join Jama Mahlalela, Pat Delany, and Ivo Simovic as the newest names to complement the coaching staff.

Batiste, a former NBA player and three-time EuroLeague champion, has worked as an assistant with the Brooklyn Nets (2016-17), Charlotte Hornets (2017-18), Orlando Magic (2018-21), Washington Wizards (2021-22), and Houston Rockets (2022-23).

Bhavnani, on the other hand, is a player development coach, who previously served as an assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder alongside Rajakovic. He began his career as an assistant video coordinator for the San Antonio Spurs and later joined the player development team for the Thunder. Recently, he has been working independently as a skills coach in the Oklahoma City region.

Toronto experienced a head coaching change in June, as Serbian specialist Rajakovic replaced Nick Nurse, who was fired on April 21 after Toronto went 41-41 and lost in the opening round of the Play-In Tournament.

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