Casey out as coach of Toronto Raptors

TORONTO - Dwane Casey has paid the price for the Toronto Raptors’ second-round playoff exit.

The most successful coach in Raptors history was fired Friday after Toronto was eliminated by the Cleveland Cavaliers for the third consecutive season.

“After careful consideration, I have decided this is a very difficult but necessary step the franchise must take,” team president Masai Ujiri said in a release. “As a team, we are constantly trying to grow and improve in order to get to the next level.

“We celebrate everything Dwane has done for the organization, we thank him, and we wish him nothing but the best in future. He was instrumental in creating the identity and culture of who we are as a team, and we are so proud of that.” Casey, 61, led the Raptors to four Atlantic Division titles in five seasons, and three consecutive 50-win seasons. The Raptors had their eyes on an appearance in the NBA finals after winning a franchise-record 59 games in the regular-season, including 34 wins at home - tied with Houston for best in the league. But Lebron James and the Cavs undid all the positivity of the regular season with a four-game sweep, prompting cries of “same old Raptors.”

Casey was fired two days after winning the Michael H. Goldberg coach of the year award, which is handed out by the National Basketball Coaches Association. The Raptors were the only team in the playoffs that finished in the top five in both offence and defence.