Report: Raptors hire 18-year NBA veteran Jerry Stackhouse as assistant coach

A Toronto Raptors player has acted up in practice for the last time.

Head coach Dwane Casey made an intriguing addition to his coaching staff Tuesday, adding 18-year NBA veteran Jerry Stackhouse, according to multiple reports. The Raptors reportedly added former Oklahoma City Thunder assistant Rex Kalamian on Monday as they look to retool Casey's staff in his final guaranteed season.

Stackhouse, respected as one of the NBA's toughest no-nonsense players, has been looking to enter the coaching ranks for some time. He's spent plenty of time coaching at the AAU level - including with a team in the greater Toronto area - and with Team USA Select, and he threw his hat in the ring for the New York Knicks' opening last summer.

"The pro level is where I think I'd be best," the former 76er, Piston, Wizard, Maverick, Buck, Heat, Hawk and Net said last May. "I know what I didn't want to play against so I think I'm a better defensive coach than an offensive coach."

The Raptors had been rumored to want a recently retired player to help fill out the staff, and the two-time All-Star helps to that end. He appeared in 970 games for eight teams, averaging 16.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists, and he played in an additional 75 playoff games.

At times in the past two seasons, it's seemed Stackhouse could probably suit up and play the wing for the Raptors. If nothing else, Stackhouse should help find a definitive answer as to whether Terrence Ross has the makeup for a long NBA career.