Blazers news: Twitter roasts Portland for Chauncey Billups hiring

News came out on Friday that the Portland Trail Blazers were on the verge of hiring Chauncey Billups as the team's new head coach. While some believe that this was an excellent move for the Blazers, it looks like Twitter was not on the same page.

The mean streets of Twitter absolutely blasted the Blazers for their decision to hire Billups. Clearly, the keyboard warriors are completely in disagreement with Billups getting the job:

https://twitter.com/BlazersBySagar/status/1408581524321038340

Unsurprisingly, Billups' previous sexual allegation charges were brought up. Twitter also could not help but relate the Blazers' decision to hire Billups to the Dallas Mavericks' bringing in Jason Kidd as their new head coach. Kidd also faced domestic violence allegations in the past.

This sucks.

There's like a million qualified assistants out there and within a 48 hour period a rapist and a domestic abuser both got head coaching jobs. https://t.co/rNWIBdJRD0

— Anthony Doyle🍉 (@Anthonysmdoyle) June 26, 2021

So today NBA franchises hired a domestic abuser (Mavericks) and a rapist (Trail Blazers).

I hate it here https://t.co/PuxOeona4j

— Nihilist Bucks (@nihilist_bucks) June 26, 2021

Being upset an NBA team will hire someone who settled out of court for a rape case isn't performative.

It's called human decency. Not calling it out is perpetuating rape culture. https://t.co/9jcAVbJobC

— Dylan Mickanen (@DylanMickanen) June 26, 2021

Related NewsArticle continues below

Michael Porter Jr. photoshopped in Trail Blazers jersey (number 1)

Trail Blazers trade proposal for Michael Porter Jr. after postseason struggles1d

Austin Reaves (number 15) photoshopped in Trail Blazers jersey

Trail Blazers trade proposal for Austin Reaves lands Lakers a center1d

Ranking 4 best Malik Beasley free-agency destinations if he leaves Pistons1d

The Houston Rockets invested heavily into Fred VanVleet during the 2023 offseason. Houston gave the point guard a three-year, $128 million deal in a move that was meant to turn the Rockets from a rebuilding team into a championship contending one. The signing did just that, as the Rockets finished the 2024-25 regular season as the two-seed in a stacked Western Conference. VanVleet was the veteran presence and 3-point shooter that the team desperately needed, and he still might have a role with the Rockets going forward. Houston has a team option on his contract for next year, and they very well may pick it up. The Wichita State product reportedly wants to stay in Houston, but the point guard would be set to make over $44 million next season under his current contract. The Rockets and their guard recently pushed back the deadline on Houston's decision with VanVleet, and although reports suggest that they are interested in writing up a new, long-term deal, it isn't necessarily a guarantee that VanVleet will be playing for Houston next year. The Rockets blew him away with an offer he couldn't refuse back in 2023, and another team could so the same when/if he hits the open market this offseason. If VanVleet does become an unrestricted free agent, which teams outside of Houston would make the most sense for him to sign with? 1. Orlando Magic Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner recently signed big deals with the Orlando Magic, and Paolo Banchero will be getting a mega contract extension here soon. Because of that, the Magic no longer have money to blow like they have had in recent years. That will make a deal for another big ticket free agent hard to pull off, especially considering the team signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope last year. If Orlando can make the money work, though, then Fred VanVleet would be a great fit with the Magic. The Magic finished dead last in 3-point shooting this season, and VanVleet has made at least 2.5 deep balls per game in every season since 2018-19. VanVleet can hit shots form behind the arc off of the bounce or in catch-and-shoot situations. The Rockets were heavily reliant on his shooting expertise, so the guard would have plenty of familiarity getting up deep shots with high volume if he signed with the Magic. While undersized, VanVleet is a pesky defender, so he'd fit right in with a Magic team that has one of the best defensive units in the league. VanVleet could play alongside Suggs and give opposing teams fits. Ultimately, though, the Magic just need more shooting to get to the next level, and VanVleet is arguably the best shooter who could be available on the open market this offseason. 2. Brooklyn Nets A more realistic option for a VanVleet destination would be the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets are set up to have the most cap space this offseason, and they have a major need at point guard. With D'Angelo Russell and De'Anthony Melton hitting free agency this offseason, the Nets don't have a true point guard under contract for next season. Brooklyn needs to spend big this offseason, and they'd be smart to offer VanVleet a contract big enough that he'd have no choice but to leave Houston. VanVleet averaged 14.1 points per game last season, which was his lowest mark since 2018-19. He is trending the wrong way, but he still has enough left in the tank to give the Nets a few good seasons. 3. Portland Trail Blazers In the same way that the Rockets were looking to take the next step in 2023, the Portland Trail Blazers could use VanVleet's presence to get over the hump. The Trail Blazers have plenty of big man depth, as centers Deandre Ayton, Donovan Clingan, Robert Williams, and Duop Death are all under contract next season. Portland also has a lot of wing depth. Deni Advija started to look like a star late this past season, Toumani Camara is an elite defender, Shaedon Sharpe is a freakish athlete, and Jerami Grant is a proven scorer. The team is thinner in the backcourt, though. Anfernee Simons is a solid scorer, but Scoot Henderson has looked like a fringe draft bust since being drafted third overall. Portland shouldn't give up on Henderson completely, but there wouldn't be any harm in signing another guard. Like the Magic, the Blazers were one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the NBA. VanVleet would improve that weakness, and in a stacked Western Conference, Portland needs all of the help they can get if they are to compete for a playoff spot.

Ranking 3 best Fred VanVleet free-agency destinations if he leaves Rockets3d

https://twitter.com/JJMaples55_MST/status/1408583642662666242?s=20

For some, the biggest outcry was the team's decision to gloss over San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon, who herself was considered as a frontrunner for the job opening in Portland. Hammon would have been the first female head coach in NBA history.

So…you’re telling me the Blazers advanced Becky in the interview process only to, instead, hire someone with past allegations of sexual abuse and leaked the news on a Friday during a playoff game? https://t.co/hV0WGGCRUQ

— Caitlin Cooper (@C2_Cooper) June 26, 2021

I really thought that blazers job would be perfect for her. I wish at this point Pop would just say he’s gonna give her the Spurs job as soon as he retires.

— meredith minkow (@murrminks) June 26, 2021

Needless to say, more than a few folks out there aren't happy with the Blazers' decision to hire Billups. Some of them have even resorted to attacking his character as a way to air out their frustration.

Be that as it may, it looks like there's no turning back for the Blazers here. Chauncey Billups appears set to take over the helm in what's going to be a high-pressure post. Damian Lillard wants to win now and isn't messing around. Will Billups get the job done?

Twitter explodes, roasting Blazers for Chauncey Billups hiring