After nine seasons as the voice on the sidelines for the Portland Trail Blazers, Terry Stotts looks on the way out barring a drastic change.
Stotts has been the Blazers coach throughout Damian Lillard's entire career, as they both joined the franchise in 2012. After a bumpy first year together that yielded a 33-49 record, the pair has notched seven straight NBA playoff appearances together, with an eighth one on the way.
Unless the Blazers somehow go on miraculous run this coming postseason, a head coaching change is in order to mix things up for Damian Lillard's remaining prime years. The list of potential targets includes a few names from some Western Conference rivals like the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, and Clippers. Also rumored are former Sacramento Kings head coach Dave Joerger, and a previous Blazers coach in Nate McMillan.
“Stotts, who sources say has less player support now than he did in years past, has one season left (upwards of $6 million). Among the potential coaching candidates for the Trail Blazers, sources say: Lakers assistant Jason Kidd, Hawks interim coach Nate McMillan, 76ers assistant Dave Joerger, Clippers assistant Chauncey Billups and Spurs vice president of basketball operations Brent Barry.” (via The Athletic's Shams Charania and Sam Amick)
Jason Kidd and Chauncey Billups from the LA squads both seem like interesting choices as former point guards who definitely have Damian Lillard's respect. While Kidd has had some experience coaching the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks in the past, he's never had a chance to coach a point guard that was on his level quite like Lillard is for the Blazers. Billups meanwhile would get his first crack at a coaching gig, which could be a boom or bust move for the franchise.
If these final weeks are truly the last for Terry Stotts in Portland, Blazers fans will definitely celebrate a successful decade with him at the helm.
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