The Indiana Pacers are parting ways with head coach Nate Bjorkgren, and could look to replace with him with Terry Stotts.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported Bjorkgren was told of the decision on Wednesday after meeting with Pacers management on Tuesday:
“Bjorkgren was informed today of decision to dismiss him, sources said. He met with management on Tuesday,” Wojnarowski reported. “Pacers are expected to pursue a more experienced, established head coach in this process. Bjorkgren lost locker room and much of organization in his one year as coach.”
Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports and others reported the Pacers are already eyeing Stotts for the head coaching job after he was fired by the Portland Trail Blazers following their first-round playoff loss.
Indiana Pacers expected to take a look at former Portland Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts, league sources tell @YahooSports.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 9, 2021
This makes for quite the interesting dynamic in Indiana.
Bjorkgren was never able to relate to the players in the Pacers locker room, as Wojnarowski reported earlier in the season. While Blazers players never openly expressed internal turmoil as it related to Stotts, star point guard Damian Lillard practically openly stated Stotts' job might be in danger if the team failed to make a deep playoff run.
In any case, the Pacers have an interesting future. Domantas Sabonis is a guy who can be a perennial All-Star given his versatile skill set. The backcourt of Malcolm Brogdon and Caris LeVert should appeal to a number of candidates, with T.J. Warren eventually returning from injury and Myles Turner serving as a defensive anchor around the rim.
The Pacers will begin the head coaching search in earnest after parting ways with Bjorkgren, and it could end with Stotts replacing him.
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