Blazers to Engage in 'Full Search' for Next Head Coach

Damian Lillard made his personal preferences clear, but the Blazers will conduct a full search for their new coach.

Jack Winter

Blazers to Engage in 'Full Search' for Next Head Coach
Blazers to Engage in 'Full Search' for Next Head Coach /

Terry Stotts' seat was still warm when it appeared as if Damian Lillard had made the Trail Blazers' decision for them.

Lillard's told Yahoo Sports on Friday night that Jason Kidd is who he wanted as Portland's next coach, less than two hours after it was announced the team had agreed to part ways with Stotts. The next morning, Lillard reiterated to The Athletic that he'd be amenable to Chauncey Billups becoming the Blazers' coach, too.

Needless to say, change comes fast in the NBA. But the latest developments suggest Portland will be taking a far more patient approach to hiring a new head coach than Lillard's power play made it seem on the surface.

Kidd told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Sunday that he was withdrawing from consideration for the Blazers' job. Also included in that report was a note that the Blazers have yet to even ask opposing teams for permission to interview assistants, an indicator of just how early the front office is in the hiring process.

The Blazers have yet to ask for permission to speak to -- or reach out directly to -- any potential candidates, but that's expected to change once the first round of the playoffs ends Sunday, sources said.

Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports first lent credence to that notion on Saturday night, reporting that the Blazers will put on a "full search" for their next head coach.

While Lillard will be involved in the process, the "final call" will rest with general manager Neil Olshey and franchise chair Jody Allen.

The notion of a more thorough, well-vetted search for Portland's next coach no doubt comes as a relief to many Blazers fans, turned off by alleged histories of violence against women owned by Lillard's personal favorites.

Kidd pleaded guilty to spousal abuse in 2001 for striking his then-wife, evidence of a pattern of physical abuse she later claimed in a court filing dated back years. Billups was accused of rape in 1997, ultimately agreeing to settle a lawsuit filed against him by his alleged victim.

Billups, who's had a good relationship with Blazers general manager Neil Olshey for over a decade, is joined by Brooklyn Nets assistant Mike D'Antoni, ESPN's Jeff Van Gundy and University of Michigan coach Juwan Howard as prospective candidates for Portland's coaching vacancy, according to ESPN. 

San Antonio Spurs assistant Becky Hammon is a popular choice locally, while former Blazers great LaMarcus Aldridge believes a pair of bygone team assistants deserve a chance to take the head chair in Rip City.

The only thing we know for sure? Kidd won't be coming to Portland. 

Take a breath, Blazers fans. The offseason has only just begun, along with Portland's coaching search.

READ MORE: A Coaching Change Isn't Nearly Enough for Trail Blazers

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Jack Winter
JACK WINTER

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