Chauncey Billups is Consensus Betting Favorite as Blazers New Coach

The Blazers' search is just getting started, but Chauncey Billups is already the Vegas favorite.

Chauncey Billups was only Damian Lillard's second choice to succeed Terry Stotts as head coach of the Trail Blazers. With Jason Kidd having already withdrawn from consideration, though, the five-time All-Star has surged to the front of Portland's search as it officially begins – at least if betting markets are to be believed.

Sports Betting Dime lists Billups' odds to become the Blazers' next coach at +300, better than any other prospective candidate. PointsBet is even more bullish on Billups' chances, listing his odds at -200 – far better than any other coach.

Both sportsbooks like Philadelphia 76ers assistant Sam Cassell, former Sacramento Kings and Memphis Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger, Michigan Wolverines head coach Juwan Howard and former Blazers assistant David Vanterpool – a longtime favorite of both Lillard and C.J. McCollum – as other potential hires for Portland. 

Sports Betting Dime includes LA Clippers assistant Kenny Atkinson among the more likely candidates, while PointsBet adds ABC/ESPN announcer Jeff Van Gundy to that group.

The most significant constant, of course, is Billups by himself at the head of both lists, hardly a surprise given Lillard's pre-approval and his existing relationship with general manager Neil Olshey.

The 2004 NBA Finals MVP is only in his first season as an assistant coach, cutting his teeth next to Atkinson under Ty Lue with the Clippers. But Billups, in NBA media before joining LA, has been rumored for open coaching jobs and front-office positions for years. 

In his annual report on the league's up-and-coming coaches, ESPN's Kevin Arnovitz lauded Billups for his ability to connect with players and eagerness to learn the coaching ropes despite a distinguished playing career.

After interviewing last season for the Indiana job that ultimately went to Nate Bjorkgren, Billups joined Ty Lue's staff last fall, and has thoroughly impressed colleagues with both his gravitas and his willingness to listen -- even as an NBA champion who saw it all over 17 seasons. Now that he's accumulating coaching experience under a boss with a reputation for preparedness, Billups is regarded by insiders as one of the likeliest candidates to receive a head-coaching opportunity sooner than later.

The Blazers, of course, are built to win now, and that won't change as long as Lillard around no matter what happens to the roster around him. Is Billups, still green as a coach, ready to take the reins of a veteran team at a major crossroads?

That's just one question Olshey and team chair Jody Allen need to ask themselves about Billups. The most important one? What role his alleged rape of a woman in 1997 – papered over throughout his playing and media career – plays in Billups' candidacy.

It's early yet. Olshey insisted on Monday that Portland hadn't reached out to a single candidate, and had plans to give "20-25" coaches consideration. 

But Billups, obviously, is still the clear favorite at this juncture in the hiring process.

READ MORE: Neil Olshey Clarifies Damian Lillard's Role in Coaching Search