Report: Blazers to Hire Clippers Assistant Roy Rogers

Portland is hiring Clippers assistant Roy Rogers as Chauncey Billups' top defensive assistant, per ESPN.

Chauncey Billups said he'd prioritize prior head-coaching experience and defensive acumen in building out his staff with the Trail Blazers. A day after reportedly adding Scott Brooks as Billups' top assistant, Portland has apparently found its de facto defensive coordinator, too.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Blazers are hiring LA Clippers assistant Roy Rogers to focus on the defensive side of the ball. 

Portland is finalizing a deal for Clippers assistant Roy Rogers to join Chauncey Billups’ new coaching staff, sources tell ESPN. Rogers has shown an ability to help improve team defenses in recent stops, and will focus on that end for the Blazers.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 10, 2021

Billups grew familiar with Rogers in 2020-21 as a rookie assistant with the Clippers under Ty Lue.

Last season was Rogers' first in LA, too. The Clippers' big man coach, Rogers was consistently lauded by Lue for his role in the development of center Ivica Zubac. 

“Roy Rogers has been great with Zu,” Lue said in May, per Law Murray of The Athletic. “Just working with him, keeping him fine-tuned.”

Rogers spent the 2019-20 season as an assistant with the Chicago Bulls. His most extensive coaching experience came as a member of the Houston Rockets' staff under Mike D'Antoni, where he was an assistant for three seasons. 

Rogers took over as Houston's lead defensive coach in 2018-19 following the abrupt preseason departure of Jeff Bzdelik. After finishing seventh in defensive rating the previous season, the Rockets were 17th on that end of the floor with Rogers in Bzdelik's place, a disappointing dropoff at least partially accounted for by inferior personnel.

Rogers, 47, also has prior coaching experience with the Washington Wizards, Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics and Brooklyn/New Jersey Nets. 

The No. 22 overall pick of the 1996 NBA draft, Rogers played three seasons in the league before continuing his professional career overseas.

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