Trail Blazers All-In On Chauncey Billups Despite Third Straight Terrible Season

Alex Kirschenbaum | Apr 15, 2024

Apr 12, 2024; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups. / Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

The Portland Trail Blazers remain all-in on the idea of Chauncey Billups as a good head coach.

We have yet to actually see that notion in practice, but considering the former Detroit Pistons point guard's Hall of Fame pedigree as a player, it's certainly a nice thought.

Across his three now-completed seasons with the club, Billups has posted an 81-165 overall record. This year's team finished as the No. 15 seed in the Western Conference, at 21-61.

Per Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report, team general manager Joe Cronin has confirmed that he will retain Billups heading into the 2024-25 season. Although the club hasn't exactly lit the league on fire across the past three seasons, it's also true that Portland hasn't really had the roster to compete for much of anything in that timespan, outside of two years with All-Star point guard Damian Lillard. The Blazers will have another shot at lottery good fortune this summer, and do boast several promising young pieces Billups will have an opportunity to keep shaping.

Bill Oram of The Oregonian reports that Cronin has praised Billups as being "an incredible leader in this organization." Next season will represent the final guaranteed season in the initial five-year deal he inked with the club in 2021. Portland has a team option on his salary for 2025/26.