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Blazers head coach Terry Stotts likely to stay — but what about his assistants?

By Matt George Moore

PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 20: Assistant Coach David Vanterpool of the Portland Trail Blazers speaks to Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the game against the Houston Rockets on March 20, 2018 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 20: Assistant Coach David Vanterpool of the Portland Trail Blazers speaks to Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the game against the Houston Rockets on March 20, 2018 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Blazers coaching staff is made up of respected basketball minds. And it looks like two members of that staff are being seriously considered for vacant coaching gigs elsewhere.

Though rumored to be on the proverbial “hot seat” after a sweeping first-round playoff loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts is now rumored to be off that same proverbial hot seat.

Check out Marc Stein’s “Corner Three” feature here; he addresses the Stotts rumors and also talks about the role of Blazers President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey moving forward.

But now that conversations have turned away from the ludicrous idea of making Stotts the fall guy for Olshey’s faulty roster-building, let’s turn to a couple of Stotts’ assistants: David Vanterpool and Nate Tibbetts.

Both are actively interviewing for head coaching vacancies in other NBA cities.

Nate Tibbetts

The first bit of news involves Tibbetts, and (as usual) we first found out from Woj:

Tibbetts was an assistant coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers for two seasons before joining Stotts’ staff in 2013. Prior to that — and here we’re going back a ways — he was a talented guard for the Roosevelt High School Rough Riders in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He also played at the University of South Dakota.

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According to the Argus Leader in Sioux Falls, Tibbetts was also “an assistant coach for the University of Sioux Falls … before joining the Sioux Falls Skyforce for four seasons. He went on to coach the Tulsa 66ers.”

David Vanterpool

Next up: Vanterpool, who is being considered for not one but two head coaching vacancies. Both Orlando and now Charlotte have received permission to interview him.

Like Tibbetts, Vanterpool is an ex-baller who has been on Stotts’ staff since 2013.

Vanterpool attended St. Bonaventure University and played 22 games with the Washington Wizards during the 2001-2002 season.

Next: Leonard hopes team receives him with open mind next season

He tied for third place last year in a general manager survey of best assistant coaches in the league and is often credited with the impressive turnaround in the Blazers’ defensive metrics.