An in-depth look at the Portland Trail Blazers head coaching candidates
By Joe Espy
Portland Trail Blazers head coaching candidate – Chauncey Billups
Current Los Angeles Clippers assistant coach Chauncey Billups would be an intriguing option for a Portland team that wants to win now, given his lack of head coaching experience. The Blazers provide an interesting situation for a first-year coach to inherit, which will likely include many moving parts this offseason.
The former Finals MVP is an appealing choice for many teams, given his prior NBA experience as a player. Connecting with players is a key factor in coaching, and that is something Billups has done his whole career, whether it be on the court with teammates or now on the sideline with players and team personnel.
Billups is just now getting his first year of coaching under his belt. If first-year Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse proved anything in 2019, it was that head coaching experience is just a number these days. It will likely come down to how confident the Blazers front office is in Billups building around Portland’s aging stars in Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum.