4 Brilliant coaches the Trail Blazers could hire to replace Chauncey Billups
If this season is the end of the line for Portland's head man, where could the franchise turn for a replacement?
Immediately after trading Damian Lillard and drafting Scoot Henderson with the third overall pick, the 2023-24 season became all about player development for the Portland Trail Blazers. Head coach Chauncey Billups was tasked with growing a group of largely inexperienced but talented players and laying the foundation for the franchise's rebuild.
In many areas, Billups has succeeded. He's helped Scoot steadily improve after a miserable start to his rookie season. Shaedon Sharpe was having a breakout sophomore campaign before injuries cut it short. Anfernee Simons has gotten better as a playmaker and defender. Jabari Walker, Toumani Camara and Duop Reath have become NBA-level role players.
As of March 7, Billups is 77-148 as Portland's head coach. He's faced legitimate roadblocks to winning - significant injuries to key players, end-of-season tanking and young rosters. The Trail Blazers have been competitive and scrappy and have played with real effort for Billups. They just haven't won games, which may necessitate a change.
4 Dream coaching hires the Trail Blazers could make to replace Chauncey Billups
It might be time for a new voice, one with more NBA coaching experience and a track record for developing young players. Here are four current assistants who would be ideal fits to mold Portland's youthful roster into a contender.
Sacramento Kings assistant Jordi Fernandez
Jordi Fernandez has had numerous interviews over the past few offseasons and was a finalist in Phoenix before the Suns hired Frank Vogel.
He was voted as the best assistant coach in the NBA by the league's GMs.
The 41-year-old took over the Canadian Men's National Team just weeks before last year's FIBA World Cup and led a group of young players headlined by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Dillon Brooks and RJ Barrett to a bronze medal. Fernandez has a PhD in sports psychology and has had academic papers published about offensive basketball.
He's been a high-level assistant coach in Spain, and before joining Mike Brown's staff in Sacramento, was an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets and head coach of the G League's Canton Charge. Fernandez would be a perfect fit for the Blazers as a coach and a program builder.