4 Brilliant coaches the Trail Blazers could hire to replace Chauncey Billups

Miami Heat assistant Chris Quinn

It would cause more social media bloodshed between Blazers fans and Heat fans, but poaching Chris Quinn from Erik Spoelstra's staff in Miami would be another home-run hire for Portland.

Since ending his playing career, Quinn has taken a Spoelstra-esque route up the Miami coaching ladder. He started in player development in 2014 and got to coach his first NBA games during the 2021-22 season when Spo was in health and safety protocols.

ESPN's Kevin Arnovitz wrote a piece detailing the next wave of NBA head coaches, and here's what he had to say about Quinn (subscription required):

"Quinn is a point guard's point guard who has excelled at every task en route to the lead assistant's chair in Miami. Ask Heat insiders who most embodies the team's culture, and Quinn is commonly the answer (one league source affectionately referred to Quinn as Spoelstra's "mini-me" for his temperament and organizational skills). He's an emotionally stable leader who inspires confidence in players, as revealed when he filled in for Spoelstra as head coach for a stint in March and April."

- ESPN's Kevin Arnovitz

That story ran in 2022.

The now 40-year-old is still honing his craft under perhaps the best coach in the NBA. He's in his 10th season with Spoelstra (and Pat Riley), all of which have come in some form of player development role.

Considering Miami's unmatched ability to find and develop undervalued players like Caleb Martin, Gabe Vincent, Max Strus and Duncan Robinson, Quinn's expertise in that area would do wonders for a young, talented, ascending Blazers roster.