Tiago Splitter continues to strengthen his case to take on a more permanent head-coaching role with the Portland Trail Blazers. That hasn't stopped new owner Tom Dundon from already exploring potential replacements.
Honestly, it's a strange situation all around. Splitter is the interim coach following Chauncey Billups' messy legal situation, and Splitter has already stated his desire to stick around as Portland's head coach. The rumored contract extension discussions, followed by Dundon's low-ball offers, are yet another part of his cost-cutting approach that's already getting on fans' nerves. All of this is happening while the Blazers attempt to pull off a major first-round upset against the San Antonio Spurs.
Blazers miss out on Michael Malone and now Taylor Jenkins
It remains to be seen what Dundon will ultimately decide to do with the head coaching position. We think Splitter has earned it after exceeding expectations during this unprecedented season, carrying Portland to the playoffs despite being one of the most injured teams in the league. The players genuinely enjoy playing for him, and as a result, Splitter gets the most out of his players.
That said, if Portland were to move on from Splitter this summer, we would ideally want him replaced by someone with more NBA-level head coaching experience. Former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone was one name, although that's no longer an option after he decided to take the job at North Carolina.
Another name was Taylor Jenkins. He didn't have the championship experience that Malone had, but what we liked about Jenkins was the similarities between the Grizzlies and Blazers rosters. The Blazers established a defensive identity on paper this offseason, but their individual weapons didn't quite translate to the elite defensive team many expected. Splitter got a lot out of Portland's roster, but perhaps Jenkins would be the one to take them to that next level for a deep playoff run.
Well, that's now off the table, too. ESPN's Shams Charania reports that Jenkins has taken the head coaching position with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Tiago Splitter was the Blazers' answer all along
While we would've loved Malone or Jenkins if Portland replaced Splitter, we're not sure they were ever realistic options.
Dundon has previously stated that he'd rather prioritize coaching talent than pay for a resume full of experience. That aligns with his other unconventional cost-cutting measures, which have quickly gained national attention. It could also explain why he's considering coaches at the collegiate level, as he'd be more likely to find a replacement who meets those criteria.
But if experience isn't much of a factor, that's actually more of a reason to keep Splitter around. He's performed well in this unexpected audition, and the Blazers have built legitimate momentum in their first season under him.
Their top replacement options are already dwindling, while Splitter has this team competing in the first round against a more talented Spurs team. And the fact that Dundon was never going to pay these top-tier replacement options like Malone or Jenkins should be further confirmation that Splitter is the man for the job.
He's already said he wants to stay around. Now, it's just a matter of offering him a reasonable deal.
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