The Portland Trail Blazers have announced Chauncey Billups as their next head coach. This move makes a lot of sense, and Billups has been listed as a potential name for a majority of coaching vacancies out there right now. With Jason Kidd ending up in Dallas after a weird courtship with Portland, it looked like Billups and the Blazers were destined to end up together.
We have named Chauncey Billups as our head coach.
Welcome to Portland, @1MrBigShot!https://t.co/4i5MXhkVs0 pic.twitter.com/EdFh79weEw
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) June 28, 2021
Billups has an interesting history as a player which gives him a different view of the NBA. As a former 3rd overall pick in the first round of the 1997 NBA Draft, he found himself on five different teams within five years. Eventually, he settled in with Detroit for the bulk of his career and made the most of it. The Pistons won the NBA title in 2004, Billups would go on to be named to 5 All-Star teams, a couple of All-NBA teams, and a nice 17-year career to show for it.
Now in the coaching game, Billups will find himself at the helm of an NBA organization very quickly. After spending a year on the bench for the Los Angeles Clippers, the former point guard will now have a team with great guards like Dame Lillard and CJ McCollum. The Blazers have some great pieces but are just missing one or two things to get to the next level.
The deal is for five years with a team option in the fifth year. Portland is putting a lot of trust in their new, rookie coach.
