In the ever-changing landscape of the NBA, merely making the postseason won’t grant you security, so despite making the playoffs for eight consecutive seasons, the Portland Trail Blazers and Terry Stotts ended their 9-year partnership Friday night.
After a fourth first-round playoff exit in five seasons, the Portland Trail Blazers and coach Terry Stotts mutually agreed to part ways on Friday, sources told ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 5, 2021
Following ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski’s initial report, naturally, the rumor hill followed with head coach replacement proposals. Two Los Angeles assistant coaches came up the most in Chauncey Billups and Jason Kidd.
Stotts tasted championship success with the 2011 Dallas Mavericks, so of course, Portland saw him as an asset to lead the future with rookie Damian Lillard. Before Lillard reached superstar status with a part-time rap career and a successful venture with Adidas, he was a forgotten lottery point guard from Weber State.
Stotts and Lillard formed a mutual respect and turned the Blazers into a perennial playoff team. During his 9-season tenure, Stotts eluded the first round three times, including a Western Conference Finals appearance in 2019.
Portland basketball, unfortunately, remains synonymous with plights of injury-riddled seasons. The 2020-2021 season saw more of the same, as CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic missed a combined 60 games. Starting the season with an 18-12 record, seemingly the Trail Blazers found their groove. However, the injury bug hit Portland’s starting lineup, consequently causing the team to find its way into the six-seed, and ultimately a consecutive first-round knockout this time by the Denver Nuggets.
Source: Damian Lillard to have major input on the next head coach. Stotts was the only coach he’s played for in his nine seasons in the league. After the way the season ended, it was time for a change. https://t.co/opzDtX7LP3
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 5, 2021
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With Lillard reportedly granted a significant say in who’s the next head coach of Portland, expect more reports from Def Pen on the matter.
