Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard has already gone on the record regarding Terry Stotts’ potential replacement, and he favors two other former All-Star point guards.
Lillard told Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports that he’d like to see Lakers assistant Jason Kidd get the job. Portland parted ways with Stotts, its nine-year head coach, on Friday night after the Blazers’ latest early playoff exit.
“Jason Kidd is the guy I want,” Lillard said.
Haynes reported shortly after the news broke of Stotts’ departure that Lillard would have significant input in the hiring process. Stotts has been his only head coach since he entered the league.
According to Haynes, Lillard and Kidd “have a great relationship” and Lillard has great respect for Kidd’s basketball acumen and knowledge, believing he could get the team to the next level.
In a story written by The Athletic’s Jason Quick and Shams Charania, Lillard added another name to the mix — Clippers assistant Chauncey Billups.
“I like J. Kidd and Chauncey,” Lillard said.
The Athletic story added that Dame prefers Kidd, mainly due to his head coaching experience, but that Portland’s front office is intrigued by Billups. It’s believed that the job will go to one or the other.
Kidd’s record as a head coach — one season with the Nets and three-plus seasons with the Bucks — is 183-190. He was fired by Milwaukee midway through the 2017/18 campaign. He’s been one of the Lakers’ top assistants under Frank Vogel the last two seasons.
Billups, the 2004 Finals MVP, joined Ty Lue’s staff after a stint with ESPN.
Billups, ABC broadcaster and former Rockets/Knicks head coach Jeff Van Gundy, former head coach and current Nets assistant Mike D’Antoni, and University of Michigan head coach and former Heat assistant Juwan Howard were named as potential candidates by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Blazers didn’t want to make a hasty decision on Stotts’ status but the 63-year-old coach and his agent wanted a quick resolution so that they could explore other opportunities, according to The Athletic. Stotts is believed to be a candidate for the Pacers job if they move on from Nate Bjorkgren.
Lillard heaped praise on Stotts and wished things had turned out differently.
“I feel down about it, because I’m not much a fan of change,” Lillard said. “And every memory of mine in this uniform includes him.”
However, there were increasing concerns about Stotts’ ability to connect with his players and make in-game adjustments.
One nice thing about having Kidd as the head coach – he’s always got some beers on ice somewhere.
I still think that was one of the smartest things I’ve seen. Obviously crazy and wrong for reasons, but it worked lol. The memory of that always draws a laugh from me
If hiring Kidd, Blazers or Lakers could miss playoffs
Warriors need a playoffs spot after dealing away Wiseman and two lottery picks
Grizzlies is playoffs lock
He might be the perfect fit in Portland – there’s nothing like a cold one after another first round exit.
Stars choosing the head coach in the media has always worked out well, right? Well sounding flippant, I’m actually curious to know.
It’ll work even better when be requests a trade in December
Isn’t there enough recycling in our lives.
I don’t see Kidd taking the job. He probably will be considered for a lot of potential openings and the Blazers seem like they peaked and are a few years away from a rebuild.
Maybe he’s a glutton for punishment. I can’t think of a tougher gig in the NBA then turning a team whose three best players are 6-3, 6-3, and 6-11 – and are all pure baby food in the PnR – into an above average defensive team.
This is bs… merely Kidd and his camp campaigning for the job via a close media friend. Nothing to see here.
Also, Olshey would pretty much be giving up his “power” if he let this happen.
The other side of the argument is that Lillard leaves if he can’t help pick the coach.
Portland has a hard time recruiting talent too, I don’t think they’ll risk pissing off their star.
I’m obviously biased, but Juwan Howard, if he wanted to leave Michigan, which I’m not so sure about, would be a great NBA head coach, with all he learned with the Heat. I could say the same for Dan Craig, and I still think David Fizdale didnt get a real opportunity. Jason Kidd was one of my all time favorite players, but I’m not so sure about his fit for what they need.
How are you “obviously biased?”
I just named 3 Miami Heat guys lol
Blazers lack of success, squandering Dames prime squarely rest on Olshey. He has never put more than average roll players around Dame. Fire Olshey first, hire Danny Ainge. Let him build a new improved vision around Dame including the pic for new head coach.
Hopefully Mark Jackson gets another chance. I don’t think it was the old coach’s fault. It was a lack of talent in the loaded west and also a lack of desire of any free agents wanting to come to Portland.
Why wouldn’t a player want to go to Portland? A team with all stars and makes the playoffs every year.
@mlbnyyfan – WHY? Why do people think Jackson knows how to coach? The guy was terrible in Golden State – especially with the staff. Toxic.
It’s as bad an idea as Jeff Van Gundy coming back, as if the NBA hasn’t outgrown guys like him.
The intractable problem in Portland is Dame + CJ = bad defense, and CJ + Trade = Cents on the Dollar
Blow it up while you can. For all we rag on Houston here, they’re in a better position to rebuild now than they would have been if they waited for Harden to decline then shopped (not that it was their choice but still, Harden did them a favor IMO).
What? Where’s his support for Vanderpool now? He seems eager to give him another team’s coaching job but not his own team’s opening.♂️
@arc so why haven’t any stars come to Portland yet?
Who did they go after and said no? How many players refused to play teams because of situations. Almost all teams have the problem of getting players because of money or playing time.
Vanderpool is clearly not better than Stotts
He is a perfect fit for Wolves and now he is unemployed
He needs support
How is Vanderpool a perfect fit for the Wolves? Chris Finch would have been a leading candidate for many of these coaching vacancies.
Finch was Gersson Rosas’ guy from Day 1, and this happening this offseason is exactly why Rosas and the Timberwolves snatched him up in February. That was a stealth hire by Rosas and would likely be replacing Walton in Sacto (deep ties with the GM) or one of these currently open jobs.
I just don’t see many players willing to take a paycut to play in Portland. The Blazers never should of kept CJ and handed him that large contract. It’s hindering any kind of flexibility. Dame could of taken a paycut too so the team could get more stars. Some players are greedy and some players care more about team and winning.
I doubt Lillard will be there much longer as Portland seems like one of the next teams to blow up the roster in favor of a rebuild. Perhaps as early as this offseason. That left me pondering Lillard’s place in team history.
Who do you think is the greatest Portland Trail Blazer of all time? Clyde Drexler or Damian Lillard? I doubt it would be anyone else, but I guess you could go Bill Walton or Maurice Lucas since they won a title. But what do you think?
Bill Walton is the greatest basketball player in Blazer history, and there isn’t anyone close. Perhaps you’re considering other factors.
He only played 4 years for Portland. To me, that disqualifies him from the greatest Blazer ever discussion. I mean does anyone consider Michael Jordan the greatest Bullet/Wizard ever? He was clearly the best basketball player to wear the uniform, but that doesn’t make him the best ever for the team.
I would go Drexler, myself. Although if Lillard stays 2-3 more years, then maybe he passes him.
Fair. Although Jordan was a shell of himself with the Bullets; had he been the centerpiece of their only championship while there, it wouldn’t be such a joke to say he was the greatest in their history.
To me, even if he had won championships in BOTH years he was there, he wouldn’t pass Wes Unseld as THE franchise icon.
Choosing franchise icons really seems like it could be a very interesting off season series of posts. If you are reading this Luke Adams, make it happen.
I don’t think necessarily Jason Kidd will be a great fit I thought Dame would be more in support of an assistant that has been learning for years and deserves a step up. Someone like Juwan Howard, Sam Cassell, David Vanterpool, Jamahl Mosley or someone like that.
Dame needs to embrace change. Obviously he’s staying Portland for life, but in order for him to achieve the things he wants to achieve (rings), the roster needs a big change. I know CJ is your best mate and has been with you for a very long time but the gig is up. Nurkic he’s also gone.
I’d be targeting Brandon Ingram for starters, kid gets better every season, plays both ends of the floor and offers a really different package to dame but they should do really well together.
Along with Ingram, you could swap CJ and Nurkic and get Adams aswell. Great team mate, best screens, does all the dirty work.
Another star if Ingram ain’t your guy, Siakim. Considerably cheaper trade value, also plays both ends, can score or play-make for others.
One must wonder why anyone would listen to Wojnarowski when he throws the most stupid names out there, like JVG or D’Antoni… come on stop inventing things Woj & for once in your life try to tell somethin’ worth listenin’ to, right?
J-Kidd is the man, as simple as!
Guard in his playing days in the NBA and supported by another Guard. I don’t think Jason Kidd is the answer to Portland’s plans. Billups is another Guard while playing in the NBA. At this point, a Stan Van Gundy type head coach, would help the Blazers right now. Blazers are under sized. Stan Van Gundy knows how to build a roster. He’s done it with multiple teams and doing it with New Orleans right now. A guy like him that can address the areas where Blazers are weak at, will benefit the club long term. I love my Rockets and no pun intended when I state this. But Blazers are becoming a Rockets/Harden 2.0. It can end very badly if you let a super star make the demands.
If Portland was smart they’d be testing the waters for a trade for Dame vs. letting him pick the next HC. IMO Portland’s window has closed, Dame is 31 and CJ is 29. Dallas, Phoenix, Utah and Denver have young talented rosters and have passed the Blazers by. Portland isn’t going to pull off moves like Brooklyn and L.A. in free agency, so their best bet is acquiring draft picks to rebuild. Unfortunately for them their best asset is Dame, plus the issue with aging stars is they keep your team just good enough to be mediocre.