NBA Rumors: Trail Blazers Eyeing All-Star Point Guards, Ex-Coach To Replace Stotts

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts is reportedly in the hot seat following what is seen as another disappointing season for Damian Lillard's team.

If the Blazers are not to make a deep run in the 2020-21 NBA postseason, there is a strong chance Stotts will be replaced by any of five potential candidates, according to The Athletic.

"Among the potential coaching candidates for the Trail Blazers, sources say: Lakers assistant Jason Kidd, Hawks interim coach Nate McMillan, 76ers assistant Dave Joerger, Clippers assistant Chauncey Billups and Spurs vice president of basketball operations Brent Barry," the report by Shams Charania and Sam Amick read.

That is an impressive list, which includes a Hall of Fame point guard, a Finals MVP, and even a former dunk champion.

The report added that the Blazers are already "increasingly expected" to fire Stotts.

According to The Athletic's source, the nine-year mentor will need to "pull a rabbit out of his hat," meaning an extraordinary playoff showing is required just for a chance to salvage the situation.

Stotts has a 397-317 (.556) win-loss record since joining the Blazers as head coach in 2012.

Interestingly, McMillan, whom he replaced, is also among the candidates.

McMillan handled the Blazers from 2005 to 2012, in an era which included the likes of Brandon Roy, Greg Oden and LaMarcus Aldridge.

Joerger, the former Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings head coach, compiled a 245-247 (.498) in five seasons combined with the Western Conference team.

Kidd, a Hall of Famer as a player, won a title with the Los Angeles Lakers last year as an assistant coach, following head coaching roles with the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks.

Billups, a 2004 champion with the famous Detroit Pistons super-team back in the 2000s, is in his first season helping on the sidelines.

The Clippers hired him back in November 2020 as an assistant to Ty Lue.

Of the names being sought, only Barry has no full-time coaching experience, although he has been a regular analyst with NBA TV and NBA on TNT prior.

Best known for his stint with the Spurs, Barry joined the franchise as vice president of basketball operations in 2018.

The Blazers have been stuck in the West's play-in territory for quite some time now.

With a 37-29 record, they will have to get past the Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors, and possibly the Spurs.

Should they ever be successful, the road does not get easier: a first-round series looms against either the Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets, or Los Angeles Clippers.

Stotts had his share of success with the Blazers. He helped the franchise to eight consecutive playoff appearances under his tenure. Lillard won Rookie of the Year in 2012, while CJ McCollum took home the Most Improved Player award back in 2016.

Perhaps the highlight of Stotts' run was anchoring the Blazers to the 2019 Western Conference Finals, before losing to the Warriors.

However, the fallout from that banner season to potentially back-to-back underwhelming finishes might spell the end of Stott's term at Rip City.