The Portland Trail Blazers’ search for a new head coach appears to be winding down into its final stages. According to the latest Substack release from Marc Stein [subscription required], Portland has narrowed down the field of candidates to three. They are Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach Micah Nori, Boston Celtics assistant Tyler Lashbrook, and current acting head coach of the Blazers Tiago Splitter.
We wrote last week above about Portland advancing to a finalist stage, but sources say that
the process has been slowed to a degree by the Carolina Hurricanes’ trip to the Stanley Cup Final. The Hurricanes, as you’ve surely heard, now share an owner with the Trail Blazers in Tom Dundon and are playing the Las Vegas Golden Knights for NHL supremacy.
Sources tell The Stein Line that three of the five finalists we identified last week remain under consideration for the full-time post in Portland: Minnesota’s Nori, Boston’s Tyler Lashbrook and Blazers acting coach Tiago Splitter.
The other finalists who, according to sources, did not advance: The Clippers’ Jeff Van Gundy and Utah’s Mike Williams.
In the same report, Stein relayed that former Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts was likely to get an interview for the vacant Dallas Mavericks head coaching position. Dallas may also compete with Portland for the services of Nori.
…sources say that the Mavericks have either already registered official interest or plan to do so with a number of prominent assistant coaches. Those include Minnesota’s Micah Nori, Houston’s Royal Ivey, Toronto’s Jama Mahlalela, Boston’s Tony Dobbins and Miami consultant Noah LaRoche.
The Stein Line has also been advised that former Trail Blazers, Bucks and Hawks coach Terry Stotts — who previously had a stint in Dallas as an assistant and was once recommended strongly for Kidd’s staff by former majority owner Mark Cuban — is also certain to get an interview for the position. Stotts recently left his previous assistant post on Steve Kerr’s staff in Golden State and, according to sources, only has interest in head coaching openings at this time.
We will keep you apprised of the Portland situation as news develops.
