Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Sources: Blazers reach 5-year deal with Billups

Written by 
Published in Basketball
Sunday, 27 June 2021 21:40

The Portland Trail Blazers named Chauncey Billups as the franchise's next coach late Sunday night.

The team reached an agreement on a five-year deal with the former LA Clippers assistant that includes a team option on the last season, sources told ESPN.

Billups, 44, will be introduced at a Tuesday news conference in Portland, sources said.

Blazers president of basketball operations Neil Olshey and Billups' agent, Andy Miller of Klutch Sports, finalized the contract terms on Sunday, sources said. The Blazers offered Billups the job on Friday night, and the sides had been progressing on a deal to replace former coach Terry Stotts over the weekend.

The Blazers' landing of Billups sets the franchise's direction of trying to maximize the prime years of All-NBA guard Damian Lillard's career by elevating the team into deeper runs in the Western Conference playoffs. Portland advanced to two conference semifinals and a conference finals in the Lillard-Olshey-Stotts era.

After Blazers chair Jody Allen and Olshey met with Billups in Seattle on Wednesday, they were convinced that he was the right candidate, sources said.

Before making a formal offer on Friday night, the Blazers continued investigating a 1997 rape allegation against Billups, sources said. No criminal charges were brought, but Billups settled a civil lawsuit filed by the woman.

Although Billups had been vetted several times for high-level NBA leadership jobs, including an offer to become president of basketball operations for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017 and in his current role with the Clippers, the Blazers used much of the search process to revisit the allegations from Billups' rookie season in the NBA, sources said.

Billups encouraged the examination, sources said, and his answers in several conversations with Blazers officials aligned with findings from an independent investigation, sources said. The Blazers ultimately found nothing that they believed disqualified Billups from becoming the franchise's new head coach.

The Clippers credit Billups for his success in working with All-Star Paul George to advance his playmaking skills this season. Olshey's history with Billups goes back, among other ways, to their time together with the Clippers in the 2011-2012 season.

Olshey has long considered Billups one of the best leaders he had ever encountered in the NBA, and that relationship -- along with Lillard's public endorsement -- played a part in Billups choosing the Portland job over other opportunities, sources said.

Billups is tasked with elevating a Blazers defense that ranked among the worst in the league last season and continuing to build on a top-rated offense featuring Lillard and CJ McCollum.

"Portland is a special place and a unique franchise," Billups said in a statement. "As a player I always loved playing here because the passion and knowledge of the fans brought out the very best in me as a competitor. Now I'm looking forward to being on the other side of that energy and engaging with the Portland community on a whole other level."

Portland plans to be aggressive in surrounding Billups, who served one season as a Clippers assistant, with an experienced coaching staff. Billups replaces Stotts, who left Portland after eight straight trips to the playoffs that included three first-round exits in the past four years.

Brooklyn Nets assistant Mike D'Antoni and San Antonio Spurs assistant Becky Hammon also met with Allen and Olshey in Seattle, sources said.

Billups was a five-time NBA All-Star and the MVP of the 2004 NBA Finals as a member of the Detroit Pistons.

Read 366 times

Soccer

Ange: City game my worst experience as manager

Ange: City game my worst experience as manager

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsTottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou said he suffered cold sw...

What the heck is going on with the Portland Thorns? Their wild season so far explained

What the heck is going on with the Portland Thorns? Their wild season so far explained

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Portland Thorns are two victories away from tying the NWSL reco...

Juventus sack Allegri days after cup final antics

Juventus sack Allegri days after cup final antics

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMassimiliano Allegri has been sacked by Juventus, the club announce...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Sources: Porzingis likely out for start of East finals

Sources: Porzingis likely out for start of East finals

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsBoston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis is expected to remain side...

Budenholzer: I'd coach this Suns team if on moon

Budenholzer: I'd coach this Suns team if on moon

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPHOENIX -- Mike Budenholzer got a little teary-eyed talking about h...

Baseball

'This fan base is going to fall in love with him': How Luis Arráez is following in Tony Gwynn's footsteps

'This fan base is going to fall in love with him': How Luis Arráez is following in Tony Gwynn's footsteps

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsComparisons to Tony Gwynn began to follow Luis Arráez when he first...

Dodgers activate Heyward, place Muncy on IL

Dodgers activate Heyward, place Muncy on IL

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Dodgers shuffled their roster Friday...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated