Coaching search

[THE HCP]

A couple of things to remember.

While Splitter is acting head coach, he is still running Chauncey's system and using Chauncey's staff. I have no idea how Splitter coached in France, but he could have a very different philosophy.

Also, personnel decisions have been made to fit the type of ball Chauncey wants to run.

Is it fair? Is Splitter a good coach? Hell if I know.

What I do know, is that this offseason, we either have to promote Splitter or hire a completely new coach. Either give Splitter a chance to build a staff his way or say goodbye to everyone on the coaching staff.

Saw some “expert” say this trial won’t even start til next summer at the earliest. WOW!

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Saw some “expert” say this trial won’t even start til next summer at the earliest. WOW!

Blazers can't and shouldn't stay in limbo that long. As soon as the season is over, we need to say goodbye to Mr Billups.

 

[blazerkor]

Blazers can't and shouldn't stay in limbo that long. As soon as the season is over, we need to say goodbye to Mr Billups.

The last report I saw said that the sale should close in March. I would expect that Dundon would want to get the Chauncey situation to be wrapped up pretty quickly after he takes over.

 

[1 Eye Jack]

just curious, Say he gets cleared of everything would you want him back as coach?

For me personally I’ve always like Billups as a person until this happened. That said I think I’d still want to go in different direction, whether that’s Tiago or someone else

 

[cheesehoff]

IMO the only way Chauncey comes back is if he is completely exonerated, which isn't likely with federal charges. They don't make arrests until it's a done deal.
Hiring a new coach probably means starting over. I mean, how many coaches run this type of system? I think a lot of our guys would be good if the philosophy was more traditional on the offensive end. I don't think Deni would be nearly the same. DC, Tou, Sharpe, Jrue, Yang, I think would be fine. Jerami seems to be perfect for this team off the bench. We'll see.
As far as a new GM...I think Nico Harrison is still available.

 

[riverman]

We might know more on Monday. That's when Chauncey appears in a NY court.

according to Shams, Chauncey will be tied up in court for 6 months to a year minimum over this. He's pleading not guilty on Monday which will trigger a longer trial period than a plea bargain.

 

[riverman]

I have to say that I like Tiago quite a bit as a coach. I like his demeanor and he's not a loud, arrogant coach which I like....he's more like Stotts. Even keeled.

 

[Hoopguru]

IMO, The FBI wouldn't think twice about using/indicting a well known NBA player/coach, that had anything to do with the poker games, regardless, if they thought he was tied into it the scheme or not. Or guilty bye association. They can always drop charges, at anytime, but use him, and his notoriety as a beacon and/or States evidence.. They could care less about ruining someone career. They toss a wide net with these types of investigations.

 

[Hoopguru]

If Chauncey is totally exonerated then allow the new owner of GM decide. Just think, if it was Lebron, and he was exonerated he'd be back.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Are the Blazers even allowed or in a position to make a coaching change?

Chauncey was suspended by the league while his legal entanglements get untangled. He's fighting this, claiming his innocence.

It might not be legal to fire him under the circumstances even if the Blazers wanted to do it. I believe NBA coaches are part of a union, even if there wasn't a clause in the contract to cover something like this. If they fired him and he winds up winning his case, conceivably he could sue the team for a lot more than he's being paid now.

The Blazers certainly can legally fire Billups today, it's not like any coach has protections or guarantee of retaining his duties.

The issue is how much the Blazers have to pay him. My guess is they don't fire him until his contract is voided for morality clause violations, or Billups and the Blazers reach a settlement.

Too much dollars in play for the Blazers to fire Billups now and potentially have to eat the rest of his contract.

If we were a contender or something it might be different where there's pressure to immediately make a new hire. Splitter has seemed to have done well so I see no indication of significant motivation for the Blazers to quickly move this process along.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

the league made the first move by placing Billups on immediate leave. I think his salary is being witheld by the Blazers which might be a tactical mistake....maybe. NBA coaches are part of a union but it seems more like a quasi union and is not part of the CBA like the player's union

as far as I know, a team can fire a coach at any time for no cause. They just have to pay the balance of his contract. But again, if they are withholding his salary that might complicate things a bit

personally, setting aside the poker scandal, it sure sounds like the FBI has recorded Billups giving inside information about Blazer injuries to a gambler and his associates. Un-indicted co-conspirator #8. If true, that would seem to be more than enough to fire with cause

Billups salary is in escrow, that's not a tactical mistake, it's standard practice for this type of situation. The Blazers don't have it but neither does Billups if it turns out the Blazers are eligible to get it all refunded.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Why do people think Spo could even be a longahot option at any price? Miami would first have to give the Blazers permission to have any discussion.

With the Dame situation and Cronin still as GM I see that as likely as somewhere between a snowstorm in hell and pigs jumping over the moon.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Billups hired Trump's lawyers.... What if he gets a pardon?

 

[SharpesTriumph]

IMO, The FBI wouldn't think twice about using/indicting a well known NBA player/coach, that had anything to do with the poker games, regardless, if they thought he was tied into it the scheme or not. Or guilty bye association. They can always drop charges, at anytime, but use him, and his notoriety as a beacon and/or States evidence.. They could care less about ruining someone career. They toss a wide net with these types of investigations.

I'm not buying this. There's a thousand NBA players/coaches that were not indicted. I don't buy they just singled out Billups for some ulterior motive. Remember the bulk of this case was built up during the Biden administration.

Billups isn't even indicted in the sports betting case, only in the poker one. Yes he was a co conspirator, but not charged. That shows me the FBI is being extremely cautious in who they charge.

 

[Hoopguru]

I'm not buying this. There's a thousand NBA players/coaches that were not indicted. I don't buy they just singled out Billups for some ulterior motive. Remember the bulk of this case was built up during the Biden administration.

Billups isn't even indicted in the sports betting case, only in the poker one. Yes he was a co conspirator, but not charged. That shows me the FBI is being extremely cautious in who they charge.

I did say poker game. So you say he is guilty of co conspiracy to swindle?

 

[wizenheimer]

Billups salary is in escrow, that's not a tactical mistake, it's standard practice for this type of situation.

no, it is not being placed in escrow. Rozier's salary is; Chauncey's is not

 

[dviss1]

What coach do you think would've done better with the players available? (Other than possibly Spo, whom the new owner needs to offer a Pat-Riley-to-the-Knicks/Heat type deal.)

Remind me of how that went down? Are you saying Spo would become GM too?

 

[STOMP]

I don’t see it’s been mentioned much because we haven’t let go of Billups yet, but I think we’d be better off making a coaching decision by all star break.

I like Tiago and like his system but huge risk with no NBA head coaching experience.

Whats the "huge risk?" He was an NBA player, he's been a HC, he's been an NBA Assistant Coach. Thats plenty on the resume to be qualified to take a crack at the job. Chauncey had no NBA head coaching experience prior to getting his shot... heck, neither Steve Kerr or Greg Popovich had any head coaching experience prior to their respective stints at the W's & Spurs. To me it would seem to be a much bigger risk to change things up (again) during this season especially with a coach who would want to make real changes to the style of play the team implemented in the off season when they have actual time to practice.

STOMP

 

[STOMP]

I like Tiago, but he has no control over this team. He basically just does rotations (and he rotates players out a lot more often than Chauncey did. This can help keep players fresh, but it also stops the team from finding any consistency on the court as players aren't in long enough to find a groove with each other). I don't see him doing much coaching outside of rotations. At the end of the Bulls game it was Bjorkgren giving instructions to players on what to do and not Tiago. Tiago seems a bit lost, but maybe that's also to be expected. He has never been a HC before. Tiago just seems to let players play and doesn't get on them or hold them accountable. I also know it's a far different look out there with so many injuries.

Tiago has never been a NBA Head Coach before but he was the HC for Paris last season which won the French league and was also the HC for the gold medal winning Brazilian under 23 national team in 2022.

Plenty of perceived all-time great NBA head coaches let the players play through mistakes and let their Assistants give instructions to players at times. I view chewing out players publicly on the court with any sort of regularity as plain stupidity where guys will just tune out the messanger for embarrassing them... much better to handle most real critisism outside of the spotlight. I'm fine with the fact that most good coaching happens outside of my fan view & marvel at fans who think they know whats really going on with team dynamics.

STOMP

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Remind me of how that went down? Are you saying Spo would become GM too?

Right. He doesn't have to do the actual GM-ing, he can bring in his own guy and sign off - like Pop in SA.

Spo's family is in Oregon, right?

 

[Wizard Mentor]

My guesses:

Chauncey is gone.

I suspect Tiago will coach the Blazers until the end of the year, by which time ownership should go through. The new owner will want to make his mark, and that may start with a new coach. Mike Malone and Tayler Jenkins are interesting names.

 

[dviss1]

Right. He doesn't have to do the actual GM-ing, he can bring in his own guy and sign off - like Pop in SA.

Spo's family is in Oregon, right?

Props to Cronin for getting the team back on track after crazy circumstances but... I'd let Spo take everything over in heartbeat. And yes I believe his fam is here.