The Portland Trail Blazers have narrowed their head coaching search to five finalists including Boston Celtics assistant Tyler Lashbrook and Utah Jazz assistant Mike Williams. Marc Stein of The Stein Line reported that Lashbrook and Williams have advanced to the final stages of the process. The group also includes Tiago Splitter, Jeff Van Gundy, and Micah Nori.
Lashbrook has spent the past two seasons as an assistant with the Celtics, working under head coach Joe Mazzulla. In that time, Boston has compiled a 114-70 record, including a 46-36 mark in the 2023-24 regular season. His background includes stints with the Sacramento Kings and the 2021-22 New York Knicks, where he contributed to a 41-41 finish.
Mike Williams has been with the Jazz since 2022, assisting head coach Will Hardy. During the 2023-24 season, Utah posted a 36-46 record and finished with a net rating of -0.9 per 100 possessions, according to Cleaning the Glass. Williams brings experience from his time with the Atlanta Hawks and the 2019-20 Houston Rockets, where he helped shape an offense that ranked 12th in the league in pace.
Tiago Splitter, a former NBA player, brings a unique blend of on-court experience and coaching acumen. He has worked with the San Antonio Spurs and the Toronto Raptors, the latter of which reached the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals. Jeff Van Gundy, a well-known figure in the NBA, has served as an assistant with the Houston Rockets and the 2021-22 Detroit Pistons. Micah Nori, a younger candidate, has worked with the 2022-23 Brooklyn Nets and the G League.
Finalists are expected to fly into Portland this weekend for in-person interviews. The Trail Blazers are coming off a 19-63 season, their worst record since 2012. The team has a 10.5% chance to land the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, per DraftKings Sportsbook. A coaching change is expected to be a key step in rebuilding the organization.
The Blazers are expected to make a decision by mid-May, ahead of the start of free agency on June 30. Portland’s next steps will include finalizing their coaching staff and planning for the 2024-25 season.
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