Trail Blazers To Name Chauncey Billups New Head Coach

 The NBA coaching carousel's latest stop is Portland, where the Trail Blazers will be naming Los Angeles Clippers assistant Chauncey Billups their new head coach. 

Billups -- the 2004 NBA Finals MVP -- was offered the Trail Blazers job tonight and will be the new Portland coach. https://t.co/R05tXu0KLP

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 26, 2021

Billups still has another job to complete before inking his name on the Trail Blazers' contract, as the Clippers are still battling with the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference Final. 

The 44-year-old former Finals MVP (2004, Detroit) acquitted himself well in his first season on an NBA coaching staff, having garnered interest by several teams in their search for a new head coach. 

Sam Amick of The Athletic says that Billups was general manager Neil Olshey's first choice right from the beginning for the Blazers' job, calling him "dynamic, respected, and held in high regard" by today's best players around the league. 

His former coach in Denver, George Karl, is thrilled to hear the news:

Cannot express how happy I would be to see Chauncey Billups as the Head Coach of the Blazers.

One of the great leaders I ever coached.

Let’s see what magic he can make happen for Portland! pic.twitter.com/Xe2sXqTOzV

— George Karl (@CoachKarl22) June 26, 2021

Portland relieved Terry Stotts of his duties after 9 years at the helm, following their first-round elimination in this year's playoffs.  

'Mr. Big Shot', as Billups is known, takes over a Portland team that is at a crossroads, as they are in the process of deciding if the Damian Lillard/CJ McCollum duo is the right pairing to take them to the promised land. 

Photo Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports