Trail Blazers Casting a 'Wide Net' in Coaching Search as Players Endorse Tiago Splitter

For the first time in five years, the Trail Blazers have an opening for a head coach.

And for the first time in 12 years, they're going to conduct a search to fill that spot.

The last coach the Blazers hired in 2021, Chauncey Billups, is still technically with the organization but, realistically, is finished as an NBA coach as he awaits trial this fall on federal charges related to a gambling investigation.

The coach that stepped in to replace Billups on the second day of the season, Tiago Splitter, wants to stay and has widespread support from Blazers players to keep the job following a 42-40 season and the franchise's first playoff appearance in five years.

At last week's exit interviews, general manager Joe Cronin confirmed what has been widely reported (including here) for weeks: new owner Tom Dundon wants to do a full coaching search and interview outside candidates before making a decision.

"The current status is, Tiago is a candidate for the position," Cronin said. "But we're also looking around at other candidates. We decided early on we were going to cast a wide net and get to know a lot of different coaches and analyze and evaluate them in relation to Tiago."

The Blazers lost in five games to San Antonio in the playoffs. They want to go further than that next year, which is likely going to mean significant roster changes. Dundon telegraphed that at his introductory press conference last month, and Cronin reinforced at his exit interview last week that they're thinking big.

Hiring the right coach is going to be just as crucial as making the right changes to the roster.