Los Angeles Times: Chauncey Billups, the first-year assistant coach with the Clippers, has emerged as the candidate the Portland Trail Blazers have identified to be their next head coach, according to people not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. Billups’ representatives and Neil Olshey, the president of basketball operations for the Trail Blazers, have been having contract discussions about Billups replacing recently fired Terry Stotts as coach, according to the people with knowledge of the situation. The two sides are continuing to work on a deal, but nothing has been signed yet.
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Trail Blazers and head coach Terry Stotts agree to part ways
The Portland Trail Blazers and Terry Stotts have mutually agreed to part ways, it was announced today by Neil Olshey, president of basketball operations.
“I have the utmost respect for Terry and what he has accomplished these past nine seasons,” said Olshey. “This was a difficult decision on both a personal and professional level but it’s in the best interest of the franchise to move in another direction. Terry will always hold a special place in the Trail Blazer family and the Portland community. We relied on the integrity, professionalism and consistency he brought to the job every day and we wish he and Jan nothing but the best.”
Stotts completed his ninth season as head coach of the Trail Blazers in 2020-21 after guiding Portland to a 42-30 record and an eighth consecutive postseason appearance.
A 27-year coaching veteran, Portland introduced Stotts as the franchise’s 14th head coach on August 7, 2012. He is the second-winningest coach in franchise history after Jack Ramsay. Overall, Stotts holds a career coaching record of 517- 486 (.515) and a 402-318 (.558) mark with Portland.
“We are all grateful for Terry’s contributions and his nine years with the Trail Blazers,” said Jody Allen, chair of the Trail Blazers. “I appreciate his steadfast dedication to the players, the game, and the broader Portland community. We wish him the best in his future endeavors.”
Trail Blazers sign Rondae Hollis-Jefferson for remainder of season
The Portland Trail Blazers have signed forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson for the remainder of the 2020-21 season, it was announced today by president of basketball operations Neil Olshey.
Hollis-Jefferson, 26, has appeared in six games (one start) for the Trail Blazers since signing his first 10-day contract with the team on April 8. In those outings, he has posted averages of 3.2 points (41.7% FG, 64.3% FT), 2.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.50 blocks and 11.0 minutes.
Playing in his sixth season out of the University of Arizona, Hollis-Jefferson (6-6, 217) holds career averages of 9.2 points (44.8% FG, 21.2% 3-PT, 73.7% FT), 5.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.93 steals and 22.4 minutes in 300 games (154 starts) with Brooklyn, Toronto and Portland.
Trail Blazers sign Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to second 10-day contract
The Portland Trail Blazers have signed forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to a second 10-day contract, it was announced today by president of basketball operations Neil Olshey.
Hollis-Jefferson, 26, has appeared in two games for the Trail Blazers, averaging 2.0 points, 0.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 6.0 minutes.
Portland first signed Hollis-Jefferson to a 10-day contract on April 8.
Trail Blazers sign TJ Leaf to two-way contract
The Portland Trail Blazers have signed free-agent forward TJ Leaf to a two-way contract, it was announced today by president of basketball operations Neil Olshey.
Leaf, 23, holds career averages of 3.3 points (49.1% FG, 34.1% 3-PT, 57.1% FT), 2.0 rebounds, 0.3 assists and 8.7 minutes in 139 games (two starts), all with Indiana. A three-year veteran, Leaf (6-10, 222) was selected with the 18th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Pacers following his freshman season at UCLA.
Traded from Indiana to Oklahoma City ahead of the 2020-21 season, Leaf was waived by the Thunder on December 18.
Leaf will wear No. 18 for the Trail Blazers.
Trail Blazers sign forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to 10-day contract
The Portland Trail Blazers have signed free-agent forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to a 10-day contract.
Hollis-Jefferson, 26, spent the 2019-20 season with Toronto, posting averages of 7.0 points (47.1% FG, 73.4% FT), 4.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 18.7 minutes in 60 games (six starts). He signed a training camp contract with Minnesota on December 3, 2020 prior to being waived on December 19.
A five-year veteran, Hollis-Jefferson (6-6, 217) holds career averages of 9.3 points (44.8% FG, 21.3% 3-PT, 73.8% FT), 5.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.94 steals and 22.6 minutes in 294 games (153 starts) with the Nets and Toronto. After two seasons at Arizona, he was selected by the Trail Blazers with the 23rd overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft and then dealt to Brooklyn in a draft-night trade.
Hollis-Jefferson will wear No. 2 for the Trail Blazers.
Raptors trade Norman Powell to Trail Blazers for Gary Trent Jr. and Rodney Hood
The Portland Trail Blazers have acquired guard Norman Powell in a trade with the Toronto Raptors for guard Gary Trent Jr. and guard/forward Rodney Hood.
“Norman accomplished so much with the Raptors. He committed to the process, he worked on his game, he grew as a person, and he thrived as a player,” Raptors President Masai Ujiri said. “Norman gave us great performances to remember. Norman is an NBA Champion, and he has earned his place as one of the great success stories in franchise history. We are grateful for everything he did for our team and our city.”
Powell, 27, is averaging a career-high 19.6 points (49.8% FG, 43.9% 3-PT, 86.5% FT) to go with 3.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.12 steals and 30.4 minutes through 42 games (31 starts) with Toronto this season. He ranks 10th in the NBA in three-point percentage and 13th in three-pointers made (118).
In his sixth NBA season, Powell (6-3, 215) holds career averages of 9.9 points (46.6% FG, 37.9% 3-PT, 83.0% FT), 2.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 20.2 minutes in 349 games (120 starts), all with the Raptors. The 2019 NBA Champion was originally selected out of UCLA by Milwaukee with the 46th pick of the 2015 NBA Draft before being acquired by Toronto in a draft night trade.
“Gary and Rodney have been valuable members of our organization the past three seasons and we appreciate their numerous contributions on the floor and in the Portland community,” said Blazers president of basketball operations Neil Olshey. “We wish them continued success and happiness in Toronto.”
Trent Jr., 6-foot-5, 209 pounds, is averaging career highs of 15.0 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 30.8 minutes in 41 games (23 starts) this season. He is shooting .414 (217-524) from the field and .397 (121-305) from three-point range. Trent Jr. has scored in double figures in 31 games, including 20 or more nine times, and scored a season-high 28 points Dec. 28 against the LA Lakers.
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Trent Jr. owns career averages of 10.2 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 23.1 minutes in 117 career games (32 starts) with the Blazers. He played one season at Duke (2017-18) prior to being picked 37th overall by Sacramento in the 2018 NBA Draft and traded to Portland on draft night. His father, Gary Trent Sr., appeared in 13 games with the Raptors during the 1997-98 season.
Hood, 6-foot-8, 208 pounds, is averaging 4.7 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 19.1 minutes in 38 contests (five starts) this season. He has scored in double digits three times, including a season-best 21 points Jan. 18 vs. San Antonio.
A native of Meridian, Mississippi, Hood was picked 23rd overall by Utah in the 2014 NBA Draft. He is averaging 11.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 26.5 minutes in 379 career games (253 starts) with Utah, Cleveland and Portland. Hood played collegiately at Mississippi State (2011-12) and Duke (2013-14).
Powell will wear No. 24 for the Trail Blazers.
CJ McCollum set to return for Trail Blazers
The Trail Blazers’ backcourt is about to get a lot more potent. Via the NBA.com/blazers:
After finishing off the first half of the season with three-straight wins, the Portland Trail Blazers have struggled in their three games since the All-Star break.
But help is on the way.
After missing the last 25 games with a broken bone in his left foot, Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum is expected to return to the lineup when the Trail Blazers begin a five-game homestand by hosting the New Orleans Pelicans Tuesday night at the Moda Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
The Blazers are 22-16 this season, which is the 6th best record in the Western conference.
In 13 games played, McCollum is averaging 26.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic health update
Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic continues to progress in his recovery from a right wrist fracture, it was announced today by Trail Blazers president of basketball operations, Neil Olshey.
Nurkic, who suffered the injury on January 14 versus Indiana, continues to increase his on-court activity and will be reevaluated later next week. Further updates will be provided accordingly.
In 12 games this season, Nurkic is averaging 9.8 points (48.5% FG, 25.0% 3-PT, 55.6% FT), 7.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 23.3 minutes.
Blazers guard CJ McCollum cleared for contact practice
Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum continues to recover from a left mid-foot fracture and has been cleared for contact practice, it was announced today by Neil Olshey, Trail Blazers president of basketball operations.
McCollum will be reevaluated later next week.
Through 13 games, McCollum averaged 26.7 points (47.3% FG, 44.1% 3-PT, 84.4% FT), 3.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists with Portland prior to sustaining the injury on January 16 vs. Atlanta.