Chauncey Billups, Portland Trail Blazers.
There might have been two names on Dame’s list, but there was a name on Portland Trail Blazers owner Jody Allen’s list: Becky Hammon. Former NBA head coach Mike D’Antoni was chomping at the bit for the job also. Both were interviewed, and neither was hired. So why Chauncey Billups?
That’s not really why. Not only was Billups Dame’s choice, but he was also Neil Olshey’s. Olshey is not a favorite of the fans these days, but Damian Lillard is, and whatever their star wants, the fans in Portland do also.
Before going on, let’s not ignore the firestorm brewing over Portland. One columnist from the Oregonian, John Canzano, feels that this hiring is all wrong.
“Chauncey Billups is reportedly lined up to be Portland’s next NBA head coach. Try that one today. The NBA franchise that could have gone with a home-grown talent or been the first-ever to hire a woman as its head coach instead opted to hand the keys to a guy who once settled a sex-assault case out of court.”
There it is. As a rookie, Billups was one of the players involved in an assault/rape case. He was never convicted or even charged for the crime. However, he settled with the young woman in civil court. I know. I felt the same way. My heart goes out to this young woman in a very personal way. But he was not charged. We are innocent until proven guilty in America, and I don’t know if a monetary judgment equals guilty.
These allegations have been investigated first by Disney/ESPN, who hired Billups in 2014. Again when the Cleveland Cavaliers were considering him for a front-office position. Next, the Los Angeles Clippers ran an investigation in October of last year before hiring him as an assistant coach. Finally, the Blazers organization said they conducted an investigation that included a face-to-face interview with Billups himself, and his answers were in line with what investigators reported.
Social media has been very hard on Dame for wanting Billups. Lillard’s tweet in return:
Chauncey Billups is an NBA champion. He got a ring with the Detroit Pistons in 2004 and was the Finals MVP. He is a five-time NBA All-Star, and what was important to me is that he was a two-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team. In addition, Billups has won the NBA’s Sportsmanship award (2009) and the NBA Teammate of the Year award (2013).
That is all wonderful but is it a formula for success? The Blazers were 29th in defense out of the 30 teams. But, according to Mr. Olshey, that is all the Blazers need to win a championship. He is a little misguided. The Portland Trailblazers also need someone(s) around Lillard to win.
Neil Olshey has known Chauncey since 2011. That’s when he saved him from the New York Knicks. Instead, Billups played with the Clippers for two seasons. According to Olshey, Billups is “one of the best leaders he has ever encountered in the NBA.”
Billups also has a long-standing relationship with the team’s superstar Damian Lillard. The hardest part of any coaching job is how well the coach gets along with the star player. Billups should have that covered. They talked throughout the entire search process.
Everything I’ve researched states Chauncey Billups was the type of player who had all ears in the locker room. He soothed all the tension, broke up all the fights. That is a wonderful trait to have, but it won’t win championships.
The first on my list of assistant coaches, I felt he should have been given a chance to coach. I’m tired of the same old recycled coaches, going from team to team. There are new players in the league. They need new leadership. No more “super teams” and doing things the same old way. Not to say that he will shake up the league, but it’s time to take a chance and see.
This is not enough to get the Blazers out of the first round. Next, he has to put together a coaching staff with defensive-minded assistants to pull them up from being the 29th in the league. Then, finally, with the Clippers in a 3-1 playoff fight with the Phoenix Suns, Billups must pull himself away and consider his new job. (Most likely, the Clippers’ run ends tonight anyway.)
On Tuesday, Olshey will hold a press conference and announce that Chauncey Billups is the new Head Coach. His agent and Olshey reached a five-year agreement, with the fifth year being a team option. Team owner Jody Allen did want to make history with Hammon, but that didn’t work out. Instead, she left the decision-making to Olshey.
Right now, first-time head coaches should get a little leeway. Not all first-timers are Derek Fisher-types who come out and proclaim, “We’re not trying to make the playoffs!” If the Portland Trail Blazers are lucky, this will be a Steve Kerr hire. Kerr and Doc Rivers are the only first-time coaches to win a championship. Steve Kerr the only one to do it in his first year. (I think Mark Jackson laid the groundwork for that one, though.)
I hope this will go smoothly for the Blazers. Dame and this team deserve a break, and the fans deserve to be happy. Take it from a Knicks fan. Trust that PNWS will keep you up to date with everything surrounding this new hire. Stay safe!
Rip City, what do you think about Chauncey Billups as the new Portland Trail Blazers coach? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.