After yet another disappointing playoff finish, the Portland Trail Blazers are itching for change this offseason.
The departure of coach Terry Stotts came quick and has been followed by countless trade rumors regarding CJ McCollum, who many believe could be used to acquire guys like Ben Simmons or even Rudy Gobert.
Nevertheless, the team’s first priority is finding Stotts’ replacement. On that front, the Blazers have narrowed their search to a handful of finalists that apparently includes Chauncey Billus and Spurs assistant Becky Hammon.
Becky Hammon among finalists for Blazers head coaching job, per @ShamsCharania, @sam_amick
She is the first woman to go into the final stages of an NBA HC search pic.twitter.com/NhEJybRrYr
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 21, 2021
Right away, she sticks out as a good choice for her relationship with Gregg Popovich, widely regarded as one of the NBA’s most brilliant basketball minds.
Of course, she’s also an exciting choice based on the boundaries she would make as becoming the NBA’s first woman head coach.
https://twitter.com/andrewdifalco13/status/1407021087620317187
I hope she gets the job.
— R (@richhhhhh___) June 21, 2021
https://twitter.com/Tanner_McTanner/status/1407021217425416194
@GelzinisTim @daykingbran this would be great for basketball! Get some new coaches instead of recycling the same few. Good luck Becky, rooting for ya!
— Andrew (@DeskJockey36) June 21, 2021
https://twitter.com/_Dank13_/status/1407082520638722048
She is deserving. And I love the #Portland #Trailblazers. They are right up there with my #Warriors devotion.
— CK (Cindy) (@civitoroz) June 22, 2021
It’s obviously a cool moment for the league. But, more than anything, it’s exciting for Becky and the Blazers, who may get the chance to create something special.
Obviously, she doesn’t yet have the job, and it seems like Portland’s front office is split on who they should hire.
With Dame on the wrong side of 30, the clock is ticking for the organization to build a winning team around him.
They cannot afford to hire the wrong coach, not with so much at stake.
