March 2021 Portland Trail Blazers Wiretap

Carmelo Anthony Wins First-Ever Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award

Jun 29, 2021 7:55 PM

Carmelo Anthony has won the NBA's first-ever Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion award.

The award honors a player for upholding the NBA's values of equality, respect and inclusion. 

Harrison Barnes, Jrue Holiday, Tobias Harris and Juan Toscano-Anderson were the other finalists for the award. 

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Tags: Carmelo Anthony, Portland Trail Blazers, NBA

Discuss
Chauncey Billups Briefly Addresses Allegations In Press Conference With Blazers

Jun 29, 2021 6:13 PM

The Portland Trail Blazers introduced Chauncey Billups as head coach in a news conference on Tuesday. The hiring takes place amid the resurfacing of a 1997 rape allegation made against Billups.

Neil Olshey said Tuesday that an independent investigation gave the organization confidence in moving forward with Billups as coach.

"We commissioned our own independent investigation into the incident in question 1997," Olshey said. "The findings of that [investigation] corroborated Chauncey's recollection of the events, that nothing non-consensual happened. We stand by Chauncey, everyone in the organization, and believe he's the right person to be our head coach and the right choice to be an ambassador in the Portland community everyone is accustomed to."

No criminal charges were brought in the 1997 case, but Billups settled a civil lawsuit filed by the woman.

Billups addressed the issue in his opening remarks.

"Before I even talk about my role, with the team and me being the head coach, I first want to talk about ... the incident that happened in 1997," Billups said. "There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about how every decision we make could have a profound impact on a person's life. I learned at a very young age as a player, but not only a player but a young man, a young adult, that every decision has consequences. And that's led to some really, really healthy, but tough conversations that I've had to have with my wife, who was my girlfriend at the time in 1997, and my daughters about what actually happened and what they may have to read about me in the news and the media.

"But this experience has shaped my life in so many different ways. My decision-making, obviously. Who I allow to be in my life, the friendships and relationships I have and how I go about them. It's impacted every decision that I make and it's shaped me in some unbelievable ways. I know how important it is to have the right support system around you, particularly in tough, difficult times."

A moderator for the news conference interjected when follow-up questions on the incident were asked.

Royce Young/ESPN

Tags: Portland Trail Blazers, NBA

Discuss
Zach Collins Out Indefinitely With Re-Fracture Of Foot

Jun 29, 2021 6:06 PM

Zach Collins has suffered a re-fracture of his foot and underwent surgery. Collins will be out indefinitely.

Collins will be a restricted free agent this offseason.

Collins underwent previous ankle surgeries on September 1, 2020, and December 30, 2020. 

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Tags: Zach Collins, Portland Trail Blazers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA Injury

Discuss
Blazers Were Surprised Damian Lillard Supported Jason Kidd Instead Of David Vanterpool

Jun 29, 2021 8:38 AM

When Damian Lillard went on-the-record with support for Jason Kidd as the next head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, officials were caught off guard.

Several staffers were also surprised that Lillard's public support was not for David Vanterpool, who he worked with previously when he was an assistant coach and who he endorsed for the head coaching job of the Minnesota Timberwolves back in February. Vanterpool was on the coaching staff of the Wolves when they hired Chris Finch from outside the organization after firing Ryan Saunders. 

Chauncey Billups was a name Lillard and Neil Olshey were aligned on and who the Blazers eventually hired.

Jake Fischer/Bleacher Report

Tags: Portland Trail Blazers, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

Discuss
Knicks Front Office Doing Homework On Possibility Of Damian Lillard Availability

Jun 29, 2021 1:13 AM

Members of the New York Knicks front office are doing prep work over the possibility that Damian Lillard becomes available in a trade, sources told Ian Begley of SNY.

The Knicks have been interested in Lillard since Steve Mills was the president of the team (Mills was fired by the team in early 2020).

Chris Haynes of Yahoo! Sports reported over the weekend that the backlash over the Blazers coaching search, plus doubts as to whether the team is building a contender, could push Lillard to ask for a trade.

Lillard is currently under contract through the 2024-25 season.

Begley adds that while the Knicks would be interested in trading for Lillard, they are also content with building for the long-term should the opportunity not arise.  

Ian Begley/SNY

Tags: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor

Discuss
Chauncey Billups Agrees To Five-Year Deal With Blazers

Jun 27, 2021 10:55 PM

Chauncey Billups has agreed to a five-year deal to become the next head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers.

The deal includes a team option in the fifth year.

The Blazers spent much of their process investigating an alleged sexual assault incident in 1997 that involved Billups, according to sources.

Billups' conversations with Blazers officials aligned with independent investigations, and the team found nothing they believed could disqualify Billups.

President of basketball operations Neil Olshey has long considered Billups one of the best leaders he's ever encountered in the league. Their relationship, combined with Damian Lillard's endorsement, played a part in Billups picking the Blazers over other opportunities.

The Blazers plan to surround Billups with an experienced assistant staff.  

A news conference to introduce Billups is scheduled for Tuesday. 

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Tags: Portland Trail Blazers, NBA, NBA Misc Official Transaction

Discuss
Backlash From Coaching Search, Concern Over Building Contender Could Push Damian Lillard Out Of Portland

Jun 27, 2021 6:49 PM

The backlash from the Portland Trail Blazers head coaching search plus concerns over the ability to build a title contender could lead Damian Lillard to ask for a trade out of Portland, sources told Chris Haynes of Yahoo! Sports.

Lillard has been criticized on social media for a head coaching search that was conducted by president of basketball operations Neil Olshey, sources told Yahoo! Sports.

None of the candidates who were interviewed were suggested by Lillard.

The Blazers have scheduled a press conference for Tuesday and are widely expected to announce Chauncey Billups as their next head coach.

Lillard had no prior knowledge of sexual assault allegations against Billups from 1997. 

Chris Haynes/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor

Discuss
Blazers Schedule Press Conference For Tuesday To Announce Head Coach

Jun 27, 2021 2:05 PM

The Portland Trail Blazers have scheduled a press conference for Tuesday at noon to announce their new head coach, reported Jason Quick of The Athletic.

The team is not revealing who the coach is, although the Blazers have reportedly come to terms with Chauncey Billups.

The Blazers parted ways with Terry Stotts following the end of their season. 

Jason Quick/The Athletic

Tags: Portland Trail Blazers, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

Discuss
Blazers Hire Chauncey Billups As Next Head Coach

Jun 26, 2021 12:01 AM

The Portland Trail Blazers have hired Chauncey Billups as their next head coach, sources told Shams Charania of The Athletic. 

Billups was offered and accepted the job on Friday night. 

Billups was in his first season as an assistant coach, working under Ty Lue with the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Blazers were searching for a replacement for Terry Stotts. 

Becky Hammon and Mike D'Antoni were the other primary candidates for the job.

According to ESPNBillups has a longstanding relationship with Damian Lillard and the two have been in touch throughout Portland's coaching search.

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Tags: Portland Trail Blazers, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

Discuss
Blazers Considering Chauncey Billups, Becky Hammon, Mike D'Antoni For Head Coaching Job

Jun 21, 2021 5:21 PM

The Portland Trail Blazers have identified Becky Hammon and Chauncey Billups as leading candidates for their head coaching job.

Both Billups and Hammon are set for additional meetings with officials of the Blazers in the coming days.

Mike D'Antoni also remains a candidate for the job.

The Blazers are searching for a replacement for Terry Stotts.

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Tags: Portland Trail Blazers, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

Discuss
Becky Hammon Identified As Finalist For Blazers' Head Coaching Job

Shams Charania, Sam Amick/The Athletic

Damian Lillard Says He 'Looks Forward To' Playing For Gregg Popovich At Olympics

Tim Reynolds/AP News

Mike D'Antoni Interviews For Head Coaching Job With Blazers

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Becky Hammon, Dawn Staley, Chauncey Billups, Mike D'Antoni, Brent Barry Emerge As Candidates For Blazers

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Mike D'Antoni Interested In Becoming Head Coach Of Blazers

Sam Amick/The Athletic

Chauncey Billups Widely Expected To Be Hired As Head Coach Of Blazers

John Hollinger/The Athletic

Neil Olshey: First Round Loss, Defensive Issues 'Not A Product Of Roster'

RealGM Staff Report

Damian Lillard Not Making Any Demands For Portland's Next Head Coach

Sam Amick/The Athletic

Jason Kidd Withdraws As Candidate From Blazers Coaching Vacancy

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Rival Teams Monitoring Potential Availability Of Damian Lillard

Jason Quick, Shams Charania/The Athletic

Damian Lillard Says 'Jason Kidd Is The Guy I Want' As Next Blazers Coach

Chris Haynes/Yahoo! Sports

Blazers To Reportedly Decide Between Jason Kidd, Chauncey Billups As New Coach

Jason Quick & Shams Charania/The Athletic

Terry Stotts Mutually Parts Ways With Blazers; Chauncey Billups, Mike D'Antoni Among Replacement Candidates

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Blazers Expected To Target Jason Kidd In Coaching Search

Chris Haynes/Yahoo! Sports

Jusuf Nurkic Cagey About Future With Blazers Amid Hopes Of Extension

Royce Young/ESPN

Terry Stotts: I'm Under Contract For Two More Years, We'll See What Happens

Royce Young/ESPN

Damian Lillard: Obviously Where We Are Isn't Good Enough To Win Title

Royce Young/ESPN

Damian Lillard Wins Twyman-Stokes Teammates Of The Year Award

RealGM Staff Report

Danny Ainge Reportedly Has Had Interest In Jobs With Jazz, Blazers

Kevin O'Connor/The Ringer

Michael Malone Describes Damian Lillard As 'Superhuman' Following 55-Point Performance

Royce Young/ESPN