Bill Bayno decided to leave the Blazers and join the Timberwolves' coaching staff due to the security of a four-year contract.

“We talk all the time about this being a business when players get traded or coaches get fired and its no different in this situation,” Bayno said in an e-mail to The Oregonian. “My first choice was to stay and I did everything in my power to do that. But in the end, I had to take this offer. It was too good to pass up.”

The Blazers, as a general policy, offer assistant coaches one-year deals.

He specifically expressed sadness about leaving coach Nate McMillan.

“It was extremely hard leaving Nate and I really struggled with it,” Bayno said. “I’ve learned so much from him and owe him a great deal of credit for giving me my first chance to coach in the NBA. I truly believe he’s one of the best coaches at any level in the world.”