Blazers’ Tiago Splitter says he wants to stay, calls relationship with Tom Dundon ‘great’

Trail Blazers interim coach Tiago Splitter made one thing clear during Thursday’s exit interviews. Specifically, he’d like to keep the job.

“I’ve told you guys I want to stay,” Splitter said. “My relationship with (team owner Tom Dundon) and (Gm Joe Cronin) is great. There’s a lot of talk out there, some of it is clickbaits.”

That “talk out there” has been loud. League-wide belief is that Portland is expected to move in a different direction, though nothing has been made official.

Splitter said discussions with the front office are ongoing, adding there are still “some things to talk through.”

So, no resolution yet. Just a lot of noise.

Splitter also took a moment to reflect on the job he did after taking over under difficult circumstances. He replaced Chauncey Billups in October and guided the Blazers to a 42-40 finish and their first playoff appearance in five years.

“I’m not Phil Jackson,” Splitter said, later adding that “I got better” as the season went on.

That may be the case. Whether it’s enough to keep him in the seat is still very much in question.