The Trail Blazers aimed high. They just didn’t get far.
Portland reached out to veteran coaches Tom Thibodeau and Michael Malone during its head coaching search, but neither engaged, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line. Malone has since taken the head job at North Carolina.
That has left the Blazers continuing to work through a growing list of candidates.
Nuggets assistant Jared Dudley and Rockets assistant Ben Sullivan are among those who have interviewed. Dudley, a 14-year NBA veteran, has steadily built his coaching résumé, spending time in Dallas before joining Denver last offseason.
He has been linked to the job for weeks and now appears firmly in the mix.
Sullivan brings a different background. He has worked under Mike Budenholzer and Ime Udoka, developing a reputation as a reliable offensive mind. He also has local ties after playing at the University of Portland.
The broader picture has not changed.
The Blazers are casting a wide net.
Nets assistant Steve Hetzel, Lakers assistant Greg St. Jean and several others have also been connected to the job. Interim coach Tiago Splitter led the team to the playoffs but is not viewed as the frontrunner to keep the position.
New owner Tom Dundon appears intent on a thorough search, gathering as much information as possible before making a decision.
The names keep coming. The process keeps moving.
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