Those Around NBA Expect Chauncey Billups To Be Next Blazers Coach

League sources who spoke with John Hollinger of The Athletic said they expect Chauncey Billups to be the next coach of the Trail Blazers.

Billups is currently in his first season as an assistant under first-year Clippers coach Tyronn Lue.

While Blazers president of basketball operations Neil Olshey didn’t name names, he did tell reporters that he’s hopeful to begin interviewing candidates this week.

Billups has been rumored to be among those in the mix for the job, and even received some public support from Blazers star Damian Lillard.

“I like J. Kidd and Chauncey,” Lillard told Shams Charania ad Jason Quick of The Athletic.

Jason Kidd, a Lakers assistant, has already withdrawn from consideration for the job vacated by Terry Stotts. Billups and the Clippers are beginning a second-round playoff series vs. the Jazz.

Olshey did not give a timeline on when a coaching hire is expected.

”We’re running a very expansive, diverse search,” he said. “We’ll probably have anywhere from 20 to 25 candidates in there with biographical data, background, intel, impact studies, coaching records, playing records, etc., so that we all are speaking the same language as we vet these candidates.

“I have not reached out to any teams or agents to request permission to conduct formal interviews until we’ve had a chance to review all those materials.”