The Portland Trail Blazers and head coach Terry Stotts have mutually agreed to part ways, according to Adrian Wojnarowski.
Stotts led the Trail Blazers to eight straight playoff appearances (longest streak in the league), but had been knocked out in the first-round in five of those seasons, including four times in the last five years.
Stotts leaves as the second winningest coach in franchise history with a record of 402-318.
Among the candidates expected to be considered for the Trail Blazers coach opening will be Los Angeles Clippers assistant Chauncey Billups, Jeff Van Gundy, Brooklyn Nets assistant Mike D’Antoni and Michigan’s Juwan Howard, Wojnarowski notes.
It was previously reported that Los Angeles Lakers assistant Jason Kidd was expected to draw interest as well.
Star guard Damian Lillard will have major input on the team’s next head coach, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.
Stotts was the only coach that Lillard has played for in his nine seasons in the league.
