Who's Next? Terry Stotts Top Candidate For Pacers' Job After Nate Bjorkgren is Fired

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Pacers have fired head coach Nate Bjorkgren, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, on Wednesday, and directly after the news, Chris Haynes of Yahoo! reported that former Portland Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts will be a focus for the Pacers during their coaching search.

Indiana Pacers expected to take a look at former Portland Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts, league sources tell @YahooSports.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 9, 2021

Stotts spent the last nine years as head coach of the Blazers and made the playoffs in eight of his nine seasons in Portland.

In the daunted Western Conference, he proved he was able to coach a consistent winner every season, and while they could not get over the hump and win a title, he would bring a level of experience to the Pacers that they did not have with Bjorkgren, who was never a head coach before the Pacers hired him a year ago.

Wojnarowski reported that the Pacers would be looking for someone who is more established.

Bjorkgren was informed today of decision to dismiss him, sources said. He met with management on Tuesday. Pacers are expected to pursue a more experienced, established head coach in this process. Bjorkgren lost locker room and much of organization in his one year as coach. https://t.co/FSwxnl66Ed
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 9, 2021

Stotts fits the bill having coached over 1,000 NBA games. He also has a Hoosier connection. The 63-year-old went to high school in Indiana, graduating from Bloomington North.

Last season, when the Pacers were looking for a candidate to replace Nate McMillan, who was fired after four seasons, Stotts was still coaching the Trail Blazers and several names emerged before Bjorkgren was hired.

The list of candidates the Pacers had last season were all qualified, and it was something of a surprise that Bjorkgren emerged as the candidate.

All four of these candidates are still available, along with Stotts. Here's who the Pacers considered a year ago, and might do so again:

Chauncey Billups

1.) On Sept. 9, 2020, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that former NBA All-Star Chauncey Billups had emerged as a candidate.

ESPN Sources: Chauncey Billups has emerged as a candidate in the Indiana Pacers coaching search: https://t.co/aDrbtjaRdT
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 10, 2020

Dave Joerger

2.) On Sept. 9, 2020, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that former Sacramento Kings and Memphis Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger was a candidate for the Pacers.

ESPN Sources: Pacers beginning with a wide-ranging list in coaching search, including Becky Hammon and Dave Joerger: https://t.co/aD6TZp9y7r
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 9, 2020

Becky Hammon

3.) On Sept. 9, 2020, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Becky Hammon of the San Antonio Spurs was a candidate for the Pacers.

ESPN Sources: Pacers beginning with a wide-ranging list in coaching search, including Becky Hammon and Dave Joerger: https://t.co/aD6TZp9y7r
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 9, 2020

Mike D'Antoni

4.) On Aug. 26, 2020, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Mike D'Antoni would be a target for the Pacers, when he was coaching the Houston Rockets.

Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni — in the final year of his contract — will be an Indiana target should he become available, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 26, 2020