LaMarcus Aldridge Teases Joining Chauncey Billups' Staff in Portland

Chauncey Billups says he wants assistant coaches who can relate to players, and LaMarcus Aldridge seems up for the job.

Chauncey Billups has barely begun reaching out to coaches across the league about joining his staff with the Trail Blazers. Even so, Portland's rookie head coach knows that a wealth of previous experience among his assistants will pay dividends as he gets acclimated to running his own team.

"Just beginning to put it together," Billups said of his staff during Tuesday's introductory press conference. "Me as a first-timer, it's gonna be really important that I have a ton of experience on my staff."

Former Memphis Grizzlies and New York Knicks head coach David Fizdale was rumored to be a target of Billups' before the Blazers' coaching search officially ended, but just signed on to replace Jason Kidd with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Other coaches with previous experience as a head coach will no doubt be considered by Billups and the Blazers. Steve Clifford, who parted ways with the Orlando Magic in early June, could be an especially snug fit in Portland given his defensive acumen. Former New Orleans Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry, an NBA lifer with decades of experience on the sideline, would no doubt ease Billups' acclimation, too.

A long, established coaching background is hardly the only factor Billups is seeking in building out his staff, though.

"I'll have a wealth of knowledge on the staff," he said. "I value guys that will be able to communicate and relate to the players. That's a big, big deal." 

Enter LaMarcus Aldridge? He answered positively on Tuesday night to the idea of becoming an assistant under Billups.

Always down to go home… https://t.co/Hc6eATf5tU

— LaMarcus Aldridge (@aldridge_12) June 29, 2021

The Blazers' former franchise player retired in April after the recurrence of existing heart issues, ending a 15-year tenure that included seven All-Star appearances. 

Needless to say, someone with Aldridge's track record of on-court success who's so closely removed from his playing days would no doubt be able to connect with current players. Aldridge has a positive relationship with Damian Lillard, too, openly discussing recently how he wishes their partnership didn't end prematurely.

Aldridge, clearly, wouldn't mind coming "home." Imagine how much local goodwill Billups and the Blazers could engender by bringing him back as an end-of-bench assistant.

Fingers crossed.

READ MORE: The Basketball Takeaways From Chauncey Billups' Introductory Presser