Report: Mike D'Antoni 'Scores Points' With Damian Lillard During Blazers Interview
For weeks, it's been clear Damian Lillard's preferred candidate to be the Trail Blazers' next head coach—just the second of his nine-year NBA career—is Chauncey Billups. The deeper Portland gets into its search for Terry Stotts' replacement, though, the warmer Lillard is apparently getting to the idea of Mike D'Antoni taking over in Rip City.
ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported on Friday's edition of The Hoop Collective that D'Antoni made inroads with the Blazers decision-making brass during an impressive interview for the team's coaching job.
"Mike D'Antoni, I have been told, performed very well in his interview with Portland," Windhorst said. "Obviously, Mike D'Antoni doesn't have to prove himself to anybody. But whatever plan that he brought to the table for how to operate that team, I am told was well-received."
Maybe more important is that the 70-year-old's preliminary plans with Portland "scored points" with Lillard, who's made no secret of his intention to play an active role in the Blazers' search.
"Chauncey [Billups], I think, is still a strong candidate there. But I was told Mike D'Antoni scored some points with a certain All-Star point guard in his presentation," Windorst said. "So, we'll see how that goes."
Lillard sat in on one of Billups' virtual interviews with the Blazers, and Windhorst's intel suggests he was present for D'Antoni's meeting with team officials, too.
Though most recent momentum for Portland's job opening has trended in the direction of Billups and D'Antoni, Becky Hammon—the other candidate to be granted a follow-up interview—apparently remains in the running. Confirming earlier reports, ESPN's Tim MacMahon reiterated on The Hoop Collective that Jody Allen still hopes to hire Hammon.
"Jody Allen is a huge Becky Hammon fan and would like to make that hire," he said.
The Boston Celtics hired Ime Udoka earlier this week, becoming the first team to fill its coaching vacancy. The Indiana Pacers quickly followed suit by hiring Rick Carlisle, who it was later reported would be replaced by Jason Kidd with the Dallas Mavericks.
Are the Blazers next up? If D'Antoni has emerged as a compromise frontrunner, don't be surprised if Portland feels pressure to pull the trigger soon. As mentioned by ESPN's Tim Bontemps on The Hoop Collective, D'Antoni could be a leading candidate for the Milwaukee Bucks if they flame out of the Eastern Conference Finals and part ways with Mike Budenholzer—a possibility of which the Blazers are surely aware.
[ESPN's The Hoop Collective] [h/t Mike Chiari, Bleacher Report]