Report: Terry Stotts is 'Leading Candidate' for Pacers Job

Terry Stotts may not be without a job for long.

Just a few days after he mutually agreed to part ways with the Trail Blazers, Stotts has emerged as a leading candidate to become the next head coach of the Indiana Pacers, according to Bleacher Report Jake Fischer.

Over the last several days, Terry Stotts has become increasingly linked by league sources as a leading candidate to be Indiana’s next head coach.
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) June 9, 2021

The Pacers dismissed Nate Bjorkgren on Wednesday, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, a largely anticipated development after the rookie head coach failed to connect with players and even some assistant coaches during his tumultuous debut season in Indiana.

Stotts was rumored as a candidate to coach the Pacers even before Bjokrgren was fired, in the immediate aftermath of his separation from the Blazers last Thursday.

Now that Indiana's job is officially open, there's growing momentum that Stotts is among the most likely coaches to fill it.

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 took the reins with Portland in 2012-13, finishing his tenure with an overall regular-season record of 402-318 (.558). After a debut campaign the Blazers finished below-.500, he guided them to eight consecutive playoff appearances – the longest active streak in the NBA.

Portland general manager Neil Olshey told media on Monday that one of the reasons Stotts departed the Blazers so soon after their season ended with a first-round loss to the Denver Nuggets is because of the possibility he could be a serious candidate for other job openings.

ESPN notes that the Pacers are "expected to pursue a more experience, established head coach" in wake of Bjorkgren's time in the head chair. Stotts, a 27-year NBA coaching veteran who was born and raised in Bloomington, IN, certainly fits that bill.

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