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Report: Blazers interim coach Kaleb Canales the 'favorite' to keep job

Kaleb Canales, the Blazers interim head coach, is now the favorite to land the permanent job. (Rocky Widner/Getty Images)

Kaleb-Canales

Portland Trail Blazers' interim head coach Kaleb Canales is the "favorite" to keep his job and become the Blazers full-time head coach, Comcast SportsNet Northwest reports. Per Chris Haynes' report:

The thinking is, if the Trail Blazers aren't going to be competing for a championship anytime soon and if they're going to hold on to their two lottery picks, Canales, 34, is being viewed as “the perfect guy” to take over the young Trail Blazer roster.

The report also states that interim general manager Chad Buchanan could also keep his job.

Brian Shaw, the Indiana Pacers assistant and former Los Angeles Lakers assistant, is mentioned is another candidate in which the Blazers have interest. Shaw is one of the most sought after head-coaching candidates in the NBA, and is considered one of the favorites to land the Charlotte Bobcats job.

Portland finished eight games out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference this season.

Canales, who will turn 34 in July, is the youngest active coach in the NBA and the first Mexican-American head coach in NBA history. He coached the Blazers to an 8-15 record in 23 games at the helm.

recovering from a blood virus that sent him to the hospital last weekend