After nine seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers and eight playoff appearances, Terry Stotts is out as head coach. Stotts and the Blazers have mutually agreed to part ways, the team announced in a statement late Friday.
The transfer comes sooner or later after the Blazers, who had been 42-30 this season and the No. 6 seed within the Western Conference, had been eradicated from the playoffs by the Denver Nuggets in six video games within the first spherical.
“I have the utmost respect for Terry and what he has accomplished these past nine seasons,” president of basketball operations Neil Olshey stated within the assertion. “This was a difficult decision on both a personal and professional level but it’s in the best interest of the franchise to move in another direction. Terry will always hold a special place in the Trail Blazer family and the Portland community. We relied on the integrity, professionalism and consistency he brought to the job every day and we wish he and Jan nothing but the best.”
Stotts was 402-318 with the Blazers and 22-40 within the playoffs. The Blazers made it to the convention finals as soon as and the convention semifinals twice. Portland additionally misplaced within the first spherical 5 occasions, together with 4 of the final 5 years.
Stotts typically made probably the most of his roster within the common season however had bother breaking by means of within the playoffs in a deep Western Conference. Nine seasons with one group is a lifetime within the NBA, and the Blazers’ front-office is looking for enchancment whereas star guard Damian Lillard continues to be in his prime.
“We are all grateful for Terry’s contributions and his nine years with the Trail Blazers,” stated Blazers chair Jody Allen. “I appreciate his steadfast dedication to the players, the game, and the broader Portland community. We wish him the best in his future endeavors.”
Stotts had one yr remaining on his contract. He had the second-most wins behind Jack Ramsay and the fourth-highest successful share in franchise historical past.
Lillard reacted to the information later Friday on Twitter: “100 percent … I will miss him.”
