Blazers still plan to hire Chauncey Billups despite backlash?

Portland is still expected to hire Billups as head coach. Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Trail Blazers reportedly still plan to hire Chauncey Billups despite backlash

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 6/27/21

The Portland Trail Blazers' decision to hire Chauncey Billups as their next head coach was met with immense backlash.

Billups faced a rape allegation in 1997 when he was a rookie with the Boston Celtics. He denied it and was never charged criminally, but he settled a civil lawsuit years later.

Despite the backlash, Portland is still expected to hire Billups as head coach, as ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski said on "NBA Countdown":

"The Blazers met with Chauncey Billups in Seattle on Wednesday, and they were convinced he was their choice after that meeting. But I'm told they continued their own internal investigation into those '97 charges throughout the day Thursday, throughout the day Friday before they offered him that job on Friday night."

Reporting on NBA Countdown on Chauncey Billups and the Trail Blazers pic.twitter.com/OO2TKJX20t
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 27, 2021

Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard reportedly played a role in Portland's head-coaching search, and he defended his role in the process:

Really? I was asked what coaches I like of the names I “heard” and I named them. Sorry I wasn’t aware of their history I didn’t read the news when I was 7/8yrs old. I don’t support Those things … but if this the route y’all wana come at me… say less https://t.co/N1GPkX3Ohd
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) June 26, 2021

It's fair to question whether the Trail Blazers properly investigated the rape allegations against Billups. However, it's unfair to assume he is guilty.

Hopefully, Portland has investigated the matter thoroughly to conclude Billups was fit to be hired.

The Trail Blazers weren't the only team to consider Billups for a head-coaching position, so there would've been backlash if he was hired anywhere else, too.

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