Trail Blazers make a big move with future of HC Chauncey Billups

Portland has missed the playoffs for a fourth straight season, but it may be heading in the right direction under the fourth-year head coach. 

After Portland dealt guard Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks in September 2023, the Trail Blazers tanked, going 21-61. Despite the loss of the star guard, they've improved this season. 

The Trail Blazers were 35-46, entering the regular season's final day on Sunday. Per Jasmyn Wimbish of CBS Sports, Portland has had the fourth-best defense in the league since the All-Star break.

Unsurprisingly, Portland's progress under Billups has piqued the interest of other teams. According to NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, he was expected to emerge as a candidate for the Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns. Phoenix may fire head coach Mike Budenholzer after being eliminated from playoff contention.

The Nuggets' vacancy may be more attractive to Billups, a Denver native who played for the team from 1998-2000 and 2008-11. More importantly, the team won a championship during the 2022-23 season and features center Nikola Jokic, a three-time MVP.  

Solidifying their future with Billups could help the Trail Blazers ensure that their rebuild continues to go smoothly. 

Guards Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe have looked like a promising duo this season. Sharpe averaged a career-high 18.5 points per game in his first 72 games this season, while Simons logged 19.3 through his first 70. 

If Sharpe and Simons continue to grow and turn Portland into a playoff team, retaining Billups would look like an even smarter move.