RealGM Basketball Wiretap

23 May 2026

• Tyler Lashbrook, Mike Williams Advance To Latter Stages Of Blazers' Head Coach Search

  Boston Celtics assistant Tyler Lashbrook and Utah Jazz assistant Mike Williams have advanced to the latter stages of the Portland Trail Blazers' head coach search, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

  The two join Tiago Splitter, Jeff Van Gundy and Micah Nori as finalists for the job.

  Candidates will fly into Portland this weekend for in-person interviews.

• Tiago Splitter, Jeff Van Gundy, Micah Nori Finalists For Blazers' Head Coaching Job

  Tiago Splitter, Jeff Van Gundy and Micah Nori are the three known finalists for the Portland Trail Blazers head coaching vacancy. The Blazers are searching for a replacement for Chauncey Billups, who was arrested on federal charges in October. Splitter filled in for Billups on an interim basis.

  Van Gundy returned to coaching as an assistant with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2024 after a lengthy broadcasting career with ESPN. Van Gundy was most recently ya head coach with the Houston Rockets before he was fired in 2007.

  Nori is a longtime assistant coach under Chris Finch with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Nori has been considered a finalist for previous head coaching jobs that eventually went to other candidates.

• Blazers Reportedly Lay Off More Than 70 Employees

  The Portland Trail Blazers reportedly laid off more than 70 employees as the team undergoes a reorganization under new owner Tom Dundon.

  "As part of our plans to position the organization for the future, we made the difficult decision to restructure several areas of the business," Blazers president Dewayne Hankins told The Oregonian in a statement. "These changes impacted talented people who have helped shape the Trail Blazers over many years. We are deeply grateful for their contributions, their leadership and the care they showed every day for our team, our fans and the Portland community. Our focus now is supporting those affected through the transition and positioning the organization for long-term success."

  Dundon has been criticized for cutting costs after purchasing the team, including not bringing two-way players on playoff road trips.

  It was also reported in April that Dundon is not looking to spend more than $1.5 million on a new head coach.

  With Tiago Splitter unlikely to receive the full-time head coach position, the Blazers have interviewed Rockets' assistant Ben Sullivan and Nuggets' assistant Jared Dudley.

• Terry Stotts Would Like To Return As Trail Blazers Coach

  The Portland Trail Blazers are continuing their search for their next head coach by looking at current NBA assistant coaches. One coach would like a second chance in Portland is Terry Stotts. After recently leaving his role as an assistant coach on Steve Kerr's staff with the Golden State Warriors, Stotts has let it be known that he'd like to be the Trail Blazers coach again.

  "I would love to come back to the Blazers and Portland," Stotts reportedly texted longtime Blazers reporter Dwight Jaynes. It was also reported by Jaynes that Stotts had his agent reach out to Portland to express his interest in the job.

  Stotts was the Trail Blazers coach for nine seasons from 2012 to 2021. He amassed a 402-318 regular season record, while leading Portland to eight consecutive playoff appearances from 2014 to 2021.

• Jrue Holiday Hopes To Remain With Trail Blazers

  Veteran guard Jrue Holiday has moved around a lot in recent years. In the last few years, Holiday has been traded from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Portland Trail Blazers to the Boston Celtics then back to the Trail Blazers. Now, Holiday hopes to stay in Portland long-term.

  "I hope so. I don't like being traded and moved and stuff," Holiday said when asked if he hopes to stay with the Blazers. "I like being a part of something and building with the team and seeing the progress and going through the progress with them. So I hope so. I'd love to be here.

  "Honestly, just kind of how we ended the season, fighting and clawing, knowing that we have a team that has proven ourselves to some extent to be a playoff team. We have a good mix of older gentlemen and then young guys that are still hungry. You hear them. They're still in the gym now and it's been two days (since) we lost in the playoffs. So I'm really excited for that."

  Portland is entering the offseason with a logjam at the guard position. In addition to Holiday, the Trail Blazers have Scoot Henderson heading into the final season of his rookie scale contract and Shaedon Sharpe starting his four-year extension. The Blazers will also have Damian Lillard in the lineup, as he missed the entirety of last season while recovering from a torn Achilles' tendon.

  That amount of talent in the backcourt, along with Holiday's significant salary, has led to speculation that Portland could look to move the veteran guard. If Holiday has his way, he'll stick around to help the Trail Blazers continue to climb up the Western Conference standings.

• Blazers Interview Assistants Ben Sullivan, Jared Dudley

  The Portland Trail Blazers interviewed Houston Rockets assistant coach Ben Sullivan and Denver Nuggets assistant coach Jared Dudley, sources told Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

  Sullivan interviewed for the Suns job last summer.

  Dudley was also an assistant for the Mavs.

  It was reported on Thursday that Tiago Splitter is unlikely to receive the full-time coaching position with the Blazers.

• Mike Schmitz Hired As General Manager Of Mavericks

  The Dallas Mavericks have named Mike Schmitz as General Manager, the team announced Friday. Schmitz will report to President Masai Ujiri and oversee day-to-day basketball operations and strategic planning.

  Schmitz joins Dallas after serving as Assistant General Manager with the Portland Trail Blazers, where he contributed to player evaluation, scouting, roster strategy and organizational planning. He is widely regarded as one of the NBA's top talent evaluators.

  "Mike is one of the most respected evaluators and basketball minds in the NBA," Ujiri said. "He brings intelligence, discipline, humility and a relentless work ethic to everything he does. Just as importantly, he understands how to build an aligned, collaborative culture across every part of a basketball organization. We are building something special in Dallas, and Mike will be a major part of that vision."

  "Joining the Dallas Mavericks is an incredible opportunity," Schmitz said. "I have tremendous respect for Masai, this ownership group and the vision they have for the future of this franchise. I'm excited to get to work alongside the talented people already in place and help build a championship-caliber organization."

  Before joining Portland in May 2022, Schmitz spent five years as a draft analyst for ESPN. He has served as an assistant coach for the Ugandan national team since 2018 and worked as a global scout for DraftExpress since 2012. He is a 2012 graduate of the University of Arizona.

• Tiago Splitter Unlikely To Receive Full-Time Head Coaching Job With Blazers

  Tiago Splitter, who guided the Portland Trail Blazers to a 42-39 record and the franchise's first playoff berth in five years, is unlikely to be offered the full-time head coaching position, sources with knowledge of the situation tell Jake Fischer. The Brazilian was elevated to interim head coach after felony charges were filed against Chauncey Billups following the season's opening game.

  Despite remaining under consideration, sources continue to indicate Portland will look elsewhere for a permanent hire as the franchise pursues interviews with as many as 30 candidates.

  Several NBA assistant coaches have already declined Portland's interview requests, citing new owner Tom Dundon's unconventional approach and persistent reports of below-market compensation for the role. Veteran coaches Tom Thibodeau and Michael Malone both rejected early outreach from Dundon, with sources saying both insisted they would not engage while Splitter remained as interim coach.

  Brooklyn Nets assistant Steve Hetzel and Denver Nuggets assistant Jared Dudley are among the candidates drawing interest from Portland. Hetzel spent three seasons with the Blazers, two of which overlapped with Damian Lillard. Sources say Lillard, positioned to return to a prominent role with the organization, has submitted suggestions to the front office regarding the search.

  Hetzel is also a candidate for the vacant New Orleans head coaching position, with Portland considered a fallback option if he does not land that role.

• Blazers Expect Damian Lillard To Return Next Season; Will Receive Trade Interest In Jrue Holiday

  The Portland Trail Blazers expect Damian Lillard to return to the lineup next season after the guard suffered a torn Achilles in April 2025.

  The Blazers could potentially have a starting backcourt of Lillard and Jrue Holiday, though the team also expects Holiday to receive trade interest this offseason.

  Holiday averaged 16.3 points and 6.1 assists in his first season with the Blazers.

  Holiday has two years left on his current deal, including a player option for the 2027-28 season.

  The Blazers are also expected to be prime trade suitors for Giannis Antetokounmpo.

• Blazers To Be 'Prime Trade Suitor' For Giannis Antetokounmpo, May Pursue Anthony Davis As Alternative

  The Portland Trail Blazers are set to emerge as a "prime trade suitor" for Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason, according to Jake Fischer of The People's Insider.

  The Blazers discussed deals for Antetokounmpo with the Bucks before the trade deadline.

  The team is looking to build a trade package revolving around Jerami Grant's expiring contract.

  The Blazers also own the Bucks' first-round picks in 2028, 2029, and 2030.

  The Blazers also reportedly contacted the Mavs before the trade deadline over a possible deal for Anthony Davis.

  They could still pursue Davis should they fall short on an Antetokounmpo deal.