Blazers rumors: ClutchPoints insider drops new intel on head coaching situation appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Portland Trail Blazers clinched a playoff spot after defeating the Phoenix Suns 114-110 in a Play-In Tournament game on Tuesday. While the club focuses on its first round matchup against the San Antonio Spurs, rumors are swirling around the head coaching situation in Portland.
Advertisement
ClutchPoints Insider Brett Siegel addressed some of those rumors during his discussion about the NBA head coaching carousel with Tomer Azarly. Based on Siegel’s comments, the Blazers may consider keeping Tiago Splitter as the head coach after the postseason run ends.
“I heard that there’s backing for Tiago Splitter from the locker room to be their head coach moving forward,” said Siegel. “They just won the No. 7 seed in the West, and if they give the Spurs a run for their money… There’s gonna be some serious talk about Tiago Splitter becoming the full-time head coach [in Portland].”
Splitter, who is 41 years old, stepped in as the interim head coach after Chauncey Billups was placed on indefinite leave following his arrest for his alleged involvement with a mafia-backed illegal poker scheme. Billups was suspended near the beginning of the 2025-26 season, leading Splitter to be the interim for the vast majority of the campaign.
Advertisement
The Brazilian native got his first coaching gig as an assistant in 2019 with the Brooklyn Nets, two years after he retired from his seven-year playing career in the NBA. He initially joined Billups’ staff as an assistant in the 2025 offseason. His only other head coaching experience came in 2024-25 when he served as the head coach of Paris Basketball in the EuroLeague.
Related: Spurs could be in for tougher test than expected vs. Blazers
Related: Blazers’ X-factor that will spark shocking upset of Spurs in 2026 NBA Playoffs