The Celtics, Blazers, and Magic all have head coaching openings after making changes over the past few days. Let’s take a look at the latest on the vacancies in each of these markets:
Boston Celtics
The Celtics will interview assistant Scott Morrison for their head-coaching vacancy, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Morrison has been an assistant under Brad Stevens since 2017. Before that, he served as coach of the G League’s Maine Red Claws, earning G League Coach of the Year honors in 2015. He has also coached the Celtics’ summer-league team.
Fellow Celtics assistants Jerome Allen and Jay Larranaga have also been mentioned as candidates, as have ex-Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce, Lakers assistant Jason Kidd and Nets assistant Ime Udoka.
Orlando Magic
The Magic and Steve Clifford have mutually agreed to part ways, as our own Rob Parks relayed.
“We appreciate the many sacrifices (Steve Clifford) has made as our head coach and understand the timeline of our new path does not align with his goals as a head coach in our league,” the team wrote in a press release.
The statement suggests Orlando could be in for a long rebuild and Clifford may pursue other coaching opportunities this summer.
The Magic have eyes for Terry Stotts, who recently parted ways with the Blazers, per Marc Stein of The New York Times. Stotts is also drawing interest from the Pacers as they decide whether or not to retain Nate Bjorkgren.
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Portland Trail Blazers
Damian Lillard is expected to have a say in the Blazers’ next coach and he publicly declared his choice for Stott’s replacement.
“Jason Kidd is the guy I want,” Lillard told Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. Kidd spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach with the Lakers, though he has a “great relationship” with the
Along with Kidd, ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy, Michigan’s Juwan Howard, Clippers assistant Chauncey Billups and Nets assistant Mike D’Antoni are said to be in the mix to replace Stotts.
