NBA teams
ESPN.com news services 8y

Blazers extend coach Terry Stotts after 3 straight playoff berths

NBA, Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers have agreed with coach Terry Stotts on a contract extension that sources close to the negotiations say runs through 2020 with an average salary of $5 million.

The extension will run three additional seasons past Stotts' current deal, which expires after 2016-17. The Trail Blazers held a team option on Stotts' services for next season. 

"Terry has been an outstanding partner and this extension represents our desire to build a model of stability and consistency," Blazers president of basketball operations Neil Olshey said Monday in a news release.

During his four seasons at the helm in Portland, Stotts has compiled a record of 182-146, and the team has qualified for the playoffs in each of the past three seasons.

This season, in what was expected to be a rebuilding campaign, the Trail Blazers posted a 44-38 record and earned the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference. Stotts finished a close second to Warriors coach Steve Kerr in the NBA's coach of the year vote.

"I am very pleased that we were able to agree on a contract extension and look forward to continuing the progress that we have made," Stotts said in the statement released by the team. "As an organization, we have developed a culture and continuity that is exciting to be a part of, and I could not be more appreciative of the players and coaching staff."

News of the deal was first reported by The Vertical.

"There is not a better fan base in the NBA," Stotts said. "[Wife] Jan and I love Portland and are extremely happy to call it our home."

The Trail Blazers defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 4-2 in the first round of the playoffs before bowing out to Golden State last week in the conference semifinals.

After spending parts of two seasons with the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks, Stotts joined Rick Carlisle's staff with the Dallas Mavericks in 2008. While on the bench with the Mavericks, Stotts established a reputation as a sharp offensive coach.

When the vacancy in Portland opened in 2012, the Trail Blazers saw Stotts as a logical candidate to sculpt a jump-shooting offense around forward LaMarcus Aldridge, not unlike what Stotts helped construct in Dallas for Dirk Nowitzki. After leading the Trail Blazers to a 54-28 record in 2013-14, Stotts agreed to a multiyear contract extension with the team in May 2014.

Information from ESPN's Kevin Arnovitz was used in this report.

^ Back to Top ^