Portland Trail Blazers: Power Ranking Six Potential Coaches with Portland Ties

The Portland Trail Blazers are still a mess with less than a month before the NBA Draft.

There is no general manager in place, nor is there a head coach.

Ideally, both of these positions will be filled prior to the June 28 draft. That way the team can draft according to the vision of those in charge.

It appears the Blazers have narrowed their GM search. With a GM in position, a coach will hopefully soon follow.

Names like Phil Jackson, Jerry Sloan and Jeff Van Gundy have been sprinkled throughout Portland like the late-spring rain. Any of the three would be a great hire, but none will likely be sitting on the Blazer bench this fall.

If Portland can’t lure one of the big names out of retirement, these six guys with connections to the Portland franchise are other options worth exploring.

Robert Pack

With only two years under his belt, this former Blazers point guard is the least-experienced coach on this list.

Robert Pack just finished his first year as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Clippers after spending a season with the New Orleans Hornets.

Pack was a feisty point guard in his 13-year NBA career. He would bring that same ferocity to his job as a head coach.

His youthfulness could be beneficial with such a young Blazers team. It could also be detrimental if he is unable to command the respect a head coach needs.

Dean Demopoulos

After being forced out as Nate McMillan’s head assistant in the summer of 2010, it’s tough to know if Dean Demopoulos would welcome a return to Portland.

Demopoulos is in search of work, however, after recently being fired from his latest gig as an assistant with the L.A. Clippers.

The question begs, why take a risk on someone who has been fired twice?

Demopoulos is a defensive-minded coach who stresses protection of the ball. That should be reminiscent of McMillan.

McMillan’s focus on controlling the ball and playing stingy defense isn’t what cost him his job. Instead, it was an unwillingness to play youngsters and an inability to keep his players playing for him.

If Demopoulos can do the latter two, he may have a home in the Rose Garden.

Mark Bryant

Mark Bryant spent seven years as a backup power forward/center for Portland in the early 1990s. He’s spent the last five years helping build his old I-5 rival into a Western Conference powerhouse.

Bryant is in his fifth season as an assistant coach with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Under his watch, Serge Ibaka has emerged as one of the game’s best help defenders.

LaMarcus Aldridge has untapped shot-blocking and All-Defensive team potential—maybe Bryant could bring it out of him.

Terry Porter

The last Portland point guard to sustain a high level of play for several seasons was Terry Porter.

Porter is now an assistant coach with the up-and-coming Minnesota Timberwolves.

Porter has been fired from two head coaching gigs in his career.

His last firing—when he was axed mid-season with a 28-23 record—has him hungry for a second chance.

Porter felt he got the wrong end of the stick in Phoenix. That leaves him hungry for another shot as an NBA head coach.

What better place than in the city where he became an All-Star?

Kaleb Canales

In his 23 games as interim head coach this season, Kaleb Canales won over Portland players with his joyful enthusiasm.

It was widely documented that Canales didn’t sleep much during his run as coach. And when he did, it was at the practice facility.

He also continued his duties stretching players and working them out before games. That passion won the hearts of not just players, but a city as well.

It did not, however, win games. The Blazers posted an 8-15 record under Canales' watch.

With an entire offseason during which to institute his own offensive sets and defensive schemes, it is easy to foresee that winning percentage climb high.

Erik Spoelstra

The coach with whom Kaleb Canales is most often compared with is one of the few potential candidates who would be a better fit for the job.

Both rapidly rose through the ranks from unpaid interns to head coaches.

Spoelstra—who grew up in Portland and played his college ball for the Portland Pilots—is under contract with the Miami Heat through 2014. That makes him a long shot to be calling the shots in his home town.

However, if the Heat don’t win this year’s NBA Finals, or if Dwyane Wade and LeBron James turn on their coach, Spoelstra could be let go.

If Miami gives up on Spoelstra, Portland must make a move on him.

He is young, with a bright future, and brings with him plenty of postseason experience. The Blazers could not afford to miss an opportunity to bring Spoelstra back home.