New NBA Rumors Reveal Michael Malone, Blazers Buzz Before HC Signed UNC Contract

The Portland Trail Blazers reportedly contacted ex-Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone and ex-New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau about their head coaching position, per Jason Quick of the Athletic.

"League sources — granted anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the coaching search — also say former NBA coach Michael Malone was contacted before he took the University of North Carolina job, as well as former Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, who is no longer a candidate."

Now Bill Oram of the Oregonian provided more information on Malone, who has since been named as UNC men's basketball's head coach.

"Amid the damage control, what I've heard about the Blazers and Michael Malone is that [Blazers governor Tom Dundon] tried to set up a call with Malone but was rebuffed because the job is not formally open. Also that Blazers were looking to pay about half of what he got from UNC.

"Some Blazers sources have pushed back on the team limiting itself to economy candidates and said that Dundon & Co. are casting a wider net than that. But there is a difference between due diligence and a sincere, serious effort."

Portland has been led by interim head coach Tiago Splitter, who took over in October.

The Blazers went 42-39 under Splitter (42-40 overall) and are currently in the playoffs as the Western Conference's No. 7 seed against the San Antonio Spurs.

Per Quick, Dundon "has conducted a phone-book's worth of interviews with college and pro coaches" as Splitter, of course, has done a tremendous job in his own right.

We do know that Malone won't be taking the Blazers' gig. The 54-year-old was an NBA assistant for 12 seasons before becoming the Sacramento Kings' head coach. He was there for 106 games over two seasons before getting fired in Dec. 2014.

Malone then enjoyed tremendous success with Denver over a decade (2015-2025), leading the Nuggets to the playoffs for six straight seasons and the championship once in 2023.

Now he's headed to UNC, which is looking to reclaim past success after making it out of the first round of the NCAA tournament just once in four years. The Blazers, meanwhile, are hoping to fight back in their series against the Spurs, who took Game 1, 111-98.