Terry Stotts Contract: Latest News, Rumors on Coach's Negotiations with Blazers

Tim DanielsMay 12, 2016

The Portland Trail Blazers are reportedly set to move quickly in their effort to sign head coach Terry Stotts to a contract extension after the reigning champion Golden State Warriors eliminated them from the playoffs Wednesday night.

Continue for updates.

Blazers Seek Long-Term Deal With Stotts

Thursday, May 12

Kevin Arnovitz of ESPN.com reported the Blazers have a team option on Stotts for the 2016-17 season, but they are hopeful of coming to terms on a longer agreement.

Stotts has compiled a 182-146 (.555) record across four seasons in charge of the Blazers. The team has qualified for the postseason in each of the past three seasons and advanced to the conference semifinals twice during that span.

Although Portland's record this season (44-38) wasn't the best of his tenure, it was the most impressive coaching job of the 58-year-old former forward's career.

The Trail Blazers' outlook coming into the year was murky. They lost many key pieces last offseason, including LaMarcus Aldridge, Wesley Matthews, Nicolas Batum, Robin Lopez, Arron Afflalo and Steve Blake, which created ready-made excuses if the team endured a down season.

Instead, Damian Lillard continued to grow into a superstar, C.J. McCollum emerged as a dangerous second option and Stotts maximized the impact of a merely average group of reserves.

"I'm proud of my team...I appreciate this season," Stotts said after Wednesday's loss, per Jay Allen of Fox Sports Radio 620. "It's been a remarkable season. It was a special year."

Keeping his team competitive in the Western Conference despite the high-profile losses allowed Stotts to finish second in Coach of the Year voting behind the Warriors' Steve Kerr.

Sean Cunningham of KXTV came away impressed with Portland's effort, even though it couldn't quite keep pace with the defending champs:

Stotts' track record with the Blazers is far stronger than his stints with the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks. He'll be back next season since the front office holds a team option, and he warrants a long-term extension for the work he's done over the past four years.