Nothin' But Nets
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Brooklyn Nets: 4 Dark Horse Candidates to Become Head Coach

By Collin Helwig

NEW YORK, NY -  DECEMBER 14: Brooklyn Nets General Manager Sean Marks speaks with the press before the game against the Washington Wizards on December 14, 2018 at Barclays Center in New York, NY. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY -  DECEMBER 14: Brooklyn Nets General Manager Sean Marks speaks with the press before the game against the Washington Wizards on December 14, 2018 at Barclays Center in New York, NY. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Brooklyn Nets
Head Coach Terry Stotts of the Portland Trail Blazers (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

Terry Stotts

After suffering a sweep during last year’s Western Conference finals while next following up with a 29-37 record the next year, consequently keeping them outside the playoff picture, the Portland Trail Blazers appear closer to a break up than they might wish to admit.

Although Portland seems contingent upon keeping Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum together, a head coaching change seems like the necessary response for a team that although loaded with talent continues to fall short year after year.

Although somewhat unfairly, the entire NBA seemingly blackballed Carmelo Anthony last year until the Trail Blazers scooped him up. The fact that Portland chose to move forward and sign a player who opposing GMs expressed unwarranted yet consistent disinterest towards illustrates the front office’s evident desperation.

If the Trail Blazers were to send Terry Stotts packing, the Nets appear certain to match with him on LinkedIn. Few players might enjoy playing within the free-moving, three-point centered offensive scheme Stotts instituted while with Portland than Durant, Irving, and Spencer Dinwiddie.

Proving himself as a coach emphasizing offense with no interest in handcuffing his star players, Irving especially seems like a good fit with Stotts.

Stotts helped turn Lillard from good, young point guard into a true superstar while coaching him, so an opportunity for him to work beside an already established superstar like Irving must excite both Irving himself as well as Stotts.

For similar reasons, bet on shooting guard Caris LeVert to potentially elevate his game under Stotts as well.

Beyond this, given the Nets championship goals next season, the transition for Stotts might come easier than one landing him with a lower-potential team, as an opportunity with the Nets allows him to change teams while maintaining the same competitive agenda.

Despite his failure to reach the finals during his tenure as Portland’s head coach, Stotts still found himself quite often battling top tier Western Conference teams such as the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, and championship bound Golden State Warriors during the playoffs.

This one requires numerous moving pieces to fall into place accordingly for it to play out the right way for Brooklyn, but given what each side offers for the other, it certainly makes sense.