Portland's New Coach Got A ONE-YEAR DEAL, And The League Is Watching Dundon
Alright, folks, buckle up because the news out of Portland is wild. The Trail Blazers just snagged their new head coach, and it’s none other than Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori. But hold up, the contract he’s signing is something else entirely. We're talking only one guaranteed year. Seriously, in the NBA? It's making everyone wonder what new owner Tom Dundon is actually doing down there. This isn't your typical long-term commitment, and it speaks volumes about the Blazers' current situation.
What's Really Going On Down South?
So, Nori is stepping in to replace Tiago Splitter, who, get this, actually led Portland to its first playoff appearance since the 2020-21 season. You’d think that would earn you some job security, right? Nope. New owner Tom Dundon didn’t re-sign Splitter after he was elevated to interim coach early in the year. Splitter, by the way, landed with the Chicago Bulls after all that. The whole coaching carousel started because Chauncey Billups was arrested in a federal gambling probe, forcing Splitter into the interim role.
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The talk around the league has been about Dundon's controversial approach to spending on his franchises. Reports already indicated the Blazers were offering salaries "far below the typical market average" for an NBA head coach. That explains why they were always expected to go the assistant coach route. They were dangling the chance to prove yourself as an NBA head coach, but without the huge financial incentives or long-term stability. And Nori, after being a finalist for numerous coaching jobs without getting picked, apparently decided to take that shot.
Nori's Big Shot, But On A Shoestring Budget
Micah Nori has been around the block, starting his NBA coaching career with the Raptors back in 2009. He’s had stops in Sacramento, Denver, and Detroit before spending the last five years as the lead assistant under Chris Finch in Minnesota. While he's known for some pretty phenomenal quotes during halftime interviews, he's also highly regarded as a tactician and a relationship-builder with players. So, the guy clearly has the chops.
His contract for the 2026-27 season is the only one guaranteed, with the Blazers holding two team options for the 2027-28 and 2028-29 seasons. No financial terms have been reported, but given Dundon’s reputation, we can probably guess they aren't breaking the bank. Nori’s now tasked with getting the absolute most out of a Blazers team that, by all accounts, has playoff-caliber talent. They’re looking to take the "next step" after a first-round loss to the eventual Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs. This unique deal means Nori has a massive challenge ahead of him, and he’ll need to prove his worth immediately.
So, there it is. Portland’s got their guy, but on a deal that screams "prove it." You know we’ll be watching to see if Dundon’s penny-pinching gamble pays off, or if this whole thing blows up in their face. It's going to be a wild 2026-27 season for our neighbors to the south, and we'll be here with the popcorn.
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.