TITLE: Trail Blazers Interview Nuggets’ Jared Dudley, Rockets’ Ben Sullivan for Head Coaching Vacancy
SLUG: trail-blazers-interview-dudley-and-sullivan-for-head-coach
CONTENT:
The Portland Trail Blazers have met with Denver Nuggets assistant coach Jared Dudley and Houston Rockets assistant coach Ben Sullivan as part of their ongoing search for a new head coach.
Dudley, 38, spent 14 seasons in the NBA from 2007-21 before moving to the sidelines. He served four years on Jason Kidd’s staff with the Dallas Mavericks (2021-25) and joined David Adelman’s bench in Denver ahead of the current season.
Sullivan, 43, began his NBA coaching career under Mike Budenholzer in Atlanta (2014-18) and Milwaukee (2018-21). After two seasons with the Boston Celtics (2021-23), the former University of Portland player followed head coach Ime Udoka to Houston in 2023 and has been with the Rockets for the past three seasons.
Portland is casting a wide net after last fall’s arrest of former coach Chauncey Billups. Interim coach Tiago Splitter steered the club to a playoff berth, yet league sources say new owner Tom Dundon is unlikely to remove the interim tag.
Other coaches linked to the position include Nets assistant Steve Hetzel, Lakers assistant Greg St. Jean, Rockets assistant Royal Ivey, Saint Louis University head coach Josh Schertz, and Iowa head coach Ben McCollum. Portland also reached out to Tom Thibodeau and Michael Malone—before Malone accepted the North Carolina job—but both declined to interview while Splitter remained in charge.
Reports have suggested Dundon hopes to limit the next coach’s salary to roughly $1 million–$1.5 million annually, a figure believed to be below every current NBA head coach’s pay. Sources close to Dundon and the organization, however, have disputed that target range.
Source: HoopsRumors
