Blazers Hire Rob Werdann, Zendon Hamilton As Idaho Stampede Assistant Coaches

The Portland Trail Blazers announced Saturday the hiring of Rob Werdann and Zendon Hamilton as assistant coaches for the Idaho Stampede, the organization's D-League affiliate. Werdann and Hamilton will serve under head coach Michael Peck.

The Portland Trail Blazers have added Rob Werdann and Zendon Hamilton to the coaching staff of the D-League's Idaho Stampede, it was announced today by General Manager Neil Olshey.

The hiring of Werdann and Hamilton round out Head Coach Michael Peck's coaching staff for the 2013-14 NBA Development League season.

Werdann, 43, was selected by the Denver Nuggets with the 46th overall pick in the second round of the 1992 NBA Draft out of St. John's. He appeared in 47 games over three NBA seasons with Denver and New Jersey, averaging 2.1 points and 1.7 rebounds.

Most recently head coach of Mets de Guaynabo in Puerto Rico, Werdann has been on the bench as an assistant coach in New Orleans (2009-10), Golden State (2010-11) and Charlotte (2011-12). Prior to becoming an assistant in New Orleans, he spent six seasons as an advance scout with the team.

Hamilton, 38, split five NBA seasons with the L.A. Clippers, Denver, Toronto, Philadelphia, Milwaukee and Cleveland, posting averages of 4.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 0.2 assists and 11.6 minutes in 134 games (15 starts).

A native of New York who also played his college ball at St. John's, Hamilton appeared in six preseason games for the Trail Blazers in 2006, averaging 6.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 11.7 minutes.

Former Stampede assistants Barry "Slice" Rohrssen and Scott Williams both left their posts after just one season during the 2013 offseason. Rohrssen was hired by the University of Pittsburgh while Williams joined the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Stampede finished the 2012-13 season with a record of 19-31. Both Rohrssen and Williams were hired by Blazers GM Neil Olshey last summer.

The Blazers set up a single-affiliation relationship with the Stampede last season but used the club sparingly.

Stampede Managing Investor Bill Ilett took some shots at the Blazers back in January after his team got off to a slow start. Ilett hoped that the Blazers would assign players for longer stretches to help build a relationship with the D-League team's fans. Shortly after making those comments, Ilett backtracked and said he needed to "take a pill."

The Blazers assigned Will Barton, Victor Claver, Joel Freeland and Nolan Smith to the Stampede at various points during the 2012-13 season but did not assign another player to the Stampede following Ilett's statements.

Dee Bost, Richard Howell and E.J. Singler were all invited to Blazers training camp and are expected to head to Idaho before the start of the 2013-14 season.

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter