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The Detroit Pistons targeted Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts for their head coaching vacancy but the Blazers did not give Detroit permission, according Mitch Lawrence of Sporting News. Detroit fired former head coach Stan Van Gundy in early May, and the finalists for the opening, according to Adrian Wojnarowski, are Dwane Casey and Ime Udoka after Michigan head coach John Beilein pulled out of the running:
The Pistons wanted to talk to Terry Stotts about their coaching opening, but Blazers wouldn’t give permission to Detroit to make a run at Stotts. Sources also say John Beilein had strong interest in Pistons, consulting with NBA team execs before deciding to stay at Michigan.
— Mitch Lawrence (@Mitch_Lawrence) June 7, 2018
Lawrence reported before last NBA Draft that the Blazers could move up into the lottery as Damian Lillard requested better supporting players. Portland eventually moved up to No. 10 for Zach Collins, and Lillard later met with owner Paul Allen ahead of the NBA Trade Deadline to ask for the team’s direction.
Stotts has coached the Blazers since 2012, going 272-220 in his six-year run. Rumors swirled around his job security after a sweep out of the NBA Playoffs, but that talk has since cooled and his job appears safe.