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Per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Indiana Pacers have parted ways with head coach Nate Bjorkgren. Shortly after the announcement, Chris Haynes of Yahoo! Sports added that the Pacers are interested in former Portland Trail Blazers’ Head Coach Terry Stotts.
Indiana Pacers expected to take a look at former Portland Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts, league sources tell @YahooSports.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 9, 2021
Bjorkgren was only with the Pacers for a season. According to Wojnarowski, the Pacers will look for someone more seasoned.
The Pacers are expected to pursue a more experienced, established head coach after Bjorkgren lost the locker room and much of the organization in his one year as coach.
Terry Stotts would be an excellent fit for an organization looking for someone who can build positive relationships between players and coaching staff. Stotts was well-known in Portland for being a so-called “player’s coach” and had a strong relationship with the players in the locker room. He would bring a veteran presence, as well, as he coached in Portland for nine years and the team made the playoffs every season save his first coaching for the Blazers.