Northwest Division rival interested in Nuggets assistant

David Adelman could be losing his top assistant, Jared Dudley, to a fellow Northwest Division franchise.

The Portland Trail Blazers have expressed interest in the Denver Nuggets assistant coach as part of their sprawling head coaching search, NBA insider Marc Stein reported Sunday in The Stein Line.

Stein also named Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori and Brooklyn Nets assistant Steve Hetzel as candidates Portland is evaluating, while Portland-based reporter Sean Highkin reported Los Angeles Lakers assistant Greg St. Jean is on the Blazers’ list.

Dudley, 40, has already interviewed with Portland, according to Hoops Rumors’ coaching search tracker. New Orleans also had some interest in Dudley, before opting for Jamahl Mosley.

The coaching vacancy opened after the Blazers’ situation with Chauncey Billups, where he was arrest on money laundering and wire fraud conspiracy charges just as the 2025-26 season began. Billups has not yet been fired.

Interim coach Tiago Splitter led Portland to a 42-win season and the franchise’s first playoff appearance since 2021, but he is reportedly considered unlikely to land the permanent job.

The search has been shaped by new owner Tom Dundon, who finalized his purchase of the franchise earlier this spring. Reports have indicated Dundon wants to interview upward of 30 candidates and is looking to pay a new head coach roughly $1.5 million annually — a figure that would make Portland’s coach the lowest-paid in the NBA.

Experienced coaches Michael Malone and Tom Thibodeau reportedly rebuffed the Blazers’ efforts to speak with them while the team was still in the playoffs.

None of the primary targets — Dudley, Nori, Hetzel or St. Jean — have NBA head coaching experience, a detail that aligns with the modest salary range Portland appears willing to offer.

Former Blazers head coach Terry Stotts, who ranks second in franchise history with 402 wins, has also publicly expressed interest in returning after stepping down as Steve Kerr’s assistant in Golden State.

Dudley joined the Nuggets last summer as Adelman’s top assistant in what was widely viewed as a splash hire. The former first-round pick spent 14 seasons playing in the NBA, averaging 7.3 points and 3.2 rebounds in 904 games across stints with multiple franchises, including a long run with the Phoenix Suns and an NBA championship with the 2020 Los Angeles Lakers.

He transitioned into coaching with the Dallas Mavericks in 2021, working under Jason Kidd. After the Mavericks lost Luka Doncic midseason, Dallas saw an exodus of assistants — Dudley, Sean Sweeney (San Antonio Spurs) and God Shammgod (Orlando Magic) all left for promotions elsewhere.

Dudley was a sought-after name on the coaching market before landing in Denver, interviewing for the Phoenix Suns’ head coaching vacancy that ultimately went to Jordan Ott. He also drew interest from the Cleveland Cavaliers and Memphis Grizzlies.

In Denver, Dudley took over the No. 2 role Adelman had previously held under Malone. A Mavericks blog once described his style: “Dudley was always the vibes guy on the staff. He related to the players and helped keep whatever shreds of culture the Mavs had in place, in place.”

If Dudley were to leave for Portland, it would mark a significant staff loss for Adelman, who overhauled Denver’s coaching bench last offseason. Adelman chose not to retain much of Malone’s staff instead building a new staff around Dudley and J.J. Barea.

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