Trail Blazers to go forward with Chauncey Billups hire despite backlash

The Portland Trail Blazers are going forward with the hiring of Chauncey Billups as their head coach, reportedly signing him to a five-year deal.

Despite backlash and controversy, Chauncey Billups will be the new head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers.

Billups and the Blazers have agreed to a five-year deal, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Reports had indicated Portland picked Billups to lead their team on Friday. However, past sexual assault allegations against the Clippers assistant raised questions about the decision.

While the team appeared to stand by the choice, it wasn’t certain they would go through with the hire.

Now it looks like the move will be made official imminently.

The Trail Blazers are signing Chauncey Billups to a five-year deal

The controversy stems from a 1997 rape allegation against Billups during his time as a rookie with the Boston Celtics. He denied anything nonconsensual occurred and he was never charged with a crime. However, he did settle a civil lawsuit with the alleged victim.  Details of her allegation are graphic.

Billups went on to play 17 years in the NBA, winning a championship with the Detroit Pistons. He retired in 2016 but only recently entered the coaching ranks as an assistant on Tyronn Lue’s staff with the Clippers.

Neither rape allegations nor his limited coaching experience dissuaded Portland from giving him their head coaching position.

Billups will have to answer plenty of questions in the press conferences that follow. So will Blazers management.

Once he addresses the controversy, he will go on to face other challenges of the basketball variety. Star guard Damian Lillard is reportedly considering a trade request because of worries about the franchise’s ability to build a roster around him capable of winning a title. He is also reportedly unhappy with the backlash to the Billups hire.