Overview
- The Trail Blazers named Micah Nori their head coach, a move announced Tuesday, June 23, 2026, that filled the NBA’s final head‑coaching vacancy this offseason.
- Nori’s deal reportedly guarantees only the 2026‑27 season and gives the team options for 2027‑28 and 2028‑29, with a sliding‑scale salary tied to incentives and team success.
- The contract prompted strong reactions from league figures with J.B. Bickerstaff calling it a ‘slap in the face’ to coaching value while Chris Finch defended Nori’s choice and NFL agents described the structure as unprecedented.
- Nori arrives as a longtime top assistant with five seasons as Minnesota’s lead assistant and he pledged on Day 1 to build culture, play hard and develop the roster that includes All‑Star Deni Avdija and the expected return of Damian Lillard.
- Portland will now assemble Nori’s staff and begin season planning as observers watch whether this hiring approach reflects Tom Dundon’s cost‑cutting philosophy and sets any broader precedent for coaching contracts.