There’s some buzz around the Utah Jazz this week.
No, it’s not that they are mulling over what they should do with the No. 2 overall pick in the upcoming draft — though, that’s definitely been a buzzy topic. It’s actually a member of the coaching staff that is making headlines.
Jazz assistant coach Mike Williams has been interviewing for the vacant head coaching position with the Portland Trail Blazers and according to reports, he impressed during the last round and is a finalist for the gig.
In 2023, Williams joined the Jazz coaching staff after serving as head coach for the G League Capital City Go-Go for two years.
Kris Dunn was on Williams’ Capital City team and Dunn credited Williams with helping him transform his game to return to the NBA. Dunn later signed with the Jazz and then was part of a sign-and-trade deal with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2024.
The Blazers head coach job is reportedly down to a finalist pool that includes Williams, Clippers assistant Jeff Van Gundy, Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori and Tiago Splitter, who was the Blazers interim head coach for the majority of the 2025-26 season.
The Blazers job has been a hot topic due to reports of severe cost-cutting measures by new owner Tom Dundon. It’s been rumored and reported that Dundon’s cost-cutting includes lowering the salary for the head coach to $1.5 million, which would rank at the very bottom, if not the lowest, in the NBA.
