After the Chicago Bulls hired Tiago Splitter, the list of candidates for the Portland Trail Blazers’ coaching opening has narrowed. However, it seems Tom Dundon’s plans could lead to a more expansive search, with a new candidate potentially leading Portland’s system.
Chris Jent Enters The Race To Become The Blazers’ Coach
It seems the new ownership group was never truly the best fit for Splitter. Starting the Blazers’ coach search during the playoffs was already a red flag, but it seems Dundon did not want to adhere to Splitter’s salary demands. Now, they still have Micah Nori of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Tyler Lashbrook of the Boston Celtics as candidates for the job.
However, it seems that there could be another addition to the list. The New York Knicks are fresh off a championship with Mike Brown as the head coach. Despite being at the helm, Brown has said that he wants more people to credit his staff, especially his associate head coach, Chris Jent, who has surprisingly become a candidate for the Blazers.
Jent Has The Pedigree To Become The Blazers’ Coach
Before the 2025-26 season, the Knicks’ hiring of Jent as Brown’s lead assistant was huge for their offense. It seems he had a profound impact on the team, as Brown has been nothing but complimentary toward his standout staff member.
In fact, Brown even made a case for teams to interview Jent for one of the league’s head-coaching openings. Now, it seems Dundon’s plans align with those comments, since Jent became a candidate. He could be the key to unlocking Portland’s system if he does pass the test.
Mike Brown: “I’m scared to death that one of these teams are poach one of my guys. I’m surprised nobody’s come at Chris Jent for a head job yet. He’s won Summer League, been a lead assistant here.” pic.twitter.com/NxpiGIU33f https://t.co/lTcISyCOUT
— Blazers Lead (@BlazersLead) June 18, 2026
Considering the Blazers already have a good defensive unit, they need to shore up the team’s biggest issue: the offense. Since Jent is well known as the offensive coordinator, he could be the coach Portland’s system has needed for a long time.
Shaedon Sharpe and Deni Avdija were the Blazers’ best offensive players last season. They were solving some of the problems, but the primary issue remained. With a coach like Jent, there could be more creative sets that could maximize all the players on the roster.
Portland’s System Will Be More Reliable On Offense
The Blazers will get a substantial offensive boost with Damian Lillard returning to the court. He is ready to resume his role as the superstar, but it will be quite different, as he is coming off a torn Achilles tendon, one of the worst injuries an athlete can get.
With that, a more creative and dynamic offensive system could go a long way for Portland. Lillard can still be the superstar, but he does have some awesome teammates. Avdija was just an All-Star, and if Sharpe gets to stay amid all the trade discussions, he already has chemistry with Lillard from the 2022-23 season.
This is Chris Jent's coaching resume
He also played professional basketball (almost exclusively in the NBA minors and in Europe) for 20 years — he did win the title with the Rockets in '94
He's probably seen every zone, scheme, ATO play, and shooting form that's ever existed pic.twitter.com/RSnAKd6wIO
— Blazers Lead (@BlazersLead) June 18, 2026
The rest of the team, including Donovan Clingan, Scoot Henderson, Jrue Holiday, and Toumani Camara, could all benefit from playing with Lillard. If Jent does take over, they could be put in better positions to succeed than Splitter or Chauncey Billups did.
A coach who has proven to run a championship-winning offense can go a long way. With the amount of talent Portland has on its roster, the team could pull off some surprises yet again next season if Jent does take over.
Dundon’s Plans Involve Being Competitive Quickly
Under new ownership, the Blazers could be on a winning trajectory with Dundon’s plans. They want to make a big splash, so a big trade for someone like Jaylen Brown could be in the cards, but a deal for Giannis Antetokounmpo is also possible for Portland.
No matter what kind of move they pull off, the Blazers have a bright future in the 2026-27 season. Lillard’s return alongside Avdija’s rising stardom is already a big deal for Portland’s system. However, Dundon’s plans have shown that he is hungry to lead this team back to glory.
His NHL team, the Carolina Hurricanes, just won the Stanley Cup, so he would want to replicate that in the NBA. With big trades potentially coming and a potential Blazers’ coach in Jent, this team could pull off some even bigger surprises than the 2025-26 season.
Kirby Lee, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
