happybelly
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PORTLAND, Ore. -- Nate McMillan is leaving the Seattle SuperSonics to coach the Portland Trail Blazers. ESPN.com Insider Chad Ford reports that McMillan agreed to a five-year contract.
The Blazers late Wednesday night hired McMillan, who led the SuperSonics to the Northwest Division title this past season. He will be introduced Thursday at a news conference, the Blazers said in a statement.
McMillan's contract with the Sonics expired Thursday and the Blazers aggressively pursued him.
McMillan was believed to be the Blazers' No. 1 choice all along, with the team also talking to former Blazers player and Bucks ex-coach Terry Porter and Phoenix assistant Marc Iavaroni.
The Blazers appeared close to offering the job to Iavaroni in late June, with the caveat that they first wanted a shot at luring McMillan away from the SuperSonics. The New York Times reported Sunday that Portland is offering McMillan an annual salary of $6 million.
McMillan replaces interim coach Kevin Pritchard, who took over from the fired Maurice Cheeks when the Blazers embarked on a youth movement in midseason.
McMillan had coached the Sonics since Nov. 27, 2000 and compiled a 212-193 record.
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Nate McMillan is leaving the Seattle SuperSonics to coach the Portland Trail Blazers. ESPN.com Insider Chad Ford reports that McMillan agreed to a five-year contract.
The Blazers late Wednesday night hired McMillan, who led the SuperSonics to the Northwest Division title this past season. He will be introduced Thursday at a news conference, the Blazers said in a statement.
McMillan's contract with the Sonics expired Thursday and the Blazers aggressively pursued him.
McMillan was believed to be the Blazers' No. 1 choice all along, with the team also talking to former Blazers player and Bucks ex-coach Terry Porter and Phoenix assistant Marc Iavaroni.
The Blazers appeared close to offering the job to Iavaroni in late June, with the caveat that they first wanted a shot at luring McMillan away from the SuperSonics. The New York Times reported Sunday that Portland is offering McMillan an annual salary of $6 million.
McMillan replaces interim coach Kevin Pritchard, who took over from the fired Maurice Cheeks when the Blazers embarked on a youth movement in midseason.
McMillan had coached the Sonics since Nov. 27, 2000 and compiled a 212-193 record.
