Stotts and Blazers go separate ways

No team in the NBA has a longer active streak of postseason appearances than the Trail Blazers, who have gotten there in each of the last eight seasons. That wasn’t enough to save Terry Stotts, and the Blazers will have a new coach next season. The Trail Blazers and Stotts parted ways Friday, ending a nine-year run that saw the team good enough to get to the playoffs — but not good enough to get past the first round in four of the last five seasons. “I have the utmost respect for Terry and what he has accomplished these past nine seasons,” Blazers President Neil Olshey said. “This was a difficult decision on both a personal and professional level but it’s in the best interest of the franchise to move in another direction. “Terry will always hold a special place in the Trail Blazer family and the Portland community. We relied on the integrity, professionalism and consistency he brought to the job every day and we wish he and Jan nothing but the best.” It’s being termed as a mutual decision. The move was made one day after the Blazers’ first-round exit at the hands of the Nuggets.