The Portland Trail Blazers are adding an experienced offensive voice to new head coach Micah Nori‘s staff, bringing back a familiar face with strong ties to the organization and franchise star Damian Lillard.
According to Chris Haynes, longtime NBA assistant Jay Triano has agreed to join Portland’s coaching staff. The move reunites Triano with Lillard after the two previously worked together during Triano’s first stint with the Trail Blazers from 2012 to 2016, when he served as an assistant coach.
Triano arrives with nearly four decades of coaching experience spanning the college and NBA ranks. After beginning his head coaching career at Simon Fraser University from 1988 to 1995, he entered the NBA as an assistant with the Toronto Raptors in 2002. He later became Toronto’s head coach from 2008 to 2011 before holding coaching roles with the Phoenix Suns, Charlotte Hornets, Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks.
Most recently, Triano spent the 2025-26 season as an assistant with the Mavericks after serving as Sacramento’s associate head coach during the 2024-25 campaign. Throughout his NBA career, he has earned a reputation for developing offensive systems and helping maximize perimeter talent, making him a logical addition for a Portland team entering a new era under Nori.
The hire comes during one of the busiest offseasons in recent franchise history. Portland replaced its coaching staff by hiring Nori as head coach while also reshaping the roster around a blend of veterans and young talent.
The Trail Blazers finished 42-40 last season, earning the Western Conference’s eighth seed before falling to the San Antonio Spurs in five games in the opening round of the playoffs. Deni Avdija led the team with career-best averages of 24.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists, earning his first All-Star selection. Shaedon Sharpe added 20.8 points per game in 50 appearances, while Toumani Camara started all 82 games and averaged 13.4 points on 37.0% shooting from three.
Portland’s frontcourt also showed promise with second-year center Donovan Clingan averaging 12.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks across 77 starts. Veteran Jrue Holiday contributed 16.3 points and 6.1 assists in 53 games, while Scoot Henderson averaged 14.2 points and 3.7 assists despite appearing in only 30 contests.
The organization has continued to reshape its roster this summer by acquiring Ja Morant without surrendering future first-round draft picks, re-signing Robert Williams III to a new veteran contract and adding Branden Carlson in free agency.
Triano’s arrival also coincides with the expected return of Lillard from an Achilles injury. Having previously coached Lillard during the All-Star guard’s formative NBA seasons, Triano brings familiarity with the franchise cornerstone while adding another veteran voice to a coaching staff tasked with integrating Morant, reinserting Lillard and continuing the development of Portland’s young core.
