Bucks can easily help Trail Blazers solve their Tiago Splitter problem

The Portland Trail Blazers are not expected to bring back head coach Tiago Splitter, who took over when Chauncey Billups was dismissed one game into the season. Despite his evident popularity with fans and players, a 42-39 record, and a playoff berth, the franchise is reportedly reluctant to pay him head-coaching money. 

Well, the Milwaukee Bucks would be glad to give him a substantial bump just to come in and be Taylor Jenkins' assistant. For a variety of factors, adding Splitter to the staff would make a lot of sense. 

Jenkins should push to snag Splitter for Bucks crew

The two coaches have a connection from their shared time with former Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer in Atlanta. Splitter spent a season there during his seven-year playing career, while Jenkins served as an assistant. Now that Jenkins is at the helm in Milwaukee, bringing in a familiar face could help him settle in. 

Among their current assistants, the Bucks could lose one or both of Darvin Ham or Rajon Rondo, who have interviewed for the head-coaching job in New Orleans. Milwaukee should already be exploring replacements for that reason.

Plus, Ham and Rondo are remnants of Doc Rivers' regime. Jenkins might prefer to assemble his own crew.

Splitter impressed in Portland, winning over players and fans. Having hung up his playing shoes in 2017, however, he is fairly new on the coaching scene. Prior to the 2025-26 season, he logged four years as an assistant for the Nets and Rockets.

Splitter's lack of experience may prevent him from winning a full-time HC role just yet, but the Bucks should pounce on the opportunity to snag one of the coaching carousel's most intriguing young personalities. 

Blazers need help saving face after unpopular Splitter slight

Milwaukee only has the opportunity thanks to Portland's penny-pinching. As an internal candidate with a year of experience, Splitter would be a stronger choice to remain as head coach of the Blazers than he would be as an external hire elsewhere. If they aren't going to pay him fairly, though, he has no reason to stick around. 

By swooping in to add Splitter to their own staff, the Bucks would also save Portland a bit of face. The longer he lingers there, available to bring back on a market-value deal but still unsigned, the worse it looks for new owner Tom Dundon. The latter has already come under fire for declining to provide home fans with T-shirts for Portland's first playoff games in five years. 

Getting Splitter out of sight and out of mind would be the best thing for the Blazers if they don't plan to bring him back.  

Whatever he was making before his unexpected promotion, the Bucks should be happy to give him a nice raise as Jenkins' right-hand man. After a year or two, with another credential on his resume, Splitter could test the head-coaching waters again. 

Perhaps then there will be a team willing to pay him a head coach's salary. For now, he should be high on Milwaukee's radar as a prime acquisition in coaching free agency.

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