Official: Timberwolves assistant coach Micah Norie has been officially appointed as the Trail Blazers' head coach.

The Portland Trail Blazers announced Tuesday that they have officially hired Micah Norie as their new head coach. The two sides signed a one-year contract with team options for the next two seasons.

ESPN's Shams Charania added that Norrie's contract also includes a variable salary mechanism that adjusts based on incentive clauses and the team's performance.

As one of the league's most promising head coaching prospects, Norrie has served as the Minnesota Timberwolves' lead assistant coach for the past five years. His NBA career began in 1998 when he was the Toronto Raptors' director of scouting and senior scout.

In 2009, Norrie officially transitioned to an assistant coaching role. He subsequently served on the coaching staff of the Toronto Raptors, Sacramento Kings, Denver Nuggets, and Detroit Pistons, and was known for his communication skills and ability to develop players.

The Trail Blazers considered more than ten candidates during the head coaching search process, ultimately deciding to appoint Norrie as their new head coach. Besides him, the final candidates for the position included Boston Celtics assistant coach Tyler Rushbrook and Tiago Splitter, who interim head coach of the Trail Blazers last season.

Regarding the appointment, Trail Blazers General Manager Joe Cronin explained, "After a comprehensive selection process, we ultimately determined that Micah possesses the qualities we believe a team leader should have. He has played a key role in several successful teams, possessing not only extensive coaching experience and proven player development abilities, but also a personal style that aligns perfectly with the team culture we are building. We have high expectations for his future under his coaching and look forward to achieving great things together with him."

Norrie himself stated, "I am very grateful for the opportunity to coach the Trail Blazers, and for the trust that Tom Dunden, Joe Cronin, and the Rip City Rising owners have placed in me. Through my interactions with Tom and Joe, I have clearly felt their commitment to building a culture that emphasizes responsibility, player development, and team success. The Trail Blazers are a very talented team, and I look forward to working with our players and coaching staff."

Image source: Internet/NBA official website