Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff slammed the unorthodox contract structure given to new Portland Trail Blazers lead man Micah Nori.
Nori's deal with the Blazers includes just one guaranteed year, with team options for the second and third seasons, sources told ESPN's Tim MacMahon.
The ex-Minnesota Timberwolves lead assistant is also receiving a below-market base salary, with his contract incentives based on the team's success, adds MacMahon.
"I feel like (Nori) was put in a situation that he shouldn't be put in with having to make a choice of this nature because of the structure of what the contract is," Bickerstaff told MacMahon. "It's unfortunate that you have a dream, and from our perspective, it's like someone's taking advantage of your dream and devaluing what we feel like coaches have earned over the years.
"You think about the sacrifice, the time, the growth that coaches have helped and done with the NBA, and then for someone to come in and attempt to devalue the work that coaches have in this league is extremely disappointing."
New Blazers governor Tom Dundon has drawn criticism for his cost-cutting measures since the NBA's board of governors officially approved his $4.25-billion purchase of the club in March.
Notably, Portland's two-way players weren't permitted to travel with the team during its first-round playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs.
Interim head coach Tiago Splitter was also offered a salary well below the standard for an NBA head coach, sources told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne.
Splitter guided the Blazers to a 42-39 record following Chauncey Billups' arrest as part of a federal investigation into illegal gambling. The Brazilian recently took the Chicago Bulls' head coaching gig after interviewing for Portland's vacancy.
Dundon also discussed the job with mid-major college coaches who were making more at their current positions than what he was offering, sources told MacMahon.
Bickerstaff, who also serves as president of the National Basketball Coaches Association, expressed concern about the precedent Nori's contract could be setting.
"It changes the math on where a coach stands, and it creates an environment where how do you hold players accountable when it looks like you are easily replaced and removed if things don't go the way that players may see it going," Bickerstaff said.
"It's almost, which is disappointing, a mindset of the substitute teacher being there with no guarantee or support (regarding) what it looks like long term or in the future."
