Pacers to promote Nate McMillan to head coach, per report

The Pacers will promote Nate McMillan to head coach, according to The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski.

McMillan was hired by the Pacers in 2013 to be associate head coach on Frank Vogel's staff. After a year off, he returned to the team in 2015 to serve as an assistant. Now, he will take over the position left vacant by Vogel, whose contract ended and wasn't renewed.

It will be McMillan's third head coaching job after serving long stints in Seattle and Portland. In his 12-year career he amassed a .514 winning percentage, with his best season coming in 2009, when he led the Trail Blazers to 54 wins. He never had much playoff success, only advancing to the second round once with the SuperSonics.

McMillan seems like a safe choice by President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird. He's experienced, has ties to the franchise and knows the roster. He's known as a disciplinarian, which could help energize the locker room. Whether he will be an upgrade over Vogel, however, remains to be seen.