Southeast Notes: Hawks’ Draft Picks, Jakucionis, Magic
The Hawks will likely have at least a couple top guard prospects available to choose from when they’re on the clock with the eighth overall pick, writes Michael Cunningham of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (subscriber link).
Atlanta found success in the second half of last season without using a traditional point guard, but if the team wants to find a play-maker to replace Trae Young, Darius Acuff, Kingston Flemings, Keaton Wagler, Mikel Brown and Brayden Burries are among the players who could still be on the board.
If the Hawks decide to go with a wing or a big man, Nate Ament, Aday Mara, Yaxel Lendeborg and Jayden Quaintance could be options, suggest Cunningham and his Atlanta Journal-Constitution colleague Lauren Williams (subscription required).
Here’s more from around the Southeast:
- In the same story, Williams lists a few players the Hawks might consider with their second first-round pick at No. 23 overall. Houston big man Chris Cenac, Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz and Texas Tech guard Christian Anderson a few of the prospects mentioned. Atlanta also controls a late second-round selection (No. 57), Williams notes.
- Kasparas Jakucionis opened his rookie season in the G League, but he became a Heat rotation regular about a third of the way into 2025/26, per Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. The Lithuanian guard, who turns 20 years old later this month, impressed head coach Erik Spoelstra with his work ethic and competitiveness, now the 2025 first-round pick is trying to level up his game this offseason. “Just get stronger in the weight room,” said Jakucionis. “And then on the ball and off the ball, just work on my handles, try to get tight on my handles, get into the paint with two feet, try to make the right read from there. Get some more paint touches, for sure. And off the ball, it’s just about spacing, shooting, and running basically.”
- Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel examines what moves the Magic might make this offseason aside from hiring a new head coach to replace Jamahl Mosley. Pulling off another major trade might be more complicated since the Magic have fewer draft assets at their disposal after last summer’s Desmond Bane blockbuster, Beede observes, and their free agent additions might be limited to minimum-salary players due to their financial situation.
Nuggets Face Tough Decisions As Roster Becomes More Expensive
Cost-cutting could become the focus of the Nuggets‘ offseason plans, with possibly more than one “starter-level player” being moved in an effort to trim salary, writes Bennett Durando of The Denver Post.
Denver already has $213.8MM committed to 10 players for next season, which exceeds both the projected luxury tax level and the first apron while being in sight of the $222MM second apron. Durando expects ownership to view the second apron as a hard cap while possibly having designs on escaping the tax.
Jonas Valanciunas, who has a $2MM guarantee on his $10MM salary for next season, is almost certain to be gone, according to Durando. He could be traded to a team willing to accept the $2MM in dead money, but a second-round pick would have to be attached and the Nuggets only have three available. Other options are to waive him and keep the $2MM on next season’s cap sheet or to use the stretch provision over the next three years.
Durando also expects Denver to exercise its $2.41MM option on Jalen Pickett – whose contract is roughly $40K cheaper than the projected cap hit for a veteran’s minimum salary – and to hang on to the 26th pick in the draft, which fills another roster spot for about $3.1MM.
The choices get tougher with restricted free agents Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones, Durando adds. Jones fell just short of starter criteria this season, so his qualifying offer will be the standard minimum rather than $5.9MM. Watson’s is $6.5MM, but his offers in free agency will be far above that number. Durando suggests the Nuggets might want to discourage prospective suitors by expressing their intentions to match any offers for both players, but they’ll need to clear out a significant amount of salary before that becomes realistic.
Trading Christian Braun may be impossible since his five-year extension is just beginning, but Durando suggests there might be takers for Zeke Nnaji, who’s down to two years left on his contract and will make $7.5MM next season. Durando also theorizes that Denver could get involved as a facilitator in a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade as a way to get rid of an unwanted contract.
To move significant money, the Nuggets would have to part with Jamal Murray ($50.1MM next season), Aaron Gordon ($32MM) or Cameron Johnson ($23.1MM). Durando points to Johnson as the easiest to move because he has an expiring contract, but even erasing his entire salary without taking anything back would still leave them several million above the tax line once they fill out the roster.
The only realistic path toward getting out of the tax is to unload Johnson and another valuable player, whether that means sacrificing Watson in free agency or considering a move to send out Murray or Gordon. Regardless of the path, Durando views it as a potential step back for an organization that wants to keep contending for titles while Nikola Jokic is still in his prime.
Despite Critics, Lottery Reform Plan Seems Headed For Approval
The NBA’s Board of Governors appears to be headed toward approving the “3-2-1” lottery reform plan later this month, but Sam Amick and Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic found plenty of critics of the proposal in their conversations with executives at the draft combine.
Several of them believe the idea of scrapping the current lottery system and replacing it with something radically different is an “overreaction” to the circumstances caused by the high level of talent in this year’s draft. They note that once any incentive to tank is removed from all 30 teams, those who finish at the very bottom will truly be the worst in the league. However, they’ll be penalized by the new system, which includes a “relegation tier” that reduces their number of ping pong balls and gives them the same chance of landing the top pick as the ninth and 10th seeds in the play-in tournament.
Getting lucky in the lottery is viewed as the best way for bad teams to pick up high-level talent, and many executives believe the new system will doom those teams to a longer time at the bottom of the league.
“Teams that aren’t trying to tank will then get penalized,” one front office staffer said.
League sources told Amick and Vorkunov that one team raised that concern at a general managers’ meeting last Monday. However, their sources add that there has otherwise been “minimal pushback” on the proposal during a series of meetings held by the league. They also cite a “feeling of resignation” by executives who don’t like the new system but believe its approval is inevitable. At least 23 of the 30 governors must support the proposal for it to be approved, and it would take effect with next year’s draft.
“They’re hellbent on doing this,” an assistant general manager told the authors.
Some details on the proposal are still being finalized, but it would expand the lottery from 14 to 16 teams, with 37 balls being drawn to determine the top 16 picks. The teams with the three worst records would get two balls rather than three due to relegation, but they wouldn’t be able to slip lower than the 12th pick. League sources tell Amick and Vorkunov that the floor for those teams continues to be discussed, with some wanting to make it higher.
The next seven teams in the standings would get three balls apiece, while the teams that finish ninth and 10th in the play-in tournament would get two and the losers of the 7-8 game would each get one. The best odds of landing the No. 1 pick would be reduced to 8.1%, down from the current 14%.
Some executives cited “unintended consequences” if the new system is adopted, which include making picks throughout the top 16 more valuable because of the flatter lottery odds. There’s concern that it might make future draft picks more difficult to acquire in trades. Another assistant GM complained that it would give rebuilding teams less control over the moves that they’re able to make.
Amick and Vorkunov add that some executives are frustrated that the new system will be implemented so suddenly, causing it to affect the value of first-round picks that have already been acquired through trades. Others believe fines, like the ones handed out to the Jazz and Pacers in February, are enough to discourage tanking without major changes.
That aspect will be increased with the new system, as the authors report that general managers were told commissioner Adam Silver will be given “an added ability to reduce teams’ lottery odds and/or modify teams’ draft positions” if he deems there are obvious tanking infractions.
The expectation is that the new system will be in place when teams gather for next year’s lottery, according to Amick and Vorkunov. Sources also tell them that the actual drawing may be televised live, rather than just the unveiling of envelopes.
Wolves Notes: Edwards, Offseason Changes, Reid, Dosunmu
The course for the Timberwolves‘ season was set by a strategic decision coach Chris Finch made shortly before opening night, Chris Hine of The Minnesota Star-Tribune writes in a subscriber-only piece. Finch replaced veteran point guard Mike Conley in the starting lineup with Donte DiVincenzo, making Anthony Edwards the team’s primary ball-handler. Although he believed in the move at the time, Finch referred to it at Saturday’s end-of-season press conference as an “original sin” that the team could never overcome.
“Flipping Ant to the point guard spot just on the eve of the season, it certainly helped with Donte,” Finch said. “But it probably didn’t put everybody in the best position there, Ant included.”
Hine states that the adjustment wound up affecting the team on and off the court. Conley posted the worst season of his career before being traded in February and ultimately re-signed; Edwards’ pairing with Julius Randle never became as smooth as the organization had hoped; and Edwards’ increased playmaking responsibilities seemed to affect his defense.
The lack of an experienced point guard to make sure everyone felt like they were contributing to the offense created a “moodiness” that several players referenced during their exit interviews. Hine cites a “detrimental impact” if certain players weren’t getting the shots they expected, even when the team was winning.
Sources told Hine that it didn’t take much for players to get into a “funk” and affect the team’s overall performance. Finch points to better “connectivity” as one of the themes for the offseason, and Naz Reid notes that the West’s top two teams, the Thunder and Spurs, seem to be on the same page more than the Wolves are.
“Being consistent, not moody, and having that competitive edge we had last year and the year before,” Reid told reporters. “… You can’t get anywhere if you’re fighting yourself, so I think that’ll help for sure.”
There’s more from Minnesota:
- The Wolves are expected to explore major changes this offseason, according to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. He notes that president of basketball operations Tim Connelly opted to keep the core of the team together after losing in the conference finals last year, but is expected to aggressively seek trades this summer. Minnesota was among the teams that contacted the Bucks about Giannis Antetokounmpo before the deadline, and that pursuit will likely resume over the next few weeks. Krawczynski reports that talks with Milwaukee seemed to affect the locker room, particularly Randle, who was rumored to be headed out in a potential deal.
- Krawczynski expects changes to focus on the frontline, where Rudy Gobert, ($36.5MM), Randle ($33MM) and Reid ($23.3MM) will combine to make nearly $95MM next season. Center Joan Beringer showed promise as a rookie, and the Wolves will want to give him more playing time in his second year.
- Reid was playing with a lingering shoulder injury he experienced around the All-Star break, Hine tweets. “There were times I couldn’t even shoot the ball, for real,” he said.
- Re-signing Ayo Dosunmu, who was acquired from Chicago at the trade deadline, should be an offseason priority, states Bobby Marks of ESPN. The Wolves hold Bird rights on Dosunmu, who will be eligible for to sign a three-year, $52.4MM extension until June 30. Marks points out that the team would have to unload at least $58.5MM in salary to be able to give Dosunmu that figure without triggering a second apron hard cap.
- Edwards is also extension eligible this summer, Marks adds, but only at $121.6MM over two seasons. He’s likely to wait a year and could be in line for $300MM over four seasons in 2027 if he earns a spot on the All-NBA team.
Omer Yurtseven Nearing Agreement With Real Madrid
Omer Yurtseven is in “advanced talks” to join Real Madrid for the rest of the season, sources tell Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews. Yurtseven won’t be eligible for EuroLeague competition, but he’ll strengthen the team’s frontcourt going into the Spanish League playoffs.
The 27-year-old big man has four years of NBA experience, including nine games this season with the Warriors after signing a pair of 10-day contracts in March. Yurtseven filled a backup role for Golden State, averaging 3.8 points and 3.3 rebounds in 11.6 minutes per night.
Yurtseven had spent most of the past two years overseas playing for Panathinaikos, but he parted ways with the Greek team in February. He signed a G League deal and spent time with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers before getting the opportunity with the Warriors.
Yurtseven began his NBA career with Miami in 2021 and appeared in 65 games over two seasons. He also played 48 games for Utah during the 2023/24 season.
Urbonas states that Real Madrid needs reinforcements after losing former NBA centers Edy Tavares and Alex Len to injuries. Ex-NBA player Usman Garuba is currently the only big man in the lineup.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander To Be Named MVP
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will win his second straight Most Valuable Player award, multiple sources tell ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter link). The formal announcement will be made Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime, just before the start of Game 7 of the Cavaliers–Pistons series.
The Thunder guard put up similar numbers to his MVP campaign from last year. In 68 games, he averaged 31.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.6 assists while shooting 55.3% from the field and 38.6% from three-point range. He helped Oklahoma City post a league-high 64 regular season wins and sweep its way through the first two rounds of the playoffs.
SGA is the 14th player in NBA history to claim back-to-back MVP honors and the first since Nikola Jokic did it in 2021 and 2022. Charania notes that he’s the first guard to win consecutive MVPs since Stephen Curry and the first backcourt player ever to average at least 30 PPG in a season while shooting better than 55% from the field. He also joins Michael Jordan as the only players to average at least 30 points and five assists while shooting 50% for four straight years.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored at least 20 points in every game he played this season, reaching a milestone previously only accomplished by Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor. His league-leading plus/minus rating of +788 for the season is far ahead of runner-up Victor Wembanyama, who was at +682.
Gilgeous-Alexander has a chance to move into the record book alongside Jordan, Bill Russell and LeBron James as the only players ever to win consecutive titles and back-to-back MVP trophies, per Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints (Twitter link).
ESPN’s Bobby Marks points out that SGA currently ranks 34th in the league in salary, and that his current figure at 24.8% of the cap will dip to 24.6% next season (Twitter link). He’ll move near the top in 2027/28 when his super-max extension kicks in.
Jokic and Wembanyama are the other finalists for this year’s award. Although Charania’s report takes the drama out of tonight’s announcement, Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press states that Jokic still has a chance to join Russell and Larry Bird as the only players ever to finish in the top two in MVP voting for six consecutive years (Twitter link).
Cavaliers Expected To Re-Sign James Harden To Multiyear Deal
No matter what happens in Sunday night’s Game 7 at Detroit, the Cavaliers plan to re-sign James Harden this summer, sources tell Brian Windhorst of ESPN.
Windhorst suggests an “understanding” that a multiyear contract would be forthcoming was likely in place before Cleveland sent Darius Garland and a 2026 second-round pick to the Clippers in exchange for Harden at the trade deadline. Harden was in position to veto a trade and probably wouldn’t have joined the Cavs without the implicit promise of a new deal.
Windhorst hears that the organization worked to establish a bond with Harden before the trade was finalized, as head coach Kenny Atkinson took steps to make him a partner in the team’s success from the first time they talked. Windhorst points out that Harden has excelled throughout his career when he’s had a strong relationship with his coaches, so Atkinson and his staff have been cultivating that from the start.
Harden holds a $42.3MM player option for next season, but the annual salary in his next contract is expected to be smaller in exchange for more long-term security as he turns 37 this summer. That will provide some financial relief for the Cavaliers, who are carrying the league’s highest payroll at $226MM (more than $280MM with the luxury tax factored in) and are the only team currently operating over the second apron.
Windhorst states that a new deal with Harden will also provide some stability amid the uncertainty surrounding Donovan Mitchell, who has a $53.8MM player option for 2027/28 and will carry the equivalent of an expiring contract next season. Mitchell will become extension-eligible in July and can sign a new deal worth up to $272MM over four years. However, Windhorst notes that he would benefit by waiting until 2027 when he’ll have 10 years of service, which means he can increase his next contract to five years at around $350MM and will be eligible for other benefits, including a no-trade clause.
Waiting to sign his next deal means Mitchell will hit free agency next summer, which Windhorst states could lead to an “uncomfortable” situation, especially if the Cavs fail to advance past the second round again. There could be some hesitation about committing to a new deal that pays him $80MM when he’s 35.
An early playoff exit could affect the roster in other ways, Windhorst adds, as rival teams have expressed interest for years in trading for Jarrett Allen. The 28-year-old center is about to enter a three-year, $90MM extension that will make him significantly more expensive for a team that’s already under financial duress. Windhorst cites moving Max Strus, who’ll have a $16.6MM expiring contract next season, as another option, but notes that trading Allen or Strus is unlikely to bring back “star power” that would put Cleveland in position to win a title.
That could lead to discussions on whether to part with Evan Mobley, an elite defender who would generate plenty of interest around the league if the Cavs consider moving him. Windhorst states that the 25-year-old Mobley, who’s in the first season of a five-year, $270MM extension, has been “untouchable” so far.
Warriors Notes: Green, Porzingis, Horford, Butler, Moody, Dunleavy
In a session with the media on Friday, Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. said he’s talked to Draymond Green about remaining with the team, but “the ball is in his court,” writes Nick Friedell of The Athletic. Green holds a $27.7MM player option for next season, with a decision due by June 29. He can pick up the option, use it to negotiate a longer contract, or turn it down and test the free agent market.
“I think we have had discussions where we want him to finish his career (as) a Warrior,” Dunleavy said. “He kind of feels the same way. I would expect him to be back, but it’s his call on that.”
Green, 36, has spent his entire 14-year career with Golden State after being selected with the 35th pick in 2012. He was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2017, has earned four All-Star appearances, and played a vital role on four championship teams.
Coach Steve Kerr also expressed hope that Green will decide to remain with the Warriors.
“The number one thing is, it’s up to him,” Kerr said. “He has the player option, so he has to go through that with his agent, how that plays out. I am committed to coaching him, coaching Steph (Curry), obviously, for as long as they’re here. I look at them as collaborators, and what we’ve built is pretty special.”
There’s more on the Warriors:
- Dunleavy and Kerr are also optimistic about having Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford on the roster next season, Friedell adds. Porzingis, who was acquired from Atlanta at the trade deadline, is an unrestricted free agent and Dunleavy said negotiations on a new deal will begin soon. Horford signed with Golden State last summer and has a decision to make on a player option worth nearly $6MM. “Those are guys that we definitely would love to have back,” Dunleavy said. “They had some really good performances this year with us. They add an element to our team that we haven’t had in the past.”
- Dunleavy also offered minor medical updates on Jimmy Butler (torn ACL) and Moses Moody (ruptured patellar tendon), per Friedell. He said both players are making progress with rehab, but it’s still too early to say when they might return next season.
- Dunleavy’s rosy view of the team’s current status could either be viewed as “delusional” or “shrewd deception,” contends Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area. The GM cited turnovers as a serious problem this season while adding, “I don’t think we came up short because of the talent on the roster. It was injuries and things we could control.” Poole points out that the Warriors were in the midst of a mediocre campaign before it was derailed by injuries to Butler and Curry, and they won just 10 of their last 32 games.
Draft Notes: Dybantsa, Ejiofor, Momcilovic, Updated Mock
Among the ways AJ Dybantsa stands out from the rest of his draft class is his openness about wanting to be the No. 1 pick, writes Sarah Todd of The Deseret News. Todd notes that Dybantsa’s bravado was among his characteristics that were on display during this week’s draft combine in Chicago.
“It’s definitely a goal of mine,” Dybantsa said of being the first name off the board. “I’ve been number one in the ranking since what, ninth grade? And I ain’t dropped. So, I’m not planning on dropping in the draft.”
Todd adds that the ultra-confidence can be interpreted in various ways by different team executives. While some may be concerned about drafting a diva, there’s an understanding that most highly successful professional athletes have a certain level of ego. Dybantsa’s stated desire to become a “Hall of Famer” should appeal to decision makers who are looking for someone to carry their franchise.
Although Dybantsa is considered the favorite to go to Washington with the top pick, he met with several other teams at the combine as well as the Wizards, according to Marc J. Spears of Andscape (Twitter link). Dybantsa also had sessions with the Jazz, Bulls, Kings, Nets, Hawks, Mavericks, Grizzlies and Clippers.
There’s more on the draft:
- St. John’s forward Zuby Ejiofor raised his draft stock at the combine with a strong shooting performance, states Brian Lewis of The New York Post. During the shooting drills, Ejiofor connected at 17-of-30 off the dribble and 12-of-25 in the three-point star drill. He went 16-of-28 in a side-middle-side drill and 13-of-25 on spot-up shots. “I feel like it’s something I could’ve shown a little bit more in college,” he said. “And then I had the opportunity to just come out here and just prove, not only to myself, but to everybody around that I could do it. And I had decent numbers. And I was pretty proud of it.” Ejiofor’s agent believes he’ll be selected somewhere between 25th and 35th, Lewis adds.
- Iowa State’s Milan Momcilovic is still focused on the draft, but he’ll be the top player in the transfer portal if he decides to pull out, per Adam Zagoria of Zagsblog. An NBA source tells Zagoria that Momcilovic is likely to earn more than $5MM in NIL money if he stays in college. Momcilovic recently told Ben Roberts of The Lexington Herald Leader that he sees Kentucky as “a good fit.”
- Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report updated his mock draft in the wake of the combine with Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson as the top four. Wasserman reports that “the needle didn’t move in either direction” for Peterson at the combine, while Boozer left the event with no new concerns regarding his size or athleticism.
Trail Blazers Owner Addresses Accusations Of Cheapness, Other Topics
Tom Dundon‘s reputation for thriftiness has become a punchline throughout the NBA since he took over as owner of the Trail Blazers in late March, so it was bound to be a topic when he appeared on the Game Over podcast with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul. Dundon, who also owns the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, told the hosts that he has a track record of being willing to spend to make that franchise successful, Joe Freeman of The Oregonian relays in a subscriber-only story.
“I just don’t want to waste money. I want to invest it,” Dundon said. “I’ll have many masseuses. I’ll have the best food. We’re going to take care of the players, because it helps you win. It’s part of the deal. Some of the stuff about how we’re going to run the business; Portland spends $100MM more a year on their business than the Hurricanes do, not including players.
“The Hurricanes, since I bought the team, have the first or second-best record in the league. So, I’m just not going to waste $100MM, just because somebody wants to write an article calling me cheap. I’m just not going to do it. And so, it’s hard because I don’t think about a budget when it comes to the playing team and how to make sure we win. Some of the stuff that was blamed on money is actually not 100% true.”
Among the stories painting Dundon as cheap was a report in April that he didn’t have two-way players Caleb Love, Chris Youngblood and Jayson Kent travel with the team for the first two games of a playoff series in San Antonio. Dundon called that decision a result of being new to the league, saying he didn’t realize that bringing those players is common practice.
“I just made a mistake. I just don’t understand the league,” he said. “In hockey, we don’t travel extra people, because we’re not on vacation. We’re here to win, so we don’t want a distraction. The NBA seems to live with those distractions. It’s not how I think about it. So, you’ve got to learn what’s the differences between the two leagues.”
Freeman passes on several more Dundon quotes from the interview:
On reports that he had staffers check out of their Phoenix hotel rooms early to avoid paying for an extra day:
“The hotel story with the staff is an interesting story, I think, because, normally, when you travel, you get late checkout, right? In this case, in sports, it’s usually like 5% and never comes up. Because it was last-minute — going to Phoenix, there was no hotels — I guess Phoenix in March is a pretty popular place. So, I had trouble getting hotels. And the hotel really wanted us to be out early because they needed the rooms. And so, they wanted us to pay for a second night. And so, we did that for the coaches and the players. But we got (them) to let us leave at 1 o’clock. And I had a room at the hotel. I was there. So, I’m like, lunch starts at 1:45. We have a huge ballroom with this really nice lunch for everybody. So, I said, ‘Look, we’ll do the players and the coaches. We’ll stay. We’ll pay the extra night. For the staff, we’ve got this big ballroom with food. We’ll go down there and work.’ And everyone was down there. I was down there. I actually learned a lot during that hour, because I got to talk to some of the training staff, etc.
“I would do it again. I think it’s actually pretty stupid to think that people who are there to work, who are being fed, and 45 minutes later — they weren’t in the lobby — they brought their bags down in the room right by where the bus was, right next to my bag. And we sat down there and talked. And if that’s too hard for people, I’m not right for them. I want that culture.”
On whether he’s willing to pay the luxury tax to build a winning team:
“(General manager) Joe (Cronin) called me — and I don’t even know if it was allowed — he called me at the trade deadline. Technically we didn’t own the team yet, (but) he had a deal — actually two different deals — but one in particular where we would have gone into the tax. And it would have been whatever, $20 million. I was fine with it. I want to run the business properly. But I want to win more than I want to make money. And that seems kind of obvious if you’re in this business, right? Winning is the only reason you do it. Why would you buy a team?
“And so, obviously … a lot comes with staying in that tax in the NBA, right? They’ve made the rules in a way that it’s complicated. But to go in strategically because you can pick up a young player or have a chance to win … we would definitely do it. And I’ve got to think most people would. I don’t know many owners that wouldn’t do that. I don’t think we operate any differently. I hope we’re … in a position where going in the tax means we have a chance to win. And if we have a chance to win, the tax is irrelevant.”
On rumors that the Blazers might leave Portland:
“When I bought the Hurricanes, all I heard — because I was from Texas — we were going to move the team to Houston. Moving a team is difficult. We didn’t move the Hurricanes. We ended up getting a deal done. We went through the same thing in Portland. Before I even bought the team, I had an agreement with the city and the state. We had an agreement in principle. They’ve already approved half of it. Assuming that all gets done, then this is a non-story. For me, it’s never been really a thing. We didn’t buy the team to move it. We bought the Portland Trail Blazers.”