Blazers Notes: Morant, Nori, Holiday, Moda Center
The Trail Blazers‘ deal to acquire Ja Morant from the Grizzlies caught many people by surprise, in part because Portland was already relatively deep at the guard position. Morant isn’t worried about that and is excited not only to play with the returning Damian Lillard but also to benefit from his veteran leadership Kelly Iko writes for Yahoo Sports.
Examining how the two guards might fit together, Iko points to the combination of Lillard’s elite outside shooting — he ranks 27th all-time in made three-pointers — and Morant’s elite play-making as intriguing counterparts to each other.
The Blazers finished 28th in the NBA in three-point percentage last year with Lillard recovering from an Achilles tear. Playing alongside Morant, who is adept at getting into the paint and kicking the ball out, Lillard should be able to help improve that number considerably. The duo will also likely help the Blazers stop being so turnover-prone — the team ranked dead last in the league last year with a 16.9% turnover rate.
Iko also notes that while Morant has defensive limitations due to his size, he puts in more effort on that end than he tends to get credit for, though the pair is still likely to struggle to contain bigger, more athletic backcourts.
As for why the Blazers were the ones to make this deal, new owner Tom Dundon is likely a significant factor, according to Sean Highkin of the Rose Garden Report (Substack link). Dundon prides himself on his ability to buy low on assets and turn them into something positive. That approach can be risky, but it has also led to success for Dundon, both in his business and in his ownership of the Stanley Cup-winning Carolina Hurricanes.
We have more on the Blazers:
- New head coach Micah Nori is already hard at work trying to figure out how the puzzle pieces will fit together in Portland. He spent a two-hour lunch in South Carolina with Morant on Tuesday and came away impressed by how serious and earnestly excited the point guard seemed to be to start a new chapter in his journey, Jason Quick writes for the Athletic. Nori already had a family vacation planned in South Carolina, giving the entire enterprise a feeling of kismet. “The way he was talking, the way he looked … the intent he had, you could just tell in his face that he missed basketball,” Nori said. “And he assured that we were going to get the best Ja and that he was going to do all the right things.” With Memphis trending downward in recent years, Morant appears to be energized by the opportunity to join a team looking to contend. “All he kept talking about was how the most fun he had playing basketball was those first couple years in Memphis, when they were in the playoffs,” Nori said. “He kept talking about how he was excited to have the opportunity to win basketball games and not have to play for ping-pong balls.”
- Nori’s next stop is Los Angeles, where he intends to meet with Jrue Holiday to assure him that – despite the trade for Morant – the veteran combo guard is still very much in the team’s plans moving forward, Quick writes. Nori knows that many expect Holiday to be moved as a result of the Morant deal, and it’s possible that an offer comes along that’s too enticing to decline. However, as a basketball tactician, he’s excited about the optionality that he could have with Lillard, Morant, Holiday, and the young Scoot Henderson, and how he can confound opposing defenses with smaller lineups.
- Dundon recently expressed that he is not interested in putting his own money into the planned $600MM renovation to the Moda Center, believing that by keeping the team in Portland, he’s already showing sufficient financial sacrifice, Shane Dixon Kavanaugh writes for The Oregonian. Instead, the new owner believes the Portland taxpayers should foot the bill, though he faces push-back from local lawmakers, who believe that Dundon should be making some level of financial contribution. “I am going to have a hard time agreeing to give public money if I’m not seeing a private investment,” one city councilor said during a recent Portland Metro Chamber meeting, per The Oregonian. The 12-person city council will have the ultimate right of approval of the deal, and with both sides seeming to dig in on their respective stances, the future of the project remains unclear. “The options on the table here, at least from the limited information that I have been given, are shaky at best and fiscally irresponsible at worst,” said councilor Angelita Morillo on Wednesday. “And it seems absurd to tout this as a good deal.”
Blazers Rumors: Holiday, Morant, Guards, Clingan, Williams
Despite having a logjam at point guard after trading for Ja Morant, the Trail Blazers have been signaling to rival teams that they plan to retain Jrue Holiday, according to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link).
Stein and Fischer acknowledge that could be posturing, but Portland has been insistent that moving Holiday isn’t in the team’s current plans. The two-time All-Star would be the most logical potential outgoing salary in any type of significant trade after dealing away Jerami Grant, whom the team had been trying to move for “weeks.”
According to Jason Quick of The Athletic, the Blazers don’t feel a sense of urgency to trade one of their four point guards — the others being Scoot Henderson and Damian Lillard — because they think they can all coexist. That belief stems from the team’s plan to deploy Holiday at shooting guard and small forward, Quick writes.
Still, additional moves seem likely due to the way the roster is currently constructed, Quick notes. Deni Avdija was essentially the team’s point forward and primary offensive initiator last season, and taking the ball out of his hands after a career year is an odd choice. Shaedon Sharpe is another player in the backcourt mix.
No matter what deals the Blazers make in the wake of the Morant trade, center Donovan Clingan is unlikely to be included, according to Quick, who hears from a source that the 2024 lottery pick is “essentially off limits” in trade talks. The team considered acquiring Morant from Memphis for Grant and Kris Murray to be a “no-brainer” decision, per Quick.
Portland is looking for frontcourt help at center and power forward, in part because the club is likely going to lose Robert Williams in free agency, says Quick, who hears the veteran big man is seeking a new deal worth around $15MM annually.
Describing Morant as “impetuous and unreliable” Bill Oram of The Oregonian argues the trade was a disaster for the Blazers, comparing Morant’s decision-making and attitude to the “Jail Blazers” teams of the early 2000s. Oram questions what the team stands to benefit from the deal, as Morant appears to be a poor on- and off-court fit and has struggled to stay healthy in recent years.
Siegel’s Latest: Beal, Jovic, Murray, Holiday, Randle, Wade
The Heat and veteran guard Bradley Beal have mutual interest after the two-time All-Star opted out of his $5.62MM player option to become an unrestricted free agent, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.
However, Siegel suggests Miami’s interest in Beal may be contingent on the 33-year-old’s willingness to accept a minimum-salary contract. As Siegel explains, the Heat are pursuing several other targets in free agency and have a limited amount of financial flexibility to fill out their roster.
On a related note, Siegel’s sources say the Heat have been exploring trades involving Nikola Jovic to free up more money in free agency. The 23-year-old is entering the first season of a four-year, $62.4MM contract that likely has negative trade value after the Serbian forward struggled for much of 2025/26.
Here’s more from Siegel’s most recent story:
- While the Nuggets have been linked to Jaylen Brown, the Celtics haven’t pursued a trade involving Jamal Murray and Cameron Johnson, per Siegel. Multiple sources who spoke to ClutchPoints have downplayed the possibility of Murray being dealt this offseason.
- Jrue Holiday is expected to draw trade interest after the Trail Blazers acquired Ja Morant from Memphis, according to Siegel, who’s heard talk of the veteran guard being available even before the surprising move. The six-time All-Defensive member, who turned 36 earlier this month, is owed $72MM over the next two years, including a $37.2MM player option for ’27/28.
- The Nets don’t have any “immediate plans” to flip Julius Randle to another team after agreeing to acquire him from Minnesota, sources tell Siegel. No. 6 overall pick Mikel Brown Jr. said he’s talked to Randle about improving the team’s standing around the league, tweets Erik Slater of ClutchPoints. “I was talking to Julius Randle about it the other day and he told me, ‘We’re gonna shock the world.’ That’s what we plan on doing,” Brown said of the Nets.
- There appears to be a robust market for Cavaliers forward Dean Wade, who may receive the full mid-level exception (projected to be worth $64.7MM over four years) in free agency, Siegel reports. According to Siegel, the Pistons, Spurs, Lakers, Nets and Sixers are among the teams with interest in the former undrafted free agent. Siegel points to Philadelphia as perhaps the most prominent suitor for Wade.
Cavaliers Notes: Mobley, Allen, Harden, Mitchell, LeBron
The Cavaliers figure to be active on the trade market this summer, whether it’s to remake a roster that got overwhelmed by New York in the Eastern Conference finals or just to escape the second apron. The problem for president of basketball operations Koby Altman is that he doesn’t have many assets to offer unless he’s willing to part with a big name, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com writes in a subscriber-only story.
Fedor states that teams calling Altman typically express interest in Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, Jaylon Tyson or Max Strus. Mobley and Allen are linchpins of a team that has become one of the best in the conference, while Tyson at 23 is one of the Cavs’ top young talents and Strus is a reliable shooter who’ll have a $16.7MM expiring contract next season. Cleveland also owns the 29th pick in this year’s draft and can offer its first-rounder in either 2031 or 2032.
Mobley would be the most valuable asset if the Cavaliers decide to pursue Giannis Antetokounmpo or another huge name, but Fedor states that the front office still views the former No. 3 overall pick as a future star and appears to be committed to keeping him as part of the future.
“All I can tell you is, since Evan’s been here, we’ve had the third best record in the league,” Altman said Friday at his end-of-season press conference. “Now we don’t have a championship to show for that yet, right? Boston and Denver, the other two ahead of us, they have a championship to show for that. But all Evan has done is impacted winning. He’s been remarkable for us in terms of our ascent the last five years. He’s a huge part of what we do.”
Altman also expressed support for Allen, saying he’s a good fit alongside Mobley and they provide a “cheat code” on defense.
There’s more from Cleveland:
- The Cavaliers considered a few other options before deciding to trade for James Harden at the deadline, according to Fedor. One was Celtics guard Derrick White, which became unrealistic with Jayson Tatum‘s fast return from his Achilles injury. Another was Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday, a former Celtic, but they decided he doesn’t he doesn’t provide enough offense. There were also “internal discussions” about Antetokounmpo. Altman said they understood what they were getting with Harden, who holds a $42.3MM player option for next season and is expected to sign a multi-year contract this summer. “I think people need to take a step back and realize we didn’t trade for MVP James Harden,” Altman said. “We traded for James Harden at the end of his career that has transformed himself to becoming one of the best point guards in the league. He helped stabilize us. He helped re-galvanize the group. We were kind of shaky there, in terms of our belief. We’re not in the conference finals without James.”
- Altman called Donovan Mitchell “uniquely ours” during his end-of-season press conference, but the team could face a difficult decision if he doesn’t agree to an extension this summer, Fedor adds. Mitchell will become eligible in July for a four-year deal worth up to an estimated $272MM, but that will increase to five years at around $350MM if he waits until next offseason. That would mean taking him into potential free agency, which the Cavs may be hesitant to do.
- Speculation about another LeBron James homecoming will hang over the franchise until his situation is resolved, Fedor notes. James would solve the team’s most pressing positional need and would bring a wealth of playoff experience, but the Cavs can’t offer more than the $3.9MM veteran’s minimum without making major changes to the roster. Another option is a sign-and-trade, which means giving James a three-year contract with at least one fully guaranteed season. Fedor points out that the Lakers would likely ask for a significant return in that scenario, and the Cavs would need to shed salary in order to operate under the first tax apron for the rest of 2026/27.
Blazers Notes: Holiday, Camara, Thybulle, Hansen, Murray
After the Trail Blazers were eliminated from the playoffs by San Antonio, guard Jrue Holiday made it clear he wants to back in Portland again for 2026/27, according to Joe Freeman of The Oregonian.
“I hope so. I don’t like being traded and moved and stuff,” Holiday said. “I like being a part of something and building with the team and seeing the progress and going through the progress with them. So I hope so. I’d love to be here.
“Honestly, just kind of how we ended the season, fighting and clawing, knowing that we have a team that has proven ourselves to some extent to be a playoff team. We have a good mix of older gentlemen and then young guys that are still hungry. You hear them. They’re still in the gym now and it’s been two days (since) we lost in the playoffs. So I’m really excited for that.”
Freeman reviews Holiday’s season, writing that the veteran guard provided much of what the team wanted when it traded for him last June, though injuries and “inexplicable” turnovers were an issue in the 35-year-old’s first season in Portland. Freeman also spoke to a couple of NBA scouts to get their opinion on Holiday — both praised his professionalism, but one said he’s overpaid while acknowledging he could be an invaluable mentor to Scoot Henderson.
Here’s more on the Blazers:
- Freeman’s season review series continues with third-year forward Toumani Camara, who played all 82 regular season games and finished fourth in the NBA in total minutes. Camara was critical of his performance in 2025/26, calling it “up and down,” but he was still pleased with some of the strides he made. “I think he’s a solid player and a piece that you keep for the future and just keep developing him,” a scout told Freeman. “He’s 26, so he’s an older third-year guy. He’s probably not developing a new skillset. But he keeps getting better with his shooting and he defends. His IQ and rebounding are good; he’s a good offensive and defensive rebounder for his position and he’s a smart player who plays within himself, doesn’t try to do stuff he doesn’t do. This is a piece you keep and grow with. He would be great if you put better players around him.”
- Veteran wing Matisse Thybulle says he has “no expectations” ahead of unrestricted free agency, according to Freeman, but added that he’d “love” to return to the Blazers. Injuries were a major issue for Thybulle over the past two seasons, as he appeared in just 45 regular season games over the span, but he was playing a rotation role at the end of 2025/26. Both scouts Freeman spoke to praised Thybulle’s anticipation skills as a defensive roamer, but said he’s not nearly as good at on-ball defense. One scout said the Blazers should let Thybulle walk in free agency due to availability concerns. “All I’ve heard about him is he doesn’t want to play basketball,” one scout said. “So are you really going to count on him to produce for you when you’re trying to win games?“
- Freeman also reviews the seasons (subscriber links) of Yang Hansen, the 2025 first-round pick who just finished his rookie campaign, and third-year forward Kris Murray, who’s entering the final year of his rookie scale contract. To put it kindly, neither scout Freeman talked to was high on Murray’s game. “I just don’t understand what they’re doing with him,” one scout told the Oregonian. “I think this is a kid they just missed on. Is he a power forward? Is he a small forward? He probably needs to be a small forward, but he can’t do that. I would just try to move on from this kid, to be honest.”
Giannis Trade Rumors: Celtics, Magic, Blazers, Hawks, More
The Celtics were considered a “team to watch” for Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo even before Jaylen Brown‘s recent comments about 2025/26 being his “favorite season” led to speculation about his future in Boston, league sources tell Sam Amick and Eric Nehm of The Athletic.
According to The Athletic, Boston expressed a level of interest in Antetokounmpo prior to the February trade deadline, and rival teams expect the Celtics to be aggressive in searching for roster upgrades after an unexpected first-round playoff exit in which they blew a 3-1 series lead to Philadelphia.
While Brown’s comments — and those of his mentor Tracy McGrady, who said Brown was frustrated with the organization — raised several eyebrows around the league, president of basketball operations Brad Stevens and Brown himself have since clarified there’s no discord between the two sides. A Celtics source and a source close to Brown confirmed as much to Amick and Nehm.
It’s worth noting that Jake Fischer of The Stein Line recently mentioned the Celtics as a possible suitor for Antetokounmpo, but he downplayed their deadline interest and also reported that the two-time MVP might not be enthusiastic about the idea of joining Boston.
Here are a few more Giannis-related trade rumors and notes from Amick and Nehm:
- Although a Magic source tells The Athletic that Orlando has not yet discussed the possibility of a trade for Antetokounmpo this offseason, the possibility can’t be ruled out after the team expressed interest in the 31-year-old a few months ago, according to Amick and Nehm, confirming prior reporting from Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. As Amick and Nehm write, Antetokounmpo wouldn’t solve Orlando’s shooting woes, but he’d be an upgrade in just about every other way and the Magic’s front office has multiple ties to both Milwaukee and the 10-time All-Star. While it reads as speculation rather than firm reporting, Amick and Nehm suggest Paolo Banchero would likely be the centerpiece of any potential Magic offer.
- Fischer has reported multiple times that the Trail Blazers are interested in Antetokounmpo, and Portland controls Milwaukee’s first-round picks (via swaps) from 2028-30. Despite the ties between the two clubs — the Blazers have two of Antetokounmpo’s favorite teammates in Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard — rival teams are skeptical the Greek star would be interested in joining a Blazers club that could have a tough time making it out of the loaded Western Conference even if they add Antetokounmpo, per The Athletic. That same line of thinking has people around the league believing Antetokounmpo would prefer to end up with an Eastern title contender, Amick and Nehm add.
- The Hawks have been linked to Antetokounmpo in the past, but they seem unlikely to pursue him — or any other superstar — in the near future. Team sources tell The Athletic that Atlanta intends to be “very patient” with its young core, which features Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, Onyeka Okongwu and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Fischer previously reported the Hawks planned to take a measured approach to the offseason, and GM Onsi Saleh seemed to confirm as much at his end-of-season press conference, Amick and Nehm note.
- The Warriors, Heat, Rockets and Raptors are four other teams mentioned by Amick and Nehm, who point out that the list of potential Antetokounmpo suitors could grow, depending on what happens to some other teams still in the playoffs.
Fischer’s Latest: Blazers’ Backcourt, Young, Hawks, Rockets
The Trail Blazers expect Damian Lillard to be back next season, but his return raises questions about the direction of Portland’s backcourt moving forward, Jake Fischer writes for the Stein Line (subscriber link).
The Blazers have Jrue Holiday under contract for at least one more season – he holds a $37.2MM player option for 2027/28 – as well as former No. 3 overall pick Scoot Henderson, who had a torrid start to the first-round series against the Spurs before going cold in the final two games.
The team believes that Lillard and Holiday can function well together in the backcourt, according to Fischer, but with a long-term decision still to be made on Henderson, it’s possible the Blazers could look to open up minutes for the young guard, who averaged 15.0 points per game in his first career playoff series, by moving Holiday in a trade.
The veteran guard and two-time NBA champion said he’d prefer for that not to happen.
“I don’t like being traded and moved,” Holiday said. “I like being a part of something and building.”
We have more from Fischer’s latest newsletter:
- While rumors have circulated about Anthony Davis‘ future with the Wizards, including reports of potential interest from Portland, Fischer notes that the expectation remains that Washington will come to terms on a lucrative long-term extension for star point guard Trae Young. Young played just five games for the Wizards after being traded from the Hawks, averaging 15.2 points and 6.2 assists in 20.8 minutes per game.
- After a successful season followed by a devastating Game 6 blowout at the hands of the Knicks, the Hawks are not expected to go star-hunting this summer, despite having a handful of very good trade assets. Instead, the team is expected to focus on locking in deals for CJ McCollum, Jonathan Kuminga, and head coach Quin Snyder, who has one more year on his contract, Fischer reports. He adds that Bryson Graham, the vice president of basketball operations, remains in play for the Bulls’ head of basketball operations job.
- The Rockets came to terms with not being a true championship contender when they lost Fred VanVleet to an ACL tear before the season, but a first-round loss to the Lakers and chemistry questions surrounding Kevin Durant could lead to an “all options on the table” summer outlook, Fischer writes, especially given the possibility that players like Kawhi Leonard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Donovan Mitchell hit the trade block. Houston’s front office will now take stock of the team’s current ceiling and decide from there whether the roster needs margin tweaks or more substantial changes. Fischer adds that Amen Thompson is expected to be in the mix for a max contract extension after averaging 19.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 2.0 steals per game in his first playoff run, a year after being voted onto the All-Defensive first team.
DeAndre Jordan Named 2025/26 Teammate Of The Year
Veteran center DeAndre Jordan appeared in just 12 games as a member of the Pelicans this season, but he has been named the 2025/26 Teammate of the Year, the NBA announced today (Twitter link).
The Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year award recognizes “the player deemed the best teammate based on selfless play, leadership as a mentor and role model to other NBA players, and commitment to his team,” per the league.
Pelicans players and interim head coach James Borrego spoke repeatedly over the course of the year about the impact that Jordan had on a young roster despite his extremely limited role.
“To see the growth of our young team, DeAndre had a massive impact on that,” Borrego said near the end of the regular season. “He brought professionalism every day. A voice every day. A respect for every drill, every practice and every moment together.”
The Teammate of the Year award isn’t voted on by media members. A panel of league executives select the 12 finalists (six from each conference) for the award, while current players vote on the winner. Players receive 10 points for a first place vote, seven for second, five for third, three for fourth, and one point for fifth place.
Jordan just narrowly won this season’s vote ahead of Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday, who has won the award three times and was the last Pelicans player to claim it back in 2020. Jordan earned 66 first-place votes to Holiday’s 39, but the Blazers veteran nearly made up the difference by accumulating more second-, third-, fourth-, and fifth-place votes than the big man.
Here are this season’s full voting results, according to the NBA, with the player’s point total noted in parentheses:
- DeAndre Jordan, Pelicans (1,445)
- Jrue Holiday, Trail Blazers (1,437)
- Jeff Green, Rockets (1,420)
- Garrett Temple, Raptors (1,223)
- Pat Connaughton, Hornets (672)
- Jalen Brunson, Knicks (659)
- Jayson Tatum, Celtics (651)
- De’Aaron Fox, Spurs (640)
- Duncan Robinson, Pistons (523)
- Jaylin Williams, Thunder (471)
- Desmond Bane, Magic (445)
- Marcus Smart, Lakers (424)
Jordan’s win snaps a seven-year streak of a point guard being named Teammate of the Year. From 2018-25, Holiday won it three times, Mike Conley won twice, and Damian Lillard and Stephen Curry won once apiece.
Northwest Notes: Edwards, Wolves, Blazers, Nuggets
The Timberwolves‘ hopes for evening up their series with the Nuggets hinge primarily on the health of star shooting guard Anthony Edwards, who is listed as questionable for Monday’s game due to ongoing discomfort from runner’s knee. However, there’s reason for optimism, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
“Anthony Edwards is gonna be playing tonight,” Charania reports (Twitter video link). “He’s gonna gut through it.”
Edwards’ ailment, which is similar to the one that sidelined Stephen Curry for two-plus months, causes swelling and pain in the knee and requires rest to heal fully. It became enough of an issue that a platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, injection was needed toward the end of the season to reduce inflammation.
Edwards played 38 minutes in Game 1, scoring 22 points on 19 shots while adding nine rebounds, seven assists, and three blocks.
We have more from around the Northwest Division:
- The Timberwolves came away from Game 1’s loss to the Nuggets knowing that they left points on the board, Tyler King writes for the Denver Gazette. “It’s a lot of composure issues,” coach Chris Finch said. “We’ve gotta make smarter, more solid plays. We had two turnovers right in the middle of one run back (into the game). We gotta be more composed. Plays like that really hurt you in the playoffs, especially against an experienced team… A lot of self-inflicted wounds.” Finch went on to note the lack of movement off-ball on offense and the team getting stuck playing around the perimeter, but didn’t seem overly concerned. “Road team losing Game 1 on the road is nothing to really worry about, as long as you come out with the right mindset and approach and are sharp,” he said. “Everything flips when you win Game 2 and on goes the series. I would expect our guys to be confident.”
- Prior to the Trail Blazers‘ Game 1 on Sunday, Jerami Grant hadn’t played a playoff game since the NBA “bubble” season of 2019/20. He’s excited to be playing at the highest levels of competition again, according to Marc J. Spears of Andscape. “I miss the playoffs so much,” Grant said at the end of the regular season. “It’s been a long time. Unbelievable. I can never get accustomed to it.” However, things didn’t go according to plan for Portland’s veterans in a Game 1 loss to the Spurs. Jrue Holiday and Grant combined to shoot 6-of-21 from the field. “I didn’t play great,” Grant said, per Joe Freeman of The Oregonian. “There wasn’t really a lot of opportunity out there, but I didn’t play great. I think we’ve all got to be better, make some shots, figure out where we are going to get our shots and just try to execute the game plan better.”
- The Nuggets’ defensive intensity has waxed and waned all season, but it was on full display in their Game 1 victory, Bennett Durando writes for The Denver Post. “They tried to bully us a little bit in the front. We knew that was gonna happen. That’s how this team tries to get under our skin,” Spencer Jones said. “So for us to match it from beginning to end and never give in, and see them be the ones to kind of complain to the refs more than we were — it shows how focused we were.” Nikola Jokic put the strategy even more succinctly, saying, “Just be annoying the whole game.”
Blazers Notes: Dundon, Arena Renovation, Cronin, Splitter, Roster
After officially taking over as the Trail Blazers‘ majority owner last week, Tom Dundon didn’t exactly offer a full-throated vow to keep the team in Portland long-term. Dundon’s ambiguous remarks at his introductory press conference and in interviews with local media left Jason Quick of The Athletic wary about the new owner’s long-term plans. Explaining that he hasn’t gotten the sense that Dundon has much attachment to the city, Quick notes that Dundon responded to a question about why he bought the Blazers by suggesting it was the only NBA team for sale.
Still, as Sean Highkin of the Rose Garden Report (Substack link) observes, Dundon’s unwillingness to unequivocally commit to Portland may have been about preserving some leverage in negotiations with the city government as the franchise seeks the public funding necessary to complete a $600MM renovation project on the Moda Center.
Blazers alternative governor Sheel Tyle, the only member of the new ownership group who resides in Portland, was essentially playing “good cop” to Dundon’s “bad cop” at that introductory presser, Highkin observes. Tyle stated in plainer terms that relocation isn’t something the group is considering.
“Tom would not have asked me to join this group had that been on the table,” Tyle told reporters, including Joe Freeman of The Oregonian. “And so I just want you guys to know, we’re optimistic people. We met with the mayor (on Thursday). We know that the state has done some amazing work (on funding an arena renovation). We’re full-speed ahead.”
For what it’s worth, when Bill Oram of The Oregonian (subscription required) asked Dundon if securing the necessary public funding from the city and Multnomah County would take the idea of relocation off the table, he replied, “Of course.”
Here’s more from the new Blazers’ owner:
- Speaking to Freeman of The Oregonian (subscription required), Dundon said that he’ll be “looking at everything” and that he has high expectations for every area of the organization, but he stressed that he doesn’t want to make changes for the sake of change. “I seek out improvement,” he said. “The first thing I’m going to do is give the people there a chance to see if they can go at my pace.” To that end, he said he views the job statuses of general manager Joe Cronin and team president Dewayne Hankins as “solid.”
- With head coach Chauncey Billups on indefinite leave after being arrested on money laundering and wire fraud conspiracy charges, interim coach Tiago Splitter will have a chance to earn the permanent job, but Dundon acknowledged that he’ll likely consider other candidates as well. “If we go win the championship, (Splitter) probably puts himself in a pretty good spot,” Dundon told Freeman. “I’d love to keep everybody. It’s way easier than making changes. Reaching in the mystery box isn’t always the best thing. There’s no guarantee the next person is going to be better than the one you’ve got. I just want to maximize our probability of winning.”
- Dundon stressed in his conversations with Freeman, Oram, Quick, and other local media members that he wants to turn the Blazers into a team capable of contending for titles. With that in mind, he’ll be interested in finding a way to add more star power to Portland’s roster. “I think our plan is to work hard to make good decisions,” Dundon told reporters when asked if he wants to make a big splash this offseason. “Joe had a deal that he looked at at the trade deadline that I was aware of that would have been what you would describe as a big splash. And if that opportunity exists, I’m probably more aggressive than most. If it doesn’t exist, then you’ve got to go about finding the pieces to continue to get better, and then decide if you can do good enough to win a championship or you have to take a step back. Joe and I have talked about this a lot. There’s no one way this is going to go for sure. If we get a star, we have a chance to win. If we can’t find a star, then we’ve got to add some pieces and hope some things develop. And if that doesn’t work, then we’ve got to try again with a new plan and I think there’s equal chances for all those things to happen.”
- Dundon spoke privately last week with Deni Avdija, Donovan Clingan, Jrue Holiday, and Damian Lillard last week and met briefly with the entire team — he came away with the impression that the Blazers’ players are eager to push forward next season, per Freeman. “What stuck out is, they want to win, they know there’s more here,” Dundon said. “They’re very confident in their team. They think there’s a lot of talent and that it’s kind of ready for that next step. I think everybody wants it to be just a little more demanding, a little more structured, a little higher expectations.”