The Portland Trail Blazers are rumored to be in the process of being purchased by Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon, leading to concerns over the limitations of the Moda Center as well as the franchise being moved out of the city. While the sale is expected to be completed around March 2026, many fans, including Denver Nuggets head coach David Edelman, do not want the Trail Blazers to move on.
Edelman was asked about his favorite childhood memories of Portland, and his response became an impassioned plea.
"They have to keep the team here. They have to find a way to do that. This is a basketball town. Northwest deserves two teams. It would be crushing for this community... Emotionally, I know what this place is and what it means to have a professional basketball team here. It's not just something to hang out with. It's something to go to and be a part of," he said, according to a post on X by journalist Brenna Green.
David Edelman was asked about his favorite childhood memories in Portland @katywinge And it turned into an impassioned statement about why the Blazers should stay in PDX:
"They've got to keep the team here. They've got to find a way to do that. This is a basketball town.… pic.twitter.com/Gz95dpdVbN
- Brenna Greene (@BrennaGreene_) 21 February 2026
Edelman spent a large portion of his childhood in Portland as he is the son of former Trail Blazers head coach Rick Edelman, who also previously played for the team. The Trail Blazers have been in Portland for more than 55 years, but things could change with the expected approval of Tom Dundon's purchase at a valuation of more than $4 billion.
The limitations of the arena's infrastructure, along with new ownership and the fact that the long-term lease expires in 2030, have brought uncertainty about the future. The Trail Blazers are the area's only major men's professional sports franchise in leagues such as the NBA, NFL, MLB, or NHL, further increasing the importance of the team residing in the city.
However, an immediate transfer appears unlikely. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has indicated that a transfer is "not under consideration right now", although according to WRAL News, this phrase makes the future uncertain.
