標籤: Portland

The Portland Trail Blazers coaching search immediately made headlines this off-season, as new owner Tom Dundon wanted to hire the cheapest head coach in the NBA. While it’s unclear how much salary the organization is willing to pay, targets are emerging in the search.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, assistant NBA coaches Jared Dudley, Micah Nouri and Steve Hetzel are among the coaching candidates in whom Portland has interest. Portland-based reporter Sean Heikin also recently revealed that assistant Greg St. Jean is another target.

RELATED: Examples of Cheapness from Trail Blazers Owner Tom Dundon

Dudley is definitely the most familiar name to NBA fans. The 40-year-old former NBA champion played with seven different franchises from 2007-2021 before becoming an assistant coach after his retirement. After a few years on the Dallas Mavericks coaching staff (2021-25), he joined the Denver Nuggets coaching staff last season to work under David Edelman.

Nouri, age 52, has long been viewed as one of the top rising NBA coaching candidates. He began his coaching career with the Toronto Raptors (2009–13) and had stints with the Sacramento Kings (2013–15), Denver Nuggets (2015–18) and Detroit Pistons (2018–21), and he has been with the Minnesota Timberwolves since 2021 as a lead assistant.

Hetzel has been in the coaching ranks for more than a decade. He joined the Detroit Pistons in 2009 as a player development coach and has served as an assistant on NBA staffs with the Charlotte Hornets (2014–18), Orlando Magic (2018–21), Portland (2021–24), and he has worked with the Brooklyn Nets since 2024.

St. Jean began his career as a video coordinator with the Kings, working his way up to player development assistant (2014–15), then working with St. John’s and then the Los Angeles Lakers (2019–21, 2024–present), Mavericks (2021–23), and Suns (2023–24).

Notably, none of these targets in the Trail Blazers coaching search have head-coaching experience in the NBA. Although his salary has not been disclosed, it may reportedly be only a slight increase from the range Portland wanted to set for its next head coach ($1-2 million). Also, if other teams are also interested, it is more likely that other clubs will be willing to offer more money.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

A new rumor suggests that the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks will eventually be joined by a fourth NBA team in Texas. But it won’t be a new team at all, and instead, Portland Trail Blazers fans will be heartbroken.

Aside from the ongoing playoffs and the upcoming NBA Draft, one of the biggest stories in the league’s offices is on expansion. With the NFL raking in the big bucks with 32 teams, the world’s top basketball league is also looking to squeeze more money out of its massive fan base.

All indications are that the league will add two more teams in the next few years, and they will likely be in Las Vegas and the returning Seattle SuperSonics. Even with those additions, it still means California remains the state with the most NBA teams – the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Sacramento Kings.

However, according to Bill Oram of the Oregonian, Texas, the state with the most land area in the union, may soon join California with four teams in the National Basketball Association.

Could the Portland Trail Blazers be moved to Austin, Texas?

What’s interesting about Oram’s comment is that Dundon is the majority owner of the Carolina Hurricanes and Trail Blazers. The NBA reporter is not suggesting that the billionaire would buy another team — nor could he. And that’s not to say Dundon would sell his stake in the Trail Blazers less than a decade after purchasing it. No, he’s insisting he’ll take the Trail Blazers to Austin.

Such a move would be heartbreaking for basketball fans in the Northwest, especially since they are likely to get the SuperSonics back after relocating to Oklahoma City in 2008. However, considering how long it took to get two more teams in the NBA, two more teams seems a long way away after that.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

When the Portland Trail Blazers were sold to a group led by Tom Dundon for $4.25 billion in March, there were expectations that Oregon’s only major pro sports team would achieve the success experienced by Dundon’s Carolina Hurricanes in the NHL. Instead, it appears that Portland’s franchise is poised to be the cheapest in the NBA.

Dundon, whose wealth is largely built from working in subprime auto loans where he has been investigated for predatory lending practices in several states, told The Athletic’s Jason Quick that he “can’t afford to lose” and talked about his desire to raise “standards” and a “commitment to excellence.”

• Tom Dundon Net Worth: $1.5 billion

Unfortunately for the fan base, several disturbing examples have already emerged that show just how cheaply Tom Dundon is operating just weeks after starting the job.

Blazers keep two-way players at home for road playoff games

It is standard practice in the NBA for teams making the playoffs to bring their two-way players with them for road postseason games. However, according to Sean Heikin of the Rose Garden Report, when the first round of the NBA playoffs began this weekend, the Trail Blazers were the only team that did not bring their two-way players with them. While organizations are aware that these two-way players may not see the court in playoff games, this is done because they are part of the team and it is a way to honor their contributions during the regular season. Dundon clearly sees this as an opportunity to cut costs, even if it only saves a few thousand dollars.

This is especially worrisome because Portland can’t end its playoff drought without two-way guard Caleb Love this season. The 24-year-old averaged 10.4 PPG in 49 contests this season, playing significant minutes when the Trail Blazers’ rotation was decimated by injuries. Love scored more than 20 points in eight games this season, as Portland posted a 6-2 record in those contests, including narrow wins over the Golden State Warriors (127-123) and Dallas Mavericks (125-122). Without Love, the team probably would have lost many more games and been in much worse shape. To do this to an undrafted free agent who became a fan-favorite and well-liked in the locker room is a terrible message for Dundon to send to the entire organization in just a few weeks on the job. It’s also a reflection of how he would treat someone who isn’t a star player, as we’ve seen with his other cost-cutting measures.

Tom Dundon low-balling Trail Blazers coaching search

Just days into the Tom Dundon era, cost-cutting efforts are being seen everywhere within the Trail Blazers organization. Of concern from a purely basketball perspective is his willingness to pinch pennies even if it has a negative impact on the court, which is already being seen ahead of the Trail Blazers coaching search. Jake Fisher of The Stein Line reported this weekend that Dundon “doesn’t want to be paid more than $1.5 million annually.”

This is going to be a big issue, as it is considered to be well below the standard salary even for first-year NBA head coaches. In fact, according to Fisher, a salary of $1 to $1.5 million is typically the price range for a top assistant coach in the NBA. If Dundon is barely willing to pay over $1 million for his head coach, there’s a very good chance the entire Trail Blazers coaching staff will be among the lowest paid in the NBA. Portland will not be able to attract quality head-coaching or assistant coaching candidates from the NBA or collegiate level (higher salaries). Even if the team gets lucky and gets a deal, another NBA team will easily be able to pass on Dundon for the same coach after he proves himself. Dundon is unnecessarily putting his team at a huge disadvantage and hurting the on-court product.

No T-shirt giveaway for Trail Blazers home playoff games

The Trail Blazers are hosting their first playoff game in five years, which is an opportunity for Portland’s passionate fan base to show their support for an exciting and young team that has exceeded expectations. However, once again Dundon sees an opportunity to cut costs. Speaking to reporters last week, team president Dwayne Hankins announced that fans will not have any playoff T-shirts to wear for Games 3 or 4 at Moda Center. If fans want to wear their team’s colors to create something more of a home-court feel, they’ll have to spend more money than ever on tickets, parking and food.

Require city, state to cover stadium renovation costs

In his interview with Jason Quick of The Athletic in early April, Dundon was asked about the Trail Blazers’ future in Portland. Even on his first day on the job, he was not committed to keeping the team in the city, nor was he committed to investing any of his own money in renovating the arena. Instead, he believes the cost of updating the Moda Center should be borne by the state and city at a cost of $600 million. In return, Dundon is “committed to being here for a long time (20 years).” Keep in mind, a 20-year commitment to stay in the city is the minimum standard for a pro franchise that covers a significant portion of the stadium renovation costs. When Quick mentioned that other owners had committed more years and invested their own money in upgrading the stadium, Dundon responded, “In Portland?” Therefore, the most expensive aspects of maintaining the team may be covered by taxes, and he may not be able to commit to remaining with the team after 20 years.

Trail Blazers are cutting costs with hotel stays

A few weeks after starting the job as owner of the Trail Blazers, Dundon made a quick change to save himself a few thousand dollars. As Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix reports, multiple sources have confirmed that a group of Trail Blazers staff members were hanging out in the lobby of their Phoenix-area hotel unusually early in the morning one day. Why? Because they were told that they would have to check out of their hotel rooms at noon, a few hours before the first bus left for the grounds. This was all so that Dundon’s franchisees did not have to bear the cost of late checkout at the hotel.

Portland’s appearance in the NBA Play-In Tournament ended their five-year playoff drought, something that every other NBA franchise would love to capture. That’s not happening with the Dundon Trail Blazers. As reported by Bill Oram of The Oregonian/OregonLive, the Trail Blazers have significantly reduced the number of people in the traveling party for the playoff game against the Phoenix Suns. Those who had to stay home, or otherwise pay travel expenses themselves, included the team’s digital reporters and award-winning photographers. Dundon also opted not to send a scout to the first-round series versus the Minnesota Timberwolves vs. the Denver Nuggets, which Portland would face if it advanced to the next round of the playoffs.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

The Brooklyn Nets-Portland Trail Blazers matchup at Barclays Center on Monday was a forgettable late-season game for many. However, for the Israeli basketball community, it was a night they will never forget. Trail Blazers All-Star Danny Avdija faced off against Nets rookies Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf, marking the first time that three Israelis shared the court during an NBA game.

Avadiya got a strong reaction The 17,030 fans in attendance said they “felt like they were back in Tel Aviv” after the 114–95 Portland victory. The 25-year-old player said that there was a lot of tuning at home.

Avdija said, “I know there were a lot of people at home watching the game tonight. It’s amazing.” “It’s a big deal to me especially [since Ben and I] Grew up next to each other. Like 20 minutes away from each other. It’s amazing to watch him score and thrive in the league. Danny too… I was definitely surprised to see Barclays Center packed. It means a lot to me. I don’t have words to explain how much support he gave me and my teammates. I’m very happy to have this crowd behind me. I’m glad they saw us play tonight.”

Denny Avdija on the support he got from the Brooklyn crowd last night:

“I was definitely surprised to see a packed Barclays Center. It means a lot to me. I don’t have words to explain how much they supported me. I’m so happy to have this crowd behind me.” pic.twitter.com/tPyLgMwM71

– Eric Slater (@erikslater_) 17 March 2026

Denny! Denny! Denny! 🥹🗣️ pic.twitter.com/nOykrVQv2V

-Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) 16 March 2026

Avdija has had a breakout season, leading the Trail Blazers to the Western Conference play-ins. The All-Star forward has averaged 24.0 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists in 53 appearances.

Deni Avdija shares court with Nets rookies Ben Saraf, Danny Wolf in Brooklyn

Meanwhile, Saraf and Wolf are attempting to carve out roles with the rebuilding Nets after being selected No. 26 and No. 27 in June’s draft. Saraf said his relationship with Avdija began last year when his Ratiopharm Ulm team faced the Trail Blazers during the NBA preseason.

“Since then, we have been in touch all the time… it was great [facing Deni tonight]. “I was waiting for this game for a long time,” Saraf told reporters. “He is a great person, a very good friend of mine. especially with danny wolf [playing]Very. Three Israelis on the court at the same time. This was something very special… [Deni’s] had a huge impact [on basketball in Israel]. Everyone in Israel followed him throughout the year. Everyone was supporting. Israelis know how big a deal it was to have the first Israeli All-Star. it was very big. So, we are all very happy for him.”

Saraf struggled in his rookie season bouncing between the NBA and G League. However, the 6-foot-6 guard has played his best basketball recently, averaging 11.8 points and 4.8 assists on 53.1 percent shooting in his last four appearances. He scored a season-high 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting while dishing out four assists on Monday.

“[Ben’s] “Maybe this newbie is going through things like I did,” Avdija said. It’s probably fatigue, and it’s probably not knowing how to take care of the body, but it looks like he’s doing a good job. It seems like he is very tough and hard nosed. He knows how to play basketball. I’m always here for him, but I think he’s doing really good.

Wolf, who grew up in Illinois, became a naturalized Israeli citizen and played for the national team at the 2023 FIBA ​​U20 European Championship. After a breakout season at Michigan, he showed encouraging flashes as a rookie with Brooklyn.

Wolf averaged 9.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 54 appearances. The 21-year-old said he could “100 percent” imagine himself playing alongside Avdija and Saraf on the Israeli national team “if the opportunity arises.”

Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez, who rose through the NBA ranks after coming to the United States from Spain, talked about the importance of Monday’s game.

“Yeah, it’s special,” Fernandez said. “When the U.S. and other countries outside of Europe can be represented here with three players, it means the world, and it’s a special day that everyone has to enjoy. And I think they already are… I don’t know Danny, but I’m sure he’s excited to play. I know Ben and Danny are. And it’s cool. This is one of the two times we’ll see it, and hopefully for many years to see how these guys move forward.” “Obviously Denny’s having a career year and getting better and better over the years. And it’s so interesting to see them play against each other.”

The Portland Trail Blazers entered Sunday looking to erase their previous defensive debacle. They saw the Denver Nuggets score an astonishing 157 points. That means Portland had less than 48 hours to quickly get their defense right against the Phoenix Suns.

The Blazers accomplished a rare feat in NBA history by losing 92-77 on Sunday.

According to OptaSTATS, this is the most defensive feat that Portland has achieved.

Impressive defensive moments from the Blazers

Camara’s block stood out as one of a surprising 11 swats for Portland. But he was also not considered the most impressive defensive performer.

Donavan Clingan captured that title – blocking four of the Suns’ attempts to advance. Wit Crazy and Robert Williams III both teamed up for a pair of blocks. Scooter Henderson and Jerami Grant also added a block each for the Blazers.

Clingan finished with 23 points and collected 13 rebounds for a double-double. Camara also had his double-double (12 points and 10 rebounds).

Grant led the Clingans with 23 points, while Henderson reached double figures with 11 points. Portland forced Phoenix to shoot a disappointing 36.5% from field goal range, including 25.7% in the three-point game. While the Blazers committed 21 turnovers, the Suns turned the basketball over 19 times.

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.