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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

If the Portland Trail Blazers can somehow upset the San Antonio Spurs in the quarterfinals of the NBA playoffs, a new report suggests they could get a boost from one of the greatest players in franchise history.

The Trail Blazers entered their first playoff series against the Spurs in several years as major underdogs. And it’s understandable why. San Antonio appears to be a real threat to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder thanks to 2026 Defensive Player of the Year and MVP candidate Victor Wembanyama.

However, in Game 2, the French phenom had a bad leak, causing him to fall on his face and suffer a concussion. While he is traveling with the team, he is unlikely to feature in Game 3, and is likely to return in Game 4. After winning Tuesday’s game, and with Wembayama’s return date unclear, suddenly, this series is looking a lot more winnable for the Trail Blazers.

The door is open for Damian Lillard to return during the 2026 NBA playoffs

Well, if they can somehow accomplish the unthinkable and advance to the next round, it seems like there’s an outside chance they could get the inclusion of a certain Trail Blazers legend.

“Although it may seem unbelievable, the franchise has not completely ruled out the possibility that Damian Lillard could make a surprise appearance in the postseason this year,” multiple sources told The Oregonian. “I wouldn’t rule out any possibilities,” one source said.

Obviously, Lillard won’t progress and become the player he was before tearing his ACL a year ago. However, in a potential series against the Denver Nuggets or Minnesota Timberwolves, he could at least serve as a rookie. But there’s a possibility he could be a prolific scorer and three-point threat off the bench. The nine-time All-Star won this year’s NBA Three-Point Contest.

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

A new rumor suggests that a pair of elite NBA coaches have already become the Portland Trail Blazers’ official replacements for Chauncey Billups.

There were dark clouds over the trail blazers They had their season hanging from day one when former head coach Billups was implicated in a wild POKEr-rigging plan. However, interim head coach Tiago Splitter did an impressive job controlling the drama. Leading them to a 42-40 record and their first trip to the playoffs since 2021.

A major reason for this is former Washington Wizards lottery pick Deni Avdija having a career year. The 25-year-old leads the team in scoring (24.2 ppg) and dropped 41 in their play-in win last week. His series with the San Antonio Spurs should be fun while it lasts, but either way, Splitter has earned the chance to keep his job permanently. However, it seems that hasn’t impressed his boss Tom Dundon.

The team’s new owner has developed a negative reputation among Blazers fans in just one month of his ownership, with some financially conservative – or cheap – decisions. They opted to save money by not having two-way players travel for their first two playoff games on the road. They will not be giving away free t-shirts for their home postseason matchups this week. And Dundon also reportedly doesn’t want to pay his next head coach more than $1.5 million annually.

Michael Malone and Tom Thibodeau turned down Trail Blazers jobs?

Additionally, he tried and failed to secretly search for a new head coach and general manager. According to The Athletic, Dundon once approached Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone as well as former New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau about becoming his next head coach.

Malone had to fill the same role in college for ACC powerhouse North Carolina. And the report said Thibodeau “is no longer a candidate.” The Trail Blazers still have a rebuilding roster with a lot of potential. Both have shown the ability to consistently turn a team into playoff contenders. However, each has an impressive resume, and $1.5 million per year wouldn’t even come close to securing their services.

One has to assume that if Dundon didn’t want to be paid more than that per year, both proven veteran NBA coaches immediately passed on the idea when the contract figures came out. While Dundon doesn’t seem to be impressed enough with Splitter to make him the full-time head coach, he does seem to be the best option for them.

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 Minnesota Timberwolves (43-27) are struggling with only three weeks remaining in the regular season, two games behind the Los Angeles Lakers for third place in the West and one game behind the Denver Nuggets for sixth place. This group has advanced to the conference finals from both those positions, so seeding may not be necessary. Still, home-court advantage in the first round could be a welcome boost. But will the squad be healthy enough to accomplish this?

Anthony Edwards is dealing with knee inflammation and could miss a few weeks, leaving a larger offensive burden on the shoulders of Julius Randle. Minnesota is deep enough to handle the absence of its franchise cornerstone for a limited amount of time, but another key player is also dealing with injury. Nazi Reed missed Wednesday’s 147-111 win over the Utah Jazz with a right ankle sprain and could be out again in Friday’s home game against the Portland Trail Blazers (34-36).

The former Sixth Man of the Year (could also win the award this season) is averaging 13.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per contest, while shooting 46.9 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from 3-point land. Already without Edwards, the Timberwolves’ offense will be stretched thin if Reed is stuck on the bench. Ergo, the 26-year-old forward’s status for the Blazers clash is of great interest to the fan base.

Naz Reid’s status for the Timberwolves-Blazers game

According to the NBA’s latest injury report, Reed is listed as questionable. If he is sidelined, Minnesota will likely rely on Randle, Jaden McDaniels and Donte DiVincenzo to provide adequate offense. Portland has certainly been able to take advantage of Wolves’ misfortune.

The Blazers are battling the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors for the eighth spot. Earning extra lives is obviously important in the NBA Play-In Tournament, so fans should expect this team to enter Goal Center with obvious intensity. However, Portland itself is shorthanded.

Shadon Sharp has been out since the beginning of February after suffering a stress reaction in his left fibula. The Trail Blazers can hold their own without an explosive guard, and the Timberwolves believe they can do the same without Anthony Edwards, at least in this game. However, an inactive Naz Reed could stand in the way of their victory.

Timberwolves fans are hoping they get some good news before the action tips off at 8 pm ET.

The Portland Trail Blazers will look to bounce back against the Brooklyn Nets on Monday after Sunday’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. They may be without backup center Robert Williams during the second night of a back-to-back.

Williams is questionable for the game with Brooklyn because of a left knee injury. The veteran center has been nursing his left knee since undergoing surgery last March and has missed the start of this season.

However, Williams has played his best basketball of the season recently. The 28-year-old has averaged 10.1 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks on 66.7 percent shooting in 21.1 minutes per game over his last seven appearances.

He posted six points, 12 rebounds and three blocks on 3-of-5 shooting in 20 minutes during Sunday’s 109-103 loss to the 76ers.

Robert Williams questionable for Nets matchup as Trail Blazers fight for play-in position

Williams’ presence on Monday will give the Trail Blazers a significant advantage against a Nets team with only one available center. Nick Claxton is available for Brooklyn after missing Saturday’s loss at Philadelphia due to rest. However, Deron Sharp has been ruled out for the season, leaving the team without a traditional center on the second unit.

The Trail Blazers are fighting for a spot in the Western Conference play-in race. They are 10th at 3-5, half a game behind the ninth-place Golden State Warriors.

Meanwhile, the Nets have lost three in a row while moving to a more aggressive tank after back-to-back wins over the Detroit Pistons and Memphis Grizzlies. Brooklyn will be without Michael Porter Jr. (right ankle sprain), Noah Clowney (rest), Terrence Mann (left Achilles soreness), Igor Demin (left plantar fascia injury management) and Sharp (left thumb UCL tear) on Monday.

There is no way around it. This is the worst possible time for the Chicago Bulls. On Thursday, they finished February without a win, losing to the Portland Trail Blazers 121–112.

The Bulls’ losing streak stands at 11, and they are five games shy of the franchise record of 16 set in 2001.

On Friday, former Bulls player turned analyst Stacey King made a bold request to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on his Gimme the Hot Sauce podcast. He is asking the Bulls to acquire the No. 1 draft pick before the lottery.

“It’s time to make Chicago basketball relevant again,” he said.

Stacey urges Adam Silver to bless the Chicago Bulls with the #1 pick in the draft😉⬆️

“It’s time to make Chicago basketball relevant again”

🎙️:https://t.co/LPxfvRzPIG pic.twitter.com/0Oxik6VAi6

– Gimme the Hot Sauce Podcast (@gimmehotsauce21) 27 February 2026

Chicago is now 24-36 after the loss to the Trail Blazers. On Sunday, they’ll kick off March by taking on the Milwaukee Bucks at home. Then, next Tuesday they will play at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Recently, there has been speculation that Chicago is focusing on sports in order to be in a position to secure higher draft picks. However, Matas Buzelis completely rejected those claims and said that the Bulls are playing to win.

Recently, the NBA has been taking steps to combat tanking. Chicago is adjusting to a new roster dynamic after making seven trades that sent out Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Nikola Vucevic and Kevin Huerter.

King is best known for playing for Chicago during the teams first three-peat from 1991 to 1993. Overall, he played in Chicago from 1989 to 1994.

Since 2007, he has become a popular analyst for the franchise. He is currently working for Chicago Sports Network. Additionally, King is the co-host of the popular Gimme the Hot Sauce podcast.

The Portland Trail Blazers have seen Deni Avdija quickly rise to stardom in just less than two years in their program. Now is the time to treat him right and save him from himself.

Avdija has had a stellar season for the Blazers, earning his first All-Star selection while posting career-highs across the board. In those first 40 games, Deni Avdija averaged 26.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 6.9 assists while shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 35.5 percent from three.

But on January 11, the Trail Blazers forward suffered a back injury in the team’s home loss to the New York Knicks. It was a game in which he played a little over 38 minutes but after the game he admitted that he might have to miss some time.

Avdija missed three games before returning and playing well in a win against the Sacramento Kings, scoring 30 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in the win. But the back injury resurfaced in the team’s next game four days later against the Miami Heat. Avdija played only 17 minutes before departing and not returning.

This started an 18-game streak in which Avdija played only eight games, and if so, no more than two consecutive complete games.

Coming off the All-Star break, Deni Avdija played 30 minutes in a 54-point loss against the Nuggets and looked fine despite the blowout nature of the game. But just 59 seconds into Portland’s contest against the Phoenix Suns, Avdija went to the bench to ask to cool off after a post-up attempt and did not return with another back injury.

Just a minute left in the game and Deni Avdija goes to the locker room with a lower back injury (with replay)

I also included the dramas he was already involved in#ripcity

It took a minute for the game to start and Danny Awadiya went to the dressing room with a lower back injury

This is really starting to become a matter of concern.

Including… pic.twitter.com/qMypKDl9p

– MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) 23 February 2026

Acting head coach Tiago Splitter spoke about Avdija’s injury after the game and how the team rallied to defeat the Suns despite playing without their key ball-handler and playmaker.

“Denny, like I said, he was questionable, he was feeling good before the game,” Splitter said. “His back just…felt it again, we lost him and it’s not easy. The team had to figure it out offensively, but I think defensively, everyone stepped up and did an amazing job.”

Splitter also mentioned that the Trail Blazers could explore the possibility of keeping Avdija sitting longer as they delve deeper into the root of his recurring back injuries.

When asked about the possibility of shutting down Deni Avdija, Splitter responded, “Well, I’m not a doctor, but yes.” “I might have to look at what’s going on and dig deeper to see what’s really going on.”

At this stage, the Portland Trail Blazers need Avdija to perform right and sit him out until his back is as close to 100 percent as possible. He is already scheduled to miss Tuesday night’s game against Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves, but he should be kept on the bench for much longer to allow his back to properly heal.

The problem is that the Trail Blazers desperately need their All-Star forward as they continue to battle with the Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors and LA Clippers for position in the play-in tournament.

Entering Tuesday night, the seventh-seeded Suns have a game lead over the Blazers and the Warriors have a 2.5 game lead. Meanwhile, the Clippers are just a half-game behind Portland in the standings.

Additionally, Deni Avdija’s Trail Blazers have lost the season series against the Suns 2–1, swept the season series against the Warriors 3–1, and trailed the season series against the Clippers 2–0 with the final two games remaining in the final three weeks of the season.

The 2025-26 NBA season is not going well for the Memphis Grizzlies, and it didn’t get any better for them on Saturday, when they lost to the Miami Heat by a score of 136-120.

A big reason for the Grizzlies’ struggles in the campaign are the injuries they have been dealing with.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Memphis reportedly made a move to add a healthy body to the roster on Monday, as they added a former Portland Trail Blazers player to the team.

From Charania on

The 21-year-old Rupert entered the league in 2023 when the Trail Blazers used their No. 43 pick in that year’s NBA draft on him. In 139 games played over two seasons for Portland, Rupert averaged 3.2 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.9 assists while shooting only 36.7 percent from the field and 31.7 percent from behind the arc.

The 6-foot-7 Rupert played his final game in a Portland uniform last Thursday on the road against the Utah Jazz, scoring two points, grabbing four rebounds and recording a steal with two turnovers in 16 minutes of action in the 135-119 win. The next day, the Trail Blazers decided to waive him after promoting Sidi Sissoko to make room on the 15-man roster.

The move to the Grizzlies presents an opportunity for Rupert, who has a fully guaranteed $2.2 million contract through the 2025-26 season, to see a larger role on the court.

The Denver Nuggets needed a response after a tough loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night.

He presented one emphatically. On Friday night, the Nuggets destroyed the Portland Trail Blazers 157-103.

Nikola Jokic led the way and produced his best performance since returning from injury. He finished the night with 32 points on 10 of 15 shooting. He was also 3-of-4 from three-point range.

“We played really well. Everybody stepped up, everybody played with a lot of energy,” Jokic said. “The defense was playing at a high level. We were making shots. We had a good start, in fact, it was a perfect game for us.”

Nuggets bounce back with huge win over Trail Blazers

The Nuggets’ 157 points are the most points scored by any team this season. From a franchise perspective, this is the seventh-highest score in franchise history. The 54-point margin of victory is also the second largest in franchise history.

“We were creating open looks. The ball was going in, that’s when you feel confident,” Jokic added. “We were there playing for each other.”

The entire Nuggets roster had a stellar performance, with seven players finishing the night in double figures. Jamal Murray was lethal from deep, scoring 6 of 12 on three-point attempts. He would finish the night with 25 points, six rebounds and six assists. Julian Strother, who was placed in the starting lineup, continued his hot streak with 19 points on 9-of-16 shooting. Whenever Strother was on the court, the Nuggets were an amazing +48.

The Nuggets will conclude their short road trip by visiting the Golden State Warriors on Sunday.