Trail Blazers owner Tom Dundon just dropped a letter to season ticket holders, swearing his “intention here is clear: bring a championship to Portland.” This came out Tuesday night, right on the eve of his team’s NBA preseason opener against the Golden State Warriors, and trust me, there’s already a pile of controversies stacking up around his ownership. This guy’s only owned the franchise for seven months, and he’s already making bold claims while facing a ton of heat.
Big Talk, Bigger Questions for the Rose City
So, in this letter to “Season Ticket Members,” which some Portland media folks, including Sean Highkin from the Rose Garden Report, noted looked *half-generated by AI* (yikes!), Dundon tried to paint a pretty picture. He hyped up last season, where the Blazers actually finished above .500 and hit the playoffs for the first time in five years. He gave props to young guns like All-Star forward Deni Avdija, those rising defenders Toumani Camara and Donovan Clingan, and the No. 3 overall pick Scoot Henderson. Plus, he name-dropped vets Jrue Holiday and Robert Williams III. Dundon also went big on their “surprise” offseason trade for Ja Morant, calling him a “two-time All-Star and one of the most explosive players in the league.” Oh, and don’t forget the much-anticipated return of franchise icon Damian Lillard, back after missing all of last season with a ruptured Achilles. With new head coach Micah Nori leading what Dundon called “a team with talent, depth and momentum,” the letter’s “expectation is straightforward: compete every night and take another step forward,” adding, “No shortcuts.”
The “No Shortcuts” Line That’s Cracking Up the Fans
Now, that “no shortcuts” line? That’s where things get real messy. Dundon, who made his cash in subprime auto loans and also owns the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, bought the Blazers for a staggering $4.25 billion back in March. But since then, he’s been catching fire left and right for what many are calling a series of *financial shortcuts* in how he’s running the show. We’re talking about cutting costs on players’ travel and even their hotel rooms during their first-round playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs. Then, he laid off dozens of staffers right after the season ended. The guy’s been slammed for reportedly low-balling prospective head-coaching candidates and even legendary broadcaster Kevin Calabro. He eventually hired Nori to a deal that includes just one guaranteed year, a move that got sharp rebukes from the entire NBA coaching establishment. And get this: he hired and then *fired* Calabro’s 29-year-old replacement, Braiden Bell, in a single day because some offensive tweets Bell posted as a teenager resurfaced. All these public embarrassments are happening while the team is still in hot negotiations with local government officials about funding massive renovations to the city-owned Moda Center, and a proposed new 20-year lease. Dundon’s been playing hardball all summer, basically saying local taxpayers should foot the *entire bill* for the renovations, not him.
So, with the preseason opener right there against the Golden State Warriors, it’s not just about the game on the court. It’s about whether Dundon’s big talk of championships and “no shortcuts” can actually hold up against a mountain of questionable moves. Blazers fans are looking for more than just words, they want to see some real commitment, especially with the team’s future in Portland up for debate.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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