The Portland Trail Blazers are only days from opening their 2026 NBA season, but the team’s offseason has been clouded by owner Tom Dundon and the frustration he’s stirred up along the way.
The latest flashpoint is the chatter about a possible move out of Portland. Dundon was asked about those relocation talks, and his answer was blunt.
“That is not accurate,” he said, per Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic.
Still, Vorkunov reported that “Dundon was met with resistance during those conversations, and the league told him to focus on trying to make the Blazers work in Portland, sources said.”
That denial comes after a run of decisions that have only deepened the skepticism around him. Dundon drew criticism for not letting two-way players travel with the team during last year’s playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs, for skimping on t-shirts for fans at the team’s two home postseason games, and for giving head coach Micah Nori just one guaranteed season on his contract.
That’s a fast trip to the bottom of the ownership rankings in the eyes of a lot of fans, especially with the Blazers also making some head-scratching roster moves before this season. Portland traded for Ja Morant, adding to an already crowded backcourt, and pairing him with Damian Lillard is expected to create one of the worst defensive backcourts in recent NBA history, along with the rest of the changes.
The Blazers open the new season Wednesday night at home against the Phoenix Suns.
In Other News...
Blazers Face A Real Readiness Question Under Micah Nori
The Trail Blazers closed their preseason with a loss to the Warriors, and it was the only setback they took against a fully healthy NBA opponent before the games start to count. Even so, the bigger issue in Portland is less about one exhibition result than how much the team still needs to sort out before a demanding regular season arrives. With a new head coach in Micah Nori and new backcourt pieces to blend in, the Blazers did not get much runway to make those adjustments in live game settings.
Portlands early schedule does not offer much relief, with a heavy dose of playoff-caliber opponents and a long stretch of road games waiting right out of the gate. That puts a premium on the work done in training camp, because the Blazers will have to look more connected quickly rather than relying on preseason repetition to carry them through the opening weeks. For a team still trying to establish rhythm and identity, the timing of that challenge matters as much as the challenge itself. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers Still Face One Big Problem Against The Wests Young Powers
The Western Conference keeps getting younger, faster and harder to solve, and Portland is still trying to find its place in that race. With Oklahoma City and San Antonio setting the tone as the leagues most dangerous emerging powers, the Trail Blazers are being measured less by where they finished than by whether their roster can hold up against the kind of depth and pace those teams bring every night.
Portlands path has only gotten trickier with the kind of roster churn that comes with chasing relevance, from the addition of Ja Morant to the lingering uncertainty around Damian Lillards health. The broader trend around the West has been clear too, as contenders keep leaning into versatile lineups and relentless athleticism, leaving the Blazers with one lingering question they have yet to answer: whether they can match that formula when it matters most. [Read more 🡒]