The Portland Trail Blazers' financial future remains uncertain after owner Tom Dundon implemented cost-cutting measures, including layoffs and salary cuts. The team's broadcast department was also affected, with play-by-play callers Kevin Calabro and Trevor Demers leaving their positions. This move follows several cost-cutting measures implemented since Dundon purchased the team in March.
What happened?
The Trail Blazers fired or allowed many employees involved with the team's broadcast to leave, including Calabro and Demers, the play-by-play callers on television and radio, respectively. Those moves follow several cost-cutting measures that have come since Dundon purchased the team at the end of March.
Why it matters for Portland Trail Blazers
The cost-cutting measures have largely targeted the business side of the Trail Blazers, although the team did not send their three players on two-way contracts on the road in the first two games of the playoffs, for which general manager Joe Cronin took the blame. The team fired more than 70 employees in May, and did not hand out T-shirts to fans for its playoff games against the San Antonio Spurs in April.
What comes next?
The NBA is a league with its share of 'keeping up with the Joneses' spending. Dundon might not be doing it very artfully, but it is surprising it took this long for a new owner to decide NBA organizations are perhaps more bloated than necessary. The team considers itself and the city 'very far apart' on terms to pay for the renovation of the Moda Center, which is currently undergoing $300 million in renovations at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C.
The league has been heading down this path for a while now. Under Mark Cuban's ownership, the Dallas Mavericks became known for having nearly an assistant coach for every player on the roster. The Mavericks also were at the forefront of tricking out locker rooms. And last result: San Antonio Spurs 114-95 Portland Trail Blazers (2026-04-29). The Trail Blazers lost the last 5 games, with a recent form of 0W-0D-5L (LLLLL, most recent first). The team's fans are understandably worried, and skepticism is warranted. With that said, the league has been heading down this path for a while now.
Portland Trail Blazers fans are consistently among the best in the NBA, and the league should make sure the team stays where it is. While you will frequently hear players rave about the coaches they work with individually or the help they are getting on the health side, it would also be reasonable to conclude that players are going to put their own salaries, opportunities, and chances to win above those relative luxuries - unless, of course, they conclude that the team's financial situation is unsustainable.
The Trail Blazers' financial future remains uncertain, and it will be interesting to see how the team navigates this challenging period. The team's fans are eagerly awaiting the outcome, and the league is watching closely to see how the Trail Blazers' situation plays out.
