Matt Johnson
When the Portland Trail Blazers were sold in March for $4.25 billion to a group led by Tom Dundon, there was hope that Oregon’s only major pro sports team would achieve the success experienced by Dundon’s Carolina Hurricanes in the NHL. Instead, it appears Portland’s franchise is headed towards being the cheapest in the NBA.
Dundon, whose wealth has largely been made from working in subprime auto loans where he’s been investigated in multiple states for predatory lending practices, told The Athletic‘s Jason Quick that he “can’t handle losing” and he talked up his desire to increase “the standards” and the “commitment to excellence.”
- Tom Dundon net worth: $1.5 billion
Unfortunately for the fan base, there have already been a troubling number of examples that showcase how cheap Tom Dundon is being just weeks into the job.
Blazers Kept Two-Way Players Home for Road Playoff Games
It’s standard practice in the NBA for teams that make the playoffs to bring their two-way players with them for road postseason games. However, per Sean Highkin of the Rose Garden Report, when the first round of the NBA playoffs tipped off this weekend, the Trail Blazers were the only team not to bring their two-way players with them. While organizations know these two-way players can’t see the court in playoff games, it’s done because they are part of the team and it’s a way to respect their contributions during the regular season. Dundon evidently sees this as a cost-cutting opportunity, even if it only saves a few thousand dollars.
It’s particularly alarming because Portland doesn’t snap its playoff drought this season without two-way guard Caleb Love. The 24-year-old averaged 10.4 PPG this season across 49 contests, playing key minutes when the Trail Blazers rotation was decimated by injuries. Love scored 20-plus points in eight games this season, with Portland posting a 6-2 record in those contests, including narrow victories over the Golden State Warriors (127-123) and Dallas Mavericks (125-122). Without Love, the team probably loses several more games and would’ve been in a much worse position. Doing that to an undrafted free agent who became a fan-favorite and well-liked in the locker room is an awful message for Dundon to send to the entire organization just weeks into the job. It’s also a reflection on how he’ll treat anyone who isn’t a star player, as we’ve seen with his other cost-cutting measures.
Tom Dundon Low-Balling in Trail Blazers Coaching Search
The efforts to cut costs are being seen everywhere within the Trail Blazers organization just days into the Tom Dundon era. What’s concerning purely from a 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 Fischer of The Stein Line reported this weekend that Dundon desires “to pay no more than $1.5 million annually.”
That’s going to be a massive issue considering it’s considered far below the standard salary even for first-year NBA head coaches. In fact, per Fischer, a $1 to $1.5 million salary is typically the price range just to have a top assistant coach in the NBA.If Dundon is barely willing to pay more than $1 million for his head coach, there’s a very good chance the entire Trail Blazers coaching staff will be one of the lowest-paid in the NBA. Portland won’t be able to attract quality head-coaching or assistant coaching candidates from either the NBA or collegiate level (higher salaries). Even if the team gets lucky and finds a bargain, another NBA team will easily be able to outbid Dundon for that same coach once they prove themselves. Dundon is inexplicably putting his team at a massive disadvantage and hurting the on-court product.
No T-Shirt Giveaways for Trail Blazers’ Home Playoff Games
The Trail Blazers are hosting their first playoff game in five years, an opportunity for Portland’s passionate fan base to show their support for an exciting and young team that has exceeded expectations. Once again, though, Dundon sees a cost-cutting opportunity. Speaking to reporters this past week, team president Dewayne Hankins announced that fans won’t receive any playoff t-shirts to wear for Games 3 or 4 at the Moda Center. If fans want to wear their team’s colors to create a bit more of a home-court feel, they’ll have to spend even more money than they already are on tickets, parking and food.
Requiring City, State to Cover Costs of Stadium Renovations
In his interview with The Athletic’s Jason Quick at the start of April, Dundon was asked about the Trail Blazers’ future in Portland. Even on his first day on the job, he wouldn’t commit to keeping the team in the city, nor would he commit to putting any of his own money into renovating the arena. Instead, he believes costs for updating the Moda Center should be covered by the state and the city at a cost of $600 million. In exchange, Dundon is willing to “commit to be here for a long term (20 years).” Mind you, a 20-year commitment is a bare minimum standard for a pro franchise to stay in a city that is covering a significant portion of the costs for stadium renovations. When Quick mentioned that other owners have committed more years and put in their own money to upgrade the stadium, Dundon responded, “In Portland?” So, the most expensive aspects of keeping the team could be covered by taxes, and he still may not commit to stay after 20 years.
Trail Blazers Cutting Costs with Hotel Stays
Weeks into the job as Trail Blazers owner, Dundon quickly made a change to save himself a few thousand dollars. As reported by Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, multiple sources confirmed that a group of Trail Blazers’ staff members were hanging out in the lobby of their Phoenix-area hotel unusually early one day. Why? Because they were told they needed to check out of their hotel rooms at noon, hours before the first bus would leave for the arena. All of this was so Dundon’s franchise wouldn’t be on the hook for the cost of a late checkout at the hotel.
Team Media Kept Home for Playoff Game
Portland’s appearance in the NBA Play-In Tournament snapped their five-year playoff drought, something that every other NBA franchise would seemingly want to capture every moment of. That’s not happening with Dundon’s Trail Blazers. As reported by Bill Oram of The Oregonian/OregonLive, the Trail Blazers significantly reduced the number of people in the traveling party for the playoff game against the Phoenix Suns. Among those who had to stay at home, or otherwise pay for travel expenses on their own, were the team’s digital reporter and award-winning photographer. Dundon also opted not to have a scout be sent to the Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets first-round series, which Portland would face if it advanced to the next round of the playoffs.
