The Portland Trail Blazers are in a new era under Tom Dundon. It has not been the best time since he took over, as the Blazers’ ownership has come under fire after recent decisions. Their latest move prompted scathing comments from franchise legend Clyde Drexler.
Clyde Drexler Makes Strong Appeal to Blazers’ Ownership
For the longest time, the Trail Blazers were under the Allen family’s ownership. Paul Allen was a beloved figure for Blazers fans, and after his passing, the team was in a bit of limbo. His sister, Jody Allen, sold the team to Dundon’s group in March.
Unfortunately for the Blazers and their fans, it has not been the greatest start to his tenure. It was given that there would be massive changes, but it seems they have already made unpopular decisions that are seen as penny-pinching.
Drexler’s Comments on Blazers’ Ownership
This week, the Blazers laid off more than 70 employees on the business side of the organization. This includes scout and former WNBA icon Tina Thompson and longtime Blazers digital reporter Casey Holdahl. This has led some people to react passionately to the news, including Drexler.
“I’ve talked to Tom once, and he seemed like a nice guy. So I don’t really know him. But I know one thing. When you’re running a billion-dollar industry, you can’t act like you don’t have any money,” Drexler told The Oregonian’s Joe Freeman Wednesday. “The reason the best franchises are good is that they value tradition. They take care of their players, they listen to the needs of their players.”
Unfortunately for the new owners, this is not a good look. The rest of the league is watching and is befuddled by what is happening. Of course, layoffs and cuts happen in the business world. It even happened to the Minnesota Timberwolves when their new owners set up shop.
However, the Blazers have had plenty of noteworthy missteps recently. This includes the staff cuts, the two-way players not being present for the playoffs, and the free t-shirt debacle at Moda Center during Games 3 and 4 against the San Antonio Spurs.
Another significant issue that has been brought up is the coaching search. While the reported salary Dundon wants to pay coaches is inaccurate, he did speak to candidates while Splitter was leading the Blazers in the postseason. Dundon does not seem to be a fan of Splitter, so that could ruin his chances of having the “interim” tag removed.
Portland’s Future is Not Straightforward Anymore
Over the past few seasons, the Trail Blazers have been on a clear rebuild. With players like Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, and Donovan Clingan, there was a clear path for progression. This is still true, but new ownership usually means they want to make a big splash.
General manager Joe Cronin has a lot of work to do in the offseason. The Blazers desperately need perimeter shooting, as they shot 34.2% from deep this season. Damian Lillard is coming back, but he is not the solitary solution for the Blazers’ woes.
Joe Cronin on the picture that's been painted of Tom Dundon in the media:
"For me, it was somewhat disturbing… It's just not an accurate depiction of what his goals are… I've seen a lot of instances where he was willing to throw big money on the table with this team."…
— Brenna Greene (@BrennaGreene_) April 30, 2026
Dundon and the rest of the Blazers’ ownership would prefer big splashes, so don’t count out a blockbuster trade like one for Giannis Antetokounmpo, especially since the Blazers have an enticing package for the Milwaukee Bucks. Cronin has plenty of paths to take, which further proves that Portland’s future is not as linear as before.
Dundon’s Plan Can Still Work Out in the Long Run
Of course, it is still early in the ownership group’s tenure. They still have a lot to prove, but Tom Dundon has shown he can run a team well with the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes.
He is making major moves so far, and he appears to be ready to spend on the Blazers. It will be an interesting situation to follow with Portland’s bright future and promising roster.
However, a lot of people are worried about what Dundon and his group have been doing in the past few months. If they can settle the fans down, the Blazers could become more stable with offseason improvements and be one of the league’s best teams again.
© Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
