The Portland Trail Blazers are bound for the play-in tournament this season, their first postseason appearance in five years. That success might not translate to job security for the people in charge.
Last month, the NBA approved the sale of the Blazers to a group led by Tom Dundon, the owner of the Carolina Hurricanes. While the Blazers may have improved, new owners tend to want to put their stamp on their new teams — and changing leadership is the easiest way.
Portland Trail Blazers leadership has had mild success
First-year coach Tiago Splitter stepped into a difficult situation when Chauncey Billups was suspended without pay following a federal indictment. He’s overseen a season where forward Deni Avdija made his first All-Star team and second-year center Donovan Clingan has emerged as a solid pivot man, averaging 12 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks.
The team weathered a series of injuries to stay at .500. Shaedon Sharpe hasn’t played since the All-Star break, Jrue Holiday missed 29 games and Jerami Grant has battled calf and Achilles problems all season. Given that the Blazers’ main offseason acquisitions were Holiday, an injured Damian Lillard (out for the season) and little-used rookie center Yang Hansen, Splitter has done an admirable job with a limited roster.
Still, Marc Stein reported that Dundon has been “actively exploring the coaching market” as the season winds down. General manager Joe Cronin may be in trouble as well, even after last spring’s contract extension. Cronin was clearly executing a plan to tank the last few seasons, especially when Lillard asked for a trade, but Dundon may focus on the Blazers’ miserable record.
Or, he simply may want to get a fresh start rather than inheriting the previous regime’s leadership. Especially after the NBA fined the Blazers and suspended two executives for tampering with Hansen days after he took over.
Trail Blazers could be an intriguing job
It’s not a big market, but Portland could nonetheless be an appealing destination for executives or coaches. Avdija, Sharpe and All-Defensive forward Toumani Camara are all signed to affordable long-term deals. The team is set at center with Clingan and has two intriguing pick swaps with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2028 and 2030, plus a playoff-tested veteran backcourt next season with Holiday and Lillard.
They also have Dundon, who was unafraid to spend big as owner of the Hurricanes. He dramatically increased the Hurricanes payroll and invested in an analytics department. Given that salaries for coaches and executives aren’t counted on the salary cap, Dundon could make generous offers to top executives or coaches.
Splitter and Cronin have helped bring the Blazers back to respectability. That might not be enough to preserve their jobs.
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