Portland Trail Blazers television broadcasts—now simulcast with radio—are being led by long-time franchise member Travis Demers this season. The new play-by-play voice replaces veteran Kevin Calabro in the hot seat. Demers also came in under inauspicious conditions. He was the second choice, before initial hire Braiden Bell was dismissed on the same day he was hired due to inappropriate social media posts when he was younger. Familar face Demers stepped into the gap, but even his hire was not without
drama. It was widely reported that the Blazers hired their long-term team member on a game-by-game basis, not even guaranteeing him a full season.
Today Portland media member Dwight Jaynes talked about Demers on his substack [subscription required]. Among the interesting tidbits of information and opinion: the depiction of Demers’ contract may not have been accurate.
And speaking of situations, my media sources within the NBA are telling me Demers is NOT working on a game-to-game trial basis in that job, as has been widely reported. He has a contract for the full season at a respectable figure. And he’s being paid by the team now, rather than the radio station.
One would assume that Jaynes’ sources are good on the subject, although one would have also thought that of reporting from The Oregonian in the original story. Never a dull day with the Blazers, I guess.
