Tom Dundon’s priority is keeping the Trail Blazers in Portland, according to a text message exchange between the new owner and Mike Vorkunov of the Athletic (subscription required).
“We are working to keep the team in Portland,” Tom Dundon told The Athletic on Friday. “That is the priority.”
Additionally, Dundon denied reports that he has discussed the possibility of relocation with league officials and fellow owners, saying, “That is not accurate.” Dundon was responding to claims by anonymous sources
cited in Vorkunov’s article who said the owner had brought up relocation in private talks, but the idea was met with resistance from the league.
But Dundon has floated the prospect of relocation in private talks with league officials and other owners, sources with knowledge of the situation told The Athletic. Those sources spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the conversations.
The discussions with NBA officials were not an official request, sources said. Dundon was met with resistance during those conversations, and the league told him to focus on trying to make the Blazers work in Portland, sources said.
As the Blazers organization and local government continue negotiations on a long-term lease and renovation agreement for the Moda Center, Commissioner Adam Silver has gone on record saying he wants the Blazers in Portland, local officials have approved funds to keep the Blazers in Portland pending the passing of a term sheet, Blazers President of Business Operations Dewayne Hankins has said he’s working on getting a deal done to keep the Blazers in Portland, and now Tom Dundon himself has echoed the prevailing sentiment.
The details of any Moda Center renovation agreement still need a lot of work done before anything gets signed ahead of Dec. 31, when the State’s $365 million funding bill expires, but the new owner believes a deal can still be worked out even if they don’t meet the deadline.
“We have four years to figure it out,” Dundon told The Athletic. “So hopefully we never are in that position [where negotiations fall through].”
To avoid having the negotiations extend beyond this year, an agreement between the City of Portland’s negotiating team and Blazers ownership will need to be presented to city council for approval by Dec. 17, the council’s last scheduled meeting of the year.
