The Portland Path Blazers’ future within the metropolis has change into a rising concern as negotiations over a brand new Moda Heart lease stay unresolved, with some across the franchise fearing proprietor Tom Dundon might ultimately discover relocation if an settlement with native authorities can’t be reached.
The Athletic’s Jason Quick reported Monday that Portland and the Path Blazers stay far aside in enviornment lease discussions, regardless of efforts from town to restart negotiations. Metropolis Council president Jamie Dunphy initially believed the crew had rejected an invite to debate a proposed 20-year lease time period sheet, although Path Blazers president Dewayne Hankins later mentioned the group was nonetheless figuring out its plans for Thursday’s council assembly.
The uncertainty has fueled hypothesis that Dundon might use a failed enviornment settlement as leverage to contemplate shifting the franchise, just like the relocation course of that led to the Seattle SuperSonics changing into the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder in 2008.
Former Trail Blazers employee Brian Berger recently expressed those concerns, saying he believes Dundon might ultimately push for relocation if Portland doesn’t meet his monetary expectations.
“I believe he’s going to do every little thing in his energy to maneuver them,” Berger mentioned. “It breaks my coronary heart to say that as a result of I used to work for the Path Blazers. I reside in Portland. However this appears to be Sonics 2.0.”
Berger, who labored in Portland’s communications and advertising and marketing division from 1992 to 1998, additionally criticized Dundon’s early cost-cutting strikes, together with layoffs that reportedly affected roughly 70 workers.
“He’s been a bull in a china store to date,” Berger mentioned. “He’s are available and simply lower prices.”
The world negotiations focus on a proposed public funding package deal. Dundon has indicated he would conform to a brand new lease if the crew acquired almost $575 million in public funding. A state-approved plan consists of $365 million in funding, but it surely requires Portland and Multnomah County to supply a further $208 million towards upgrades for the 31-year-old Moda Heart.
The town controls $120 million of that further funding however has requested extra particulars about how the Path Blazers would use the cash. The group has resisted offering particular plans, arguing that town ought to assist fund an architect to develop renovation proposals.
Dunphy mentioned the shortage of communication from the crew has created uncertainty about what modifications the franchise needs within the settlement.
“We now have no substantive details about what they need, what they don’t need or what a profitable partnership with town, county and state would appear like,” Dunphy mentioned.
Hankins pushed again towards the general public dispute and mentioned the crew needs to resolve the scenario privately.
“I’d like to show the rhetoric down and never have these conversations within the media,” Hankins mentioned. “I simply wish to get a deal accomplished.”
Dundon has publicly denied that the franchise was purchased with relocation plans and has mentioned his focus is constructing a aggressive group in Portland. The Path Blazers additionally accelerated their basketball timeline this offseason by acquiring Ja Morant from the Memphis Grizzlies, making a younger core that includes Morant, Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe and Donovan Clingan.
Portland completed the 2025-26 season 42-40 and earned the Western Convention’s No. 8 seed earlier than losing to the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the first round of the playoffs.
