The Portland Trail Blazers’ ownership direction has taken a clearer financial tone as the franchise continues its wide-ranging head coaching search, with new owner Tom Dundon emphasizing willingness to spend when the roster situation justifies it.
According to reporting from The Oregonian, Dundon stated he would be open to entering the NBA luxury tax if it supports a legitimate path toward winning. The comments come during an offseason in which the franchise remains without a permanent head coach.
The ownership group is overseeing an extensive search process that has included a large pool of candidates, with the organization evaluating a wide range of assistant coaches and experienced staff across the league. The direction of the search has been influenced by financial considerations, shaping both availability and interest from candidates.
Dundon addressed the idea of spending beyond the tax line by referencing a trade-deadline scenario that occurred before the finalization of his ownership transition. He described his willingness to approve additional spending if it aligned with competitive upside for the roster.
“Joe (Cronin) called me — and I don’t even know if it was allowed — he called me at the trade deadline. Technically we didn’t own the team yet, (but) he had a deal — actually two different deals — but one in particular where we would have gone into the tax. And it would have been whatever; $20 million. I was fine with it. I want to run the business properly. But I want to win more than I want to make money. And that seems kind of obvious if you’re in this business, right? Winning is the only reason you do it. Why would you buy a team?” Dundon said via The Oregonian.
His comments also addressed perceptions about spending habits, particularly comparisons to his previous ownership experience in hockey, where payroll flexibility rules differ significantly from the NBA structure.
“My hockey team has been over the cap many times. They were the lowest in the league. They were at the floor when I bought them. You can go over the cap in hockey. If you have a hurt player, you can replace them. So I’ve been over the cap multiple times because there was a rule that allowed you to go over the cap. And at the same time, when I walk out of a room, I turn off the lights. And so that my friends make fun of me all the time. They’re telling me how bad I am at being rich,” he added.
The coaching search remains ongoing, with Portland evaluating internal continuity options alongside external candidates from across the league. The franchise has also interviewed and considered assistants with ties to both veteran player development and modern defensive schemes.
Among the reported candidates are assistants such as Steve Hetzel of the Brooklyn Nets, Jared Dudley from the Denver Nuggets staff, and Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori. Additional names linked to the process include Greg St. Jean and other established NBA bench coaches.
Dundon also addressed relocation speculation and arena discussions, reinforcing that the franchise was not acquired with plans to move and that current priorities are centered on infrastructure and long-term stability in Portland.
The Blazers finished the season in a play-in position in the Western Conference and remain centered around a young core headlined by Deni Avdija, Shaedon Sharpe, and Donovan Clingan.
