The Portland Trail Blazers have officially entered their new owner era.
After more than three decades under Paul Allen—and a stewardship period under his sister, Jody—the franchise has been sold to a group led by Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon for north of $4 billion.
The price tag alone raises eyebrows. But then there’s Dundon’s résumé, which raises expectations. He’s known for bold moves, big investments, and turning around a pro sports franchise.
So, what does that mean for the Blazers right now? And what could it mean for what comes next?
Here are three big bets Dundon might make as he plants his flag in Rip City.
Big Arena Improvements
The Moda Center is 30 years old. It’s still functional and full of memories, but it’s not keeping pace with the NBA’s newest, most modern arenas.
Dundon has a history of pouring money into facilities, including major upgrades for the Hurricanes’ arena. It wouldn’t be shocking if one of his first major moves in Portland is pushing for a full-scale modernization, extending beyond the walls of Moda and into the greater Rose Quarter.
Fans would welcome better amenities, improved sightlines, and, yes, the stronger case to host an NBA All-Star Game. But there’s another side to this coin. If upgrades stall, whether due to politics, funding fights, or endless delays, a new, deep-pocketed owner can get restless. That’s when relocation chatter can creep from hypothetical to possible.
Nobody in Portland wants to imagine it, but the leverage is real. The good news? Early reports suggest Dundon has no plans to move the team, which should let fans exhale and dream about the upgrades instead.
Shoot for THE Star
When Dundon bought into the Hurricanes in 2018, he said out of the gate, “I value winning more than money.” He followed it up by saying he wouldn’t burn cash recklessly—but the message was clear: He’ll spend to win, and he’ll swing for the fences.
Enter Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The two-time MVP hasn’t asked out of Milwaukee, but the rumor mill never sleeps. ESPN’s Shams Charania recently reminded everyone that Giannis is keeping his options open and that his future with the Bucks isn’t set in stone.
If Dundon wants to make a statement at his first trade deadline, there’s no louder way than going all-in for one of the best players alive—and one of the 25 best ever.
General manager Joe Cronin would still be the one making the calls, but his job changes significantly under new ownership. Running a rebuilding team that’s up for sale is one thing; steering a just-sold franchise with an owner ready to win is something else entirely.
For Giannis, Portland wouldn’t be the obvious choice over L.A., Miami, New York, or Golden State. But the Blazers have something none of those markets do—two of his closest on-court allies in Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday. Bringing the trio together would be more than a storybook chapter; it’d give the three a real shot to win together.
It would take a massive trade package—young talent, draft picks (notably Milwaukee’s own, which came to Portland in the original Dame deal), and big contracts to match salary. It would be the most ambitious trade in franchise history. But Portland’s current asset mix could put them in the conversation if Milwaukee ever opens the door.
For Dundon, it would be a mic-drop entrance to NBA ownership to embolden his GM to go get his guy.
Take the Blazers’ Brand Global
The Blazers have always been a small-market team with a die-hard local fanbase. Dundon has shown he understands the value of that in Raleigh, North Carolina, but as he’s made clear, he’s also always thinking bigger.
This year, Dundon inherits not just the Trail Blazers franchise but rookie center Yang Hansen, who, along with the efforts of Dundon and his team, could drastically boost Portland’s international profile.
Yang’s arrival creates opportunities for overseas TV deals, sponsorships, and merchandise sales that could make the Blazers a global name. In today’s NBA, brand reach is a competitive edge, and having a player connect directly to one of the biggest basketball markets on the planet is rare.
Leveraging that connection could raise the team’s revenue ceiling and relevance in ways that even winning alone might not. And because we know Dundon didn’t spend more than $4 billion to keep things status quo, his and Hansen’s arrivals—amid the many other headlines Portland made this offseason—create real intrigue around this once sleepy franchise.
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