Portland Trail Blazers Lay Off 70 Employees in Dundon Restructuring

The Portland Trail Blazers have laid off approximately 70 employees, primarily from the franchise’s business operations, in a major restructuring under new majority owner Tom Dundon. The layoffs, which occurred this week, represent the most significant cost-cutting measure since Dundon formally took control of the NBA team earlier this year.

Team president Dewayne Hankins stated the move was a difficult decision made to position the organization for future long-term success. He expressed gratitude for the contributions of the affected employees, many of whom had long tenures with the club. The organization has said its focus is now on supporting those impacted through the transition.

However, the scale of the layoffs has generated internal unease and public scrutiny. While the team has not provided a detailed breakdown of the cuts, reports indicate they affected various business-side departments, including some members of the team’s media staff. A surviving employee characterized the process as appearing to target the highest salaries on a spreadsheet without regard for individual roles or institutional importance, though this account represents one person’s perception.