Trail Blazers Owner Dundon Cuts Costs in Playoff Debut

Portland, Oregon – New owner Tom Dundon has implemented several cost-saving measures for the Portland Trail Blazers just weeks after acquiring the franchise, drawing attention as the team begins its first playoff appearance since the 2020-21 season.

The NBA approved the sale of the Trail Blazers to a group led by Dundon, a Dallas-based billionaire and owner of the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes, at the end of March for approximately $4.25 billion. The team, which finished the regular season above .500 despite injuries, opened its first-round series against the San Antonio Spurs with a 111-98 loss in Game 1 on Sunday. For Games 1 and 2 in San Antonio, the Blazers left their three two-way contract players – Caleb Love, Chris Youngblood and Jayson Kent – in Portland, according to reports from team insiders. Players on two-way deals are ineligible for postseason games but typically travel with teams for support and team-building; sources confirmed that all seven other road teams brought their two-way players during the opening weekend.

Love, a rookie guard, appeared in 49 regular-season games – the 10th-most on the roster – and provided key scoring during injury challenges, including 26...