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Blazers rumors: New owner wants to be embarrassingly cheap in head coaching search
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The Portland Trail Blazers are preparing for a critical Play-In Tournament matchup Tuesday night, but attention has also shifted to uncertainty surrounding the franchise's long-term leadership on the sidelines.
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Portland enters its game against the Phoenix Suns as the No. 8 seed after finishing the regular season with a 42-40 record under interim head coach Tiago Splitter. The turnaround marked a notable improvement from last season's 36-46 finish under Chauncey Billups , who remains tied to the organization while dealing with ongoing legal matters .
Despite the late-season surge, a report from Bill Oram of The Oregonian has introduced questions about the team's coaching search under new ownership. According to Oram, the incoming ownership group led by Tom Dundon may prioritize cost-cutting when hiring the franchise's next head coach.
Oram wrote,
"Work any above-board job in Portland, Oregon, you're guaranteed to make a minimum wage of $16.30 an hour. That's regardless of whether you're washing cars or, you know, coaching the Trail Blazers.
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Good thing. Otherwise Tom Dundon might try to offer less."
The report describes the Blazers' current situation as unsettled, with Splitter serving as interim coach while Billups remains the official head coach in title. Oram characterized the arrangement as a "situationship," noting the organization has yet to fully commit to a long-term direction.
Blazers' coaching "situationship" fuels cheap hiring rumors under new ownership
Oram continued,
"Depending on your perspective, the Blazers either do not have a head coach or they have two. Tiago Splitter has admirably filled in on an interim basis while Chauncey Billups dumps real estate, pays legal fees and makes occasional cameos in a Brooklyn courtroom."
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Rumors circulating around the league suggest Dundon's group, which is reportedly paying $4.25 billion for the franchise, is aiming to spend roughly $1 million annually on its next coach—approximately a quarter of the current market rate. The approach could lead the team to target candidates such as assistant coaches, former players, or college coaches who may be more willing to accept a lower salary.
Dundon has publicly denied lowballing Splitter, stating that the interim coach will receive a fair opportunity to earn the role. Splitter has also acknowledged the speculation while maintaining his focus on the team's on-court performance.
"You see all the rumors," Splitter said last week, "but I'm just trying to do my job."
As the Blazers pursue a postseason berth, the organization's coaching situation remains unresolved. The outcome of both the Play-In Tournament and the ongoing search could shape the franchise's trajectory heading into next season.
Related: Trail Blazers vs. Suns Play-In Results According to NBA 2K26
Related: Blazers' Jerami Grant upgraded on injury report vs. Suns in NBA Play-In Tournament
