Trail Blazers lay off large number of business-side employees

The Portland Trail Blazers have laid off a major number of business-side employees as half of a reorganization below new proprietor Tom Dundon.

“As part of our plans to position the organization for the future, we made the difficult decision to restructure several areas of the business,” Blazers president Dewayne Hankins advised The Oregonian in an announcement. “These changes impacted talented people who have helped shape the Trail Blazers over many years. We are deeply grateful for their contributions, their leadership and the care they showed every day for our team, our fans and the Portland community. Our focus now is supporting those affected through the transition and positioning the organization for long-term success.”

Local stories indicated the discount affected greater than 70 employees. The Blazers did not instantly return a message from ESPN.

Dundon has been criticized for cost-cutting measures since shopping for the workforce, together with asking employees members to take a look at of lodges early to keep away from charges and never bringing two-way gamers on playoff highway journeys.

He addressed it final week on the “Game Over” podcast, defending his place and pointing to his file as proprietor of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanesa workforce that spends considerably lower than the Blazers do.

“I just don’t want to waste money. I want to invest it,” Dundon stated. “We’re going to take care of the players because it helps you win. It’s part of the deal.”

Dundon stated the Blazers spend $100 million extra per 12 months than the Hurricanes, not together with participant prices.

“The Hurricanes, since I bought the team, have the first- or second-best record in the league,” Dundon stated on the podcast. “So I’m just not going to waste $100 million just because someone wants to write an article calling me cheap. I’m just not going to do it.”

It just isn’t uncommon for NBA groups to have workforce changes after an possession change.