Does the sale of the Blazers prevent any moves?

[1 Eye Jack]

I’m curious if the Blazers will avoid significant trades (I.e. BIG SWINGS) with the team now being listed for sale.

Maybe they lean towards the status quo until something is finalized.

I mentioned same thing in another thread earlier (great minds think alike jk). I have to think you don’t want the product your selling to change to much. Almost have to be a no brainer so the next buyer can make key decisions

 

[SharpesTriumph]

as far as if being for sale blocks any big trades:

I would think, barring some no-brain trade for a star, the priority for a sale would be to NOT add any long-term salary. Like trading the expiring contract of Simons or Timelord for a 2-3 year deal. I'd think this would make it more likely that Simons-Ayton-Timelord-Thybulle would all remain Blazers as their contracts expire. A new owner might really like the Blazers only having 85-90M is salaries in 2026

With the crazy value of NBA franchises I don't think any ownership will care about cost of the players salaries. But having more creative freedom to structure the roster how a new owner wants would likely be a bonus.

If the big salaries are on average or better level starters I think it would be fine.

But huge salaries on poor backups like Grant is a problem.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I mentioned same thing in another thread earlier (great minds think alike jk). I have to think you don’t want the product your selling to change to much. Almost have to be a no brainer so the next buyer can make key decisions

Yeah I think the Blazers will be cautious and not do any unusual deals as they'll let the new owner decide on those decisions.

Doesn't mean there won't be any moves though, might trade a vet or even a pick to add a starter.

But I highly doubt we'd trade away any possible long term piece like Scoot Sharpe Deni Camara.

 

[Phatguysrule]

Yeah I think the Blazers will be cautious and not do any unusual deals as they'll let the new owner decide on those decisions.

Doesn't mean there won't be any moves though, might trade a vet or even a pick to add a starter.

But I highly doubt we'd trade away any possible long term piece like Scoot Sharpe Deni Camara.

Just need to draft a top 10 NBA player with the 11th pick and we'll be good to go...

 

[kjironman1]

Pretty interesting most of the other sites have a bunch of people saying the Blazers are gone. The team will move from Portland. Most are saying to Vegas.

 

[1 Eye Jack]

After what happened to OSU (become a farm team in football and basketball), Blazers moving to Vegas would gut me. I’d seriously give up ever watching NBA again

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Pretty interesting most of the other sites have a bunch of people saying the Blazers are gone. The team will move from Portland. Most are saying to Vegas.

Lots of idiots on the internet.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Pretty interesting most of the other sites have a bunch of people saying the Blazers are gone. The team will move from Portland. Most are saying to Vegas.

I haven't read this anywhere. Can you link one?

 

[wizenheimer]

Pretty interesting most of the other sites have a bunch of people saying the Blazers are gone. The team will move from Portland. Most are saying to Vegas.

Blazers won't move to Las Vegas....NBA won't allow it. Las Vegas is the #1 destination for expansion and the NBA won't allow a move that would take away 5-7B in expansion fees. Say the fee was 6B. That fee is distributed directly to the 30 owners. 200M to each owner. And that money is not considered BRI so it's not shared with the players; all goes to the owner. Owners would vote 30-0 against Portland moving to Vegas

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Blazers won't move to Las Vegas....NBA won't allow it. Las Vegas is the #1 destination for expansion and the NBA won't allow a move that would take away 5-7B in expansion fees. Say the fee was 6B. That fee is distributed directly to the 30 owners. 200M to each owner. And that money is not considered BRI so it's not shared with the players; all goes to the owner. Owners would vote 30-0 against Portland moving to Vegas

Exactly. And why the sale of the Blazers wont happen until after Jody/Vulcan collects that $200M when the NBA expansion to Seattle and Las Vegas is announced later this summer.
and then on of these teams, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, or Minnesota Timberwolves moves to the eastern conference.

 

[PDXFonz]

Lots of idiots on the internet.

It comes from the understanding of the likelihood that Vegas will have an NBA team sooner rather than later.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

It comes from the understanding of the likelihood that Vegas will have an NBA team sooner rather than later.

See post from a few minutes ago as to why a team wont move to Vegas. It will be an expansion team, same with Seattle.
Blazers arent going anywhere.

 

[wizenheimer]

Exactly. And why the sale of the Blazers wont happen until after Jody/Vulcan collects that $200M when the NBA expansion to Seattle and Las Vegas is announced later this summer.
and then on of these teams, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, or Minnesota Timberwolves moves to the eastern conference.

I don't think expansion will happen that fast




there is also an adverse motive: 30 NBA owners may want to delay the timeline for when they have to split the media revenue among 32 owners

that's not to say that the Seattle Mothership won't slow-walk the sale. They easily could. But waiting for expansion fees doesn't make a lot of sense. That 'asset' would just be rolled into the valuation of the Blazer sale

 

[PDXFonz]

See post from a few minutes ago as to why a team wont move to Vegas. It will be an expansion team, same with Seattle.
Blazers arent going anywhere.

T-Wolves and Grizz to the EC, Team added to Seattle and Vegas.

This is my honest prediction of the future for the NBA. I don’t think that the Blazers will be relocated - I think the NBA would block it, because I think that the NBA already has some plans for the future which I just listed.

Doesn’t make a lot of sense to move the Blazers to SEA or LV only to put a team in POR through expansion only a few seasons later. Most of my comments involving relocation are just in poor taste jest.

LV will have a team in the next 10 years though, might as well book it.

 

[THE HCP]

Lots of idiots on the internet.

Bro this place is all the proof you need of that.

 

[THE HCP]

Exactly. And why the sale of the Blazers wont happen until after Jody/Vulcan collects that $200M when the NBA expansion to Seattle and Las Vegas is announced later this summer.
and then on of these teams, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, or Minnesota Timberwolves moves to the eastern conference.

KNOWLEDGE

 

[THE HCP]

It comes from the understanding of the likelihood that Vegas will have an NBA team sooner rather than later.

I truly believe the league/Silver wants expansion fees for new teams joining the league rather than moving a team. Still nothing is guaranteed.

 

[Natebishop3]

Yeah it wouldn't be Seattle or Vegas.

The only two cities that are top 20 markets that don't have teams are Baltimore and San Diego.

 

[PDXFonz]

I truly believe the league/Silver wants expansion fees for new teams joining the league rather than moving a team. Still nothing is guaranteed.

Agree 100%

Any team being sold, and a “small market” team like Portland being sold serves as a great benchmark for the value of teams around the league. This organization is going to sell for an INSANE amount of money more than what was paid for it most recently. Just like every other team which has changed ownership. The more that happens the more the NBA will be able to ask of anybody seeking to buy into the league through an expansion.

 

[PDXFonz]

It’s a fairly rare opportunity… The league holds 100% veto power too, they can choose not to ratify any ownership changes. So nobody should be surprised if some golden goose and their investors receive preferential treatment in an expansion situation, because the league will likely see it as the best decision for their interests. I guarantee people are interested in buying the Blazers. Probably a lot of people, likely even worldwide. Even buying into an expansion team would be highly sought after. It’s not a business opportunity that is available often, and when it is - it’s a massive expense. Biggest basketball league in the world. China, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Spain, Germany, England, Serbia, etc…. There are professional basketball leagues all around the world. You also have leagues like Euroleague and the Asia Champions league - but for basketball, the NBA is it. In the sports world there aren’t a lot of leagues which can say that they are the worlds most popular in the sport… There’s actually really only one, and for Basketball the NBA is it, and it’s not even close.

 

[Natebishop3]

Agree 100%

Any team being sold, and a “small market” team like Portland being sold serves as a great benchmark for the value of teams around the league. This organization is going to sell for an INSANE amount of money more than what was paid for it most recently. Just like every other team which has changed ownership. The more that happens the more the NBA will be able to ask of anybody seeking to buy into the league through an expansion.

I don't know why people think Portland is a small market. We're ranked #23. That's not huge but it's not small.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_television_stations_in_North_America_by_media_market

 

[THE HCP]

The TV contract is always the true indicator of how healthy the league is……which is why I’m stumped on why people still feel the game is struggling. Watch when you see how much a small market team like ours sells for…..watch the NEXT TV contract be at least twice what this one is. League is thriving. There is a draw to own a team. I know Silver doesn’t want teams to move, but a new owner can do what they want as we’ve seen in the past. Cautious optimism is the best way to approach this in my opinion. I wonder if the people are ecstatic about this before knowing the outcome are the ones who predict 55 wins every season? I’m still going to be watching over my shoulder for a few years AFTER the sale to be honest. Educate yourself FAMS!


https://youtu.be/s9Dp20ydm1E?si=uFo89neDRdL7wHsi

 

[PDXFonz]

I don't know why people think Portland is a small market. We're ranked #23. That's not huge but it's not small.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_television_stations_in_North_America_by_media_market

I don’t entirely know how the statistics for television market are even calculated but I know a lot of people aren’t using network cable to watch their favorite sports teams.

I’m sure there are probably some interesting statistics involving local television market versus national versus worldwide. I’d love to see some of the nerdier nerds find this information.

Edit: Valuable further Wikipedia link explaining some of that https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nielsen_Media_Research

 

[HansenYang]

I don't know why people think Portland is a small market. We're ranked #23. That's not huge but it's not small.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_television_stations_in_North_America_by_media_market

Relative to the NBA markets.

For very rough math: 23rd out of 30 teams = bottom 1/3 in market size => therefore small market.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Blazers won't move to Las Vegas....NBA won't allow it. Las Vegas is the #1 destination for expansion and the NBA won't allow a move that would take away 5-7B in expansion fees. Say the fee was 6B. That fee is distributed directly to the 30 owners. 200M to each owner. And that money is not considered BRI so it's not shared with the players; all goes to the owner. Owners would vote 30-0 against Portland moving to Vegas

I don't think the NBA would want the Blazers to move to Vegas either.... but your figures are overstating the owners benefit.

After expansion the current NBA teams would now only get 1/32 piece of future national revenue instead of 1/30 - but not just less in one year, less for all years forever. Think of the next TV contracts in 10-20 years - they might be worth 4x today and then think of how much those expansion franchises are pulling in that had been going to all the existing teams. That has a massive cost to existing owners.

Is that cost less than $200 million? Probably, thats why yes I'd agree its likely expansion ultimately gets done. But expansion has a huge cost as every owner will now get a slightly smaller piece of the pie. Each owner also might lose a bit of valuation on their team if they go to sell soon. A buyer of the Blazers would pay a bit more today knowing that expansion fee is coming. But if Paul Allen trust first pockets that 200-400 million - then a few weeks later a buyer isn't going to want to pay for that portion which has now been cashed out. Plus now they own a team with a 1/32nd split of revenue instead of 1/30 split - again that is worth less.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Exactly. And why the sale of the Blazers wont happen until after Jody/Vulcan collects that $200M when the NBA expansion to Seattle and Las Vegas is announced later this summer.
and then on of these teams, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, or Minnesota Timberwolves moves to the eastern conference.

Sure that's possible - but it's also possibly not. I could see the Blazers wanting to get a price agreed to before expansion as the NBA will have a HUGE motivation to get that price as high as possible. It could directly set a precedent for the expansion fees. Might be great timing by the Allen trust to get a price agreed to now. After expansion fees are finalized the NBA won't care that much what a Portland team sells for.

Would Jody/Vulcan prefer to pocket the $200-400 million first? Of course. But a new owner would also be willing to pay more if they were the ones to pocket that fee as well. So I could see scenarios where it is in the purchase price or is excluded. Kind of like when you buy a house and the buyer/seller decide who pays for all the closing costs. One party might agree to pay for them but they usually are getting concessions elsewhere in the sale.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

T-Wolves and Grizz to the EC, Team added to Seattle and Vegas.

This is my honest prediction of the future for the NBA. I don’t think that the Blazers will be relocated - I think the NBA would block it, because I think that the NBA already has some plans for the future which I just listed.

Doesn’t make a lot of sense to move the Blazers to SEA or LV only to put a team in POR through expansion only a few seasons later. Most of my comments involving relocation are just in poor taste jest.

LV will have a team in the next 10 years though, might as well book it.

East has 15 teams today - in a 32 team league they only need to move one team. I'd guess the Grizz.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

It’s a fairly rare opportunity… The league holds 100% veto power too, they can choose not to ratify any ownership changes. So nobody should be surprised if some golden goose and their investors receive preferential treatment in an expansion situation, because the league will likely see it as the best decision for their interests. I guarantee people are interested in buying the Blazers. Probably a lot of people, likely even worldwide. Even buying into an expansion team would be highly sought after. It’s not a business opportunity that is available often, and when it is - it’s a massive expense. Biggest basketball league in the world. China, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Spain, Germany, England, Serbia, etc…. There are professional basketball leagues all around the world. You also have leagues like Euroleague and the Asia Champions league - but for basketball, the NBA is it. In the sports world there aren’t a lot of leagues which can say that they are the worlds most popular in the sport… There’s actually really only one, and for Basketball the NBA is it, and it’s not even close.

NBA owners are very hesitant to block a sale. They want future buyers to feel empowered to bid huge dollars without risk of the sale not going through. They also don't want to block a sale for fear it could set a precedent of their own sale later being blocked.

Look how long Sterling stayed in power. Even when banned from 30 NBA arenas the NBA couldn't force a sale. Eventually his wife got control and agreed to sell.

Russian Oligarch owned the Nets and now a China Alibaba guy does. Just seems extremely unlikely the NBA blocks a sale unless its an egregious buyer.

 

[dviss1]

I would say that the smart move is to let Ayton, Ant, RWIII and Thybulle walk after the season unless they are offered a decent player(s) on short deals with picks. Now what are the odds of that happening, 1.8%? They should never have extended Billups/Cronin. They should be starting Scoot, Sharpe, Clingan and whomever they pick at 11, if they do not trade it, should get lots of burn. Of course Toumani and Deni should be in over the rookie. Billups is not the man for this though. Oh well.

Somehow gotta get Grant up outta here too.

 

[kjironman1]

Dear Commissioner Silver:



Portland, Oregon and the NBA have proven a winning combination since 1970 – with the city and our entire state teaming up to be a vital part of the NBA’s DNA for the last 55 years.

With Trail Blazers ownership announcing its formal sale process of the team this week, I write as Oregon’s senior senator proud to represent my fellow Trail Blazers fans to say there is no place in America with a deeper base of hoops support than in Portland and throughout Oregon.

I know because I was here in Portland that June day in 1977 when Bill Walton and Maurice Lucas led the Blazers past Philadelphia to win the NBA championship, setting off a tidal wave of Blazermania capped off with an unforgettable downtown celebration.

I know because Portland is synonymous for basketball fans wherever I go with the phrase “Rip City” coined by the late and legendary Bill Schonely because of his baritone voice booming with joy on the radio when Geoff Petrie, Clyde Drexler and countless other Blazers made a big shot.

I know from attending games at the Memorial Coliseum and more recently at the Moda Center where I left with my ears ringing at the enthusiastic roar of the crowd throughout the four-overtime playoff thriller in May 2019 when Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum willed Portland past Denver.

And I know because as I travel across the state for open-to-all town halls and other community meetings, I see Oregonians sporting Blazers gear who are hooping in Hermiston, shooting in Sherwood, rebounding in Roseburg and … well, you get the idea.

Simply put, since the Trail Blazers joined the league 55 years ago, our city and state have consistently embraced this storied franchise with passionate support. And Trail Blazers players likewise have inspired fans for generations as well as provided them a shared badge of honor as NBA fans to treasure and pass on for generations.

I’d also note there is widespread enthusiasm for basketball more broadly throughout our entire region, as the WNBA recognized last year when it chose Portland for a highly coveted expansion franchise in its growing league and in the fact that Portland will host the Women’s Final Four in 2030.
I deeply appreciate the fact that you know how much the Trail Blazers have contributed to the league’s growth since Portland joined the NBA for the 1970-71 season.

Please know that I stand ready to contribute however I can to continuing the long-established and successful partnership between Portland and the NBA.

Sincerely,

Ron Wyden