Blazers arena talks turn up heat as summer league wraps

The loudest NBA summer league buzz may have come from Portland’s arena standoff, where the Trail Blazers, local governments and new owner Tom Dundon are tangled in a fight over the future of the 30-year-old Moda Center, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.

ESPN reported that city, county and state officials are involved in talks over possible renovation funding. More than $300 million has been approved at the state level, according to the report, but officials want conditions attached, including a longer lease from the team.

The Blazers’ current lease, negotiated in 2024, runs only through 2030. ESPN reported that if the team breaks it, the penalty would be repaying local governments for renovation costs that have not yet been incurred.

Dundon’s group bought the franchise earlier this year for $4.25 billion, according to ESPN. The short lease was signed before former owner Paul Allen’s estate put the team up for sale, and ESPN reported that the arrangement may have played a role in the price.

Silver says talks have gone off track

At a June 24 Portland Metro Chamber event held at the arena, Dundon addressed an audience that included Oregon political leaders, ESPN reported. Asked about the arena situation, he said his investment would be paying taxes.

“It feels like we’re making a pretty big investment by staying here and paying these tax rates,” Dundon said, according to ESPN.

ESPN reported that Dundon has not publicly raised the possibility of moving the Blazers. The report said local outlets have reported that the team has slowed negotiations, while local governments suspect the slowdown is meant to weaken the process.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver met with Dundon and his partners in Las Vegas last week, according to ESPN. Silver, who had been briefed on Portland renovation plans in March, said at his summer news conference that he had expected more movement.

“I was hoping more progress would have been made by now on that agreement, and it seems to have gone off track in various ways,” Silver said, according to ESPN. “We are working with both sides to ensure that the Trail Blazers can have a long-term future in Portland. But there are several open issues that still need to be resolved.”

Silver said in February that relocation “is not on the table right now,” ESPN reported. The league has also begun studying expansion in Seattle and Las Vegas, markets without current NBA teams.

Thunder cash out and cut costs

ESPN also pointed to a new front-office theme: teams shedding salary to steer clear of the second apron. Oklahoma City traded Luguentz Dort to Atlanta after earlier moving Aaron Wiggins to the Hawks and Isaiah Joe to Detroit.

Those moves brought the Thunder seven second-round picks and trade exceptions while saving $224 million in salary and luxury tax, according to ESPN. An Eastern Conference general manager told ESPN that Oklahoma City landed better salary-dump returns than Boston did the previous year.

Thunder general manager Sam Presti told The Oklahoman the Dort move was “a financial decision,” adding that savings from this summer and prior years outside the tax would be redirected to future rosters.

Rookies flash and sputter in Vegas

On the court, Cleveland Cavaliers second-rounder Meleek Thomas led summer league with 27.3 points per game on 50% shooting, including 44% from 3, according to ESPN. A scout told ESPN his scoring talent was “undeniable.”

Milwaukee Bucks guard Brayden Burries also drew praise after averaging 23.5 points on 50% shooting and committing only three turnovers in 108 minutes, ESPN reported. Golden State’s Yaxel Lendeborg was named MVP of the summer league championship game.

Sacramento Kings lottery guard Darius Acuff Jr. had a tougher run, shooting 35% overall and 27% from 3 across five games, according to ESPN. He finished with a stronger outing against Brooklyn, scoring 26 points on 9-of-18 shooting.

This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.