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Bill Simmons raises concerning Blazers relocation scenario appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Bill Simmons has a theory about why Tom Dundon bought the Trail Blazers, and it does not bode well for Portland. The podcast host laid out his concern during a recent episode, connecting Dundon’s decision to purchase Portland over a potential expansion franchise to a possible relocation down the road.
“My fear for people in Portland is that he looked at what the expansion numbers would be, which everybody’s saying is between seven and eight billion,” Simmons said. “And he’s like, ‘Ah, I could just steal Portland for 4.25, whatever it ended up being.’ And then I’ll just move them somewhere else.”
Simmons questioned the entire premise of Dundon’s purchase, framing it as a red flag from the start.
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“I don’t understand why you would buy this team if you weren’t buying into the community around the team in this city,” Simmons said. “It’s like somebody buying a house on a street because he likes the street, not the house.”
The deal closed this spring, with Dundon’s group acquiring the Blazers from the estate of the late Paul Allen for approximately $4.25 billion, well below the $7 billion to $8 billion range being discussed for a potential expansion franchise. Simmons has repeatedly clashed with Dundon’s approach since the sale, previously criticizing the new owner’s handling of arena negotiations with the city.
Simmons singled out Kansas City as the market that concerns him most if relocation talk ever becomes serious.
“Kansas City can make an argument, they maybe should have a team,” Simmons said. “They’d help with conference alignment, but I wouldn’t be Portland. And what’s dangerous about Kansas City is they’ll take any team.”
He drew a sharp contrast with Seattle, arguing the city’s history of losing the SuperSonics to Oklahoma City makes it unlikely to welcome a similar situation.
“Seattle doesn’t want the Trail Blazers. They have a long rivalry and a history, and they know what it’s like when you lose a team,” Simmons said. “They want an expansion team.”
Simmons also flagged Dundon’s background as another reason for skepticism, noting the Dallas-based owner already controls the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, based in Raleigh, and questioning why he would take on a franchise on the opposite coast if community investment were the real motivation.
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