Dundon’s Penny-Pinching Playbook Comes to the Trail Blazers

Portland’s sale to Tom Dundon for about $4.25 billion arrives with a cost-cutting reputation: he reportedly aims to keep the head coach’s salary around $1.5 million a year, staff were told to check out early to dodge late fees, playoff T-shirts won’t be handed out, and two-way players will not travel with the playoff team, a contrast to typical NBA practice; Dundon’s Hurricanes tenure featured similar frugality, but while results have been strong, observers question whether these penny-pinching moves will truly help the Blazers win.