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Portland Trail Blazers owner Tom Dundon's group has been under fire since seemingly the moment he took over the team. The Carolina Hurricanes owner bought the Blazers last year and officially became the owner in March of this year, but immediately made noise for his penchant for cutting costs.
Portland's most recent controversial actions involve making changes to the team's broadcast crew, including letting go of several notable names. Instead, the Blazers will move forward with a much different set of faces to cover games for the team next year.
Here's a look at who the Blazers let go from their broadcast team and what it means.
MORE: Looking back at Tom Dundon's cost-cutting measures
Trail Blazers broadcast cuts
On Tuesday, Maury Brown of Forbes reported that the Trail Blazers were making several cuts to its broadcast team, letting go of the following names:
- TV Analyst Michael Holton
- Statistician Tom Haberstroh
- TV Host Neil Everett
- TV Host Jamie Hudson
Everett is the biggest name of the bunch, as the longtime SportsCenter anchor began working for his hometown team in 2021. Haberstroh is also a notable name, as he's been a national basketball writer for over a decade.
Brown also reported that the statuses of TV play-by-play announcer Kevin Calabro and radio play-by-play announcer Travis Demers were uncertain. However, on Wednesday, Calabro told Joe Freeman that he was stepping away from his position.
"We are deeply grateful to all the hard-working individuals who have contributed to our award-winning broadcasts over the years," the Blazers said in a statement. "I can't comment on individual personnel decisions, but I can confirm that we are making changes for the upcoming season as we continue to evolve with the changes in the broadcast industry and look to become more efficient in our business operations While plans are still being finalized, play-by-play radio broadcasts will continue in the 2026-27 season, and will not be television simulcasts."
MORE: Tom Dundon under fire for engraving family on Stanley Cup
Why Kevin Calabro is stepping away from Blazers
Calabro told Joe Freeman of The Oregonian that he is stepping away after he didn't see eye-to-eye with the team's offers on a new deal.
"I feel great about it," Calabro said. "I was grateful to have one of 30 jobs in the league and work so close to my home in Seattle. "I'll always be a part of Blazers history. I made some great memories and some great friends."
Calabro also mentioned that he doesn't plan on retiring and is already in discussions with other teams about a possible landing spot.
Calabro was a play-by-play announcer for the Seattle SuperSonics from 1987 until the team moved to Oklahoma City in 2008. He joined the Trail Blazers in 2016 and has been the lead announcer ever since.
Tom Dundon's 'cheap' history
Tom Dundon has become known for instituting cost-cutting measures as both the owner of the Hurricanes and, more recently, the Blazers. Dundon let go of two longtime Hurricanes announcers, John Forslund and Chuck Kaiton, early in his Carolina tenure, a similar situation to this one with the Blazers.
When Dundon took over the Blazers, he immediately implemented new policies aimed at cutting costs. Dundon initially prevented two-way players from traveling with the team for the playoffs, before eventually reversing course, and along with limiting which support staff traveled as well.
Additionally, the Blazers hired new head coach Micah Nori with a unique contract after reportedly looking for a cheaper option. Portland reportedly gave Nori a one-year deal with two team options, which essentially means that Nori is coaching to prove himself every year of the deal.
