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The Portland Trail Blazers continue to face uncertainty surrounding the future of the Moda Center, and NBA analyst Zach Lowe made it clear he believes the league cannot afford to lose the franchise from Portland.
Speaking recently, Lowe addressed the ongoing lease negotiations between the Trail Blazers and the city while acknowledging he is still learning the finer details of the situation.
“Portland, they all of a sudden have some questions like including what the hell is going on with their arena situation. And by the way, I am not well versed in it like the local guys there. I’ve been reading the stories about the county, the state, the city, the lease agreement, all of this.”
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Lowe then delivered a passionate message urging the NBA to keep the franchise in one of its most loyal markets.
“Portland is an awesome NBA market with some fun NBA history. The NBA needs to not f**k this up. Do not let this guy come in here and hijack this franchise and remove it from Portland. And leave the Pacific Northwest naked of NBA teams until less Seattle comes in. Portland’s an awesome market, their fans are better than this, they don’t deserve this.”
The comments come as new owner Tom Dundon remains at odds with Portland officials over a proposed renovation of the Moda Center. Dundon has maintained that the organization will not contribute toward the estimated $600 million renovation project, instead calling on the city to fund the work. Opened in 1995, the arena has never undergone a major overhaul.
Trail Blazers, Portland officials remain far apart on arena deal
According to The Athletic’s Jason Quick, the divide between the two sides has continued to widen. A team source described the city’s proposed 20-year lease agreement as unacceptable.
“I think we are very far apart,” the anonymous source said.
“The term sheet is a non-starter. I don’t know why they sent it to us, because they know very little of the stuff we would agree to. They are playing politics at this point.”
Under the city’s proposal, Portland would provide $600 million in public funding for arena renovations. In return, the Trail Blazers would pay an annual $3 million property tax offset that would increase over time, hire union labor for the project and accept limits on construction cost overruns.
The public dispute escalated further when Portland City Council President Jamie Dunphy questioned Dundon’s motivations.
“My most generous interpretation is that Tom Dundon is a serious businessman who wants a return on his assets, and perhaps he is playing hardball with us,” Dunphy said. “Paul Allen always seemed to want to be in Portland, seemed to care about his role as a leader in Portland, and the future of our city and the pride that the Blazers bring us.”
Dunphy added that he worries Dundon is more focused on maximizing his investment than preserving the franchise’s connection to Portland, even suggesting the current standoff could eventually become a pathway toward relocation. As negotiations continue, Lowe’s comments reflect the growing concern among NBA observers who believe the Trail Blazers belong in Portland for the long term.
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Related: Tom Dundon put on blast by Portland city council president amid Blazers stadium squabble
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