PORTLAND – The Trail Blazers‘ offseason took a dramatic turn when reports confirmed Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon will purchase the franchise from Paul Allen’s estate. While Sportico values the team at $3.6 billion, the sale is expected to top $4 billion. The move signals the end of a short period of uncertainty and sets the stage for a roster built with purpose — and for a buyer with a track record of quick turnarounds. It especially clarifies why the Trail Blazers drafted Yang Hansen, traded for Jrue Holiday and re-united with Damian Lillard.
Trail Blazers Sale Clarifies Hansen’s Draft, Holiday’s Trade And Lillard’s Return
The Offseason That Changed Everything
Portland wasted no time in making this a statement summer. The team shocked the basketball world by drafting Hansen with the 16th pick, a player projected to go early in the second round. “For sure it was a big shock for me,” Yang told ESPN’s Malika Andrews through an interpreter. “When Adam Silver called my name, it surprised me. I was just sitting there finishing my fried chicken. I didn’t even put my suit on. Suddenly they told me, ‘Hansen, Hansen, put your suit on.’”
The surprise selection was just the start. The Trail Blazers bought out Deandre Ayton’s contract, clearing the way for his move to the Lakers. They then landed Holiday in a deal with the Celtics, sending Anfernee Simons to Boston in what amounted to a cost-cutting maneuver for the 2024 champions. About a week later, the team reached a three-year deal with Lillard after Milwaukee waived and stretched him following a torn Achilles.
Strategy Behind the Moves
The reasoning is becoming clearer: every offseason decision ties back to the Trail Blazers sale and the vision for new ownership. Yang’s ceiling as a player and his marketability in China add a global dimension to the franchise. The NBA’s Chinese audience numbers are staggering, and even a rotation-level player from that market can elevate a team’s brand.
Holiday, a two-time champion, adds playoff experience. Lillard’s return, meanwhile, gives Portland a cultural anchor and a low-risk, high-upside boost. For Dundon, who once told local media after buying the Hurricanes, “I’m not patient. The fact that they have a team that can win right now… that was an opportunity,” these are the kinds of moves that align with his win-now instincts.
Learning From Dundon’s Playbook
Since taking over the Hurricanes in 2018, Dundon has shown that he “values winning more than… money”. His tenure in Carolina has turned a team that missed the playoffs for nine straight years into an annual contender. The Blazers’ front office, by adding Holiday this season and Lillard next, appear to be following that same formula — raising the floor immediately while aiming for the kind of ceiling that excites fans, sells tickets, and entices sponsors.
Building Toward a Playoff Return
The Blazers finished last season 36-46 but went 23-18 after the midway point, fueled by the growth of their young core. Missing was a true star presence. Now, with Holiday in place, Lillard back in uniform next year, and Yang offering a unique international growth opportunity, Portland enters this new chapter with momentum. The Trail Blazers appeared to shape their entire offseason strategy with the anticipated sale serving as the driving.
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