There has been plenty of talk about the Portland Trail Blazers potentially relocating to a new city under new owner Tom Dundon. The central issue remains the funding for renovation of the Moda Center as negotiations continue for a new lease, with the current one set to expire in October 2030.
And while the franchise, in the form of Blazers president Dewayne Hankins, claims that the organization is doing everything it can to keep the team in Portland, the likes of Damian Lillard and Deni Avdija have finally broken their silence. Per a post by Sean Highkin, both the players want the franchise to remain in the city.
“I've embraced Portland,” Lillard said. “This is my second home. Oakland is where I'm from, but Portland is my second home. I just don't see that happening. I don't see a world where the Trail Blazers aren't in Portland.”
Meanwhile, Avdija hopes that a new agreement can be reached while stating that the decision remains above his ‘pay-grade.’
Article Continues Below“I love the city of Portland,” he said. “I really trust Tom and the action he takes. Hopefully there's an agreement, but that's above my pay grade. I don't know what happens behind closed doors, but I trust both sides. Both sides love the Blazers.”
There is little doubt that both the stars want the Blazers to remain in Portland. Owner Tom Dundon has said he would sign a 20-year lease if public funding is secured, and state, city and county officials have approved a framework worth $576 million, including $365 million in state bonds that require a finalized agreement by December 2026.
Despite progress on funding, several major lease terms remain unresolved, including Portland's requests that the Blazers pay rent, contribute toward tax-related costs and use union labor during renovations. While there is no imminent threat of relocation, failure to reach a deal by the end-of-year funding deadline would create uncertainty around the franchise's long-term future.