Blazers Trim Postseason Travel Group Amid Cost-Cutting
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The Portland Trail Blazers entered the postseason with a leaner off-court roster than usual, reducing expenses by limiting who joined the team on the road.
Multiple outlets reported that the club’s traveling party for the play-in game in Phoenix and the first-round series in San Antonio did not include longtime digital reporter Casey Holdahl or team photographer Bruce Ely. Both typically document playoff runs for the organization.
Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report added that all three of Portland’s two-way players were told to stay home for the San Antonio trip—a step no other playoff participant is believed to have taken this year.
Additional belt-tightening measures surfaced throughout the week:
- According to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, some staff members were asked to check out of team hotels early in Phoenix to avoid late checkout charges.
- Bill Oram of OregonLive reported that a planned T-shirt giveaway for an upcoming home game was scrapped.
- Oram also noted that Portland opted not to send a scout to the Minnesota–Denver series, a potential second-round matchup.
- Jake Fischer of The Stein Line revealed that the franchise explored coaching candidates in a lower salary bracket than is customary for a playoff team.
The cost-conscious approach has drawn attention since businessman Tom Dundon purchased the franchise, marking the Blazers’ first postseason appearance in several years. While organizations can set their own spending priorities, the series of moves stands out at a time when most playoff clubs typically expand resources rather than tighten them.
Source: Hoops Wire
