Trail Blazers Sale Aims for March 31, 2026 Closing
SLUG: trail-blazers-sale-closing-target-march-31-2026
The Portland Trail Blazers and a consortium led by billionaire Tom Dundon have set March 31, 2026 as the target date to finalize the franchise’s sale, according to The Athletic.
Dundon’s group has entered an exclusivity pact with the estate of the late Paul Allen, blocking negotiations with other bidders while remaining contract terms are hammered out. A source close to the buyers told the outlet that a formal purchase agreement is expected next month.
The deal values the Blazers at roughly $4.25 billion. Although ownership will change, the team is slated to stay in Oregon. The long-term status of Moda Center is less certain; Portland’s lease runs through at least 2030, and NBA commissioner Adam Silver has indicated that a new arena will likely be needed.
While seven months is longer than most NBA transactions, league precedents show multi-month timelines are common. William Chisholm’s agreement to buy the Boston Celtics surfaced on March 20 and received Board of Governors approval last week, with closing confirmed this Tuesday.
A source familiar with Dundon described the incoming owner as aggressive in pursuit of elite talent. “If Tom was the owner last year, he would have been trying to get Luka [Doncic],” the source said. “He’d ask, ‘Why should the Lakers have him?’”
Source: Hoops Rumors
