Portland Trail Blazers Selling For $4 Billion Leaves Basketball Fans Confused: “Seems So Low After the Lakers Sale.”

The estate of the late Paul G. Allen had been looking for potential buyers for some time to sell the Portland Trail Blazers.

Portland Trail Blazers Selling For $4 Billion Leaves Basketball Fans Confused: “Seems So Low After the Lakers Sale.”

Damian Lillard and Portland Trail Blazers get new owner (Image via FirstSportz)

🔍 Explore this post with:

ChatGPTPerplexityGrok AIGoogle AI

The NBA has grown worldwide to such an extent that franchise valuations have skyrocketed. That is what became a problem for the estate managing the Portland Trail Blazers, as prices did not interest potential buyers.

In 2023, Mark Cuban sold 73% of his stake in the Dallas Mavericks for $3.5 billion. That sale indicated the soaring values of franchises. However, it was not until the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers were sold that fans realized the true value of a team.

The 2024 champions were sold for $6.1 billion, the sale of which was just approved by the NBA’s board of governors. Then the Lakers were sold to Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter at a $10 billion valuation.

These numbers prove that investing in the NBA is a lucrative business. Even the increase in value of WNBA teams has made sports team ownership an attractive business model.

However, not every team enjoys the same valuation. For instance, the great Michael Jordan sold his Charlotte Hornets back in 2023 for $3 billion. Being in North Carolina, the franchise does not enjoy the benefits of being in a major market.

Maybe that’s why the Portland Trail Blazers were finally sold to someone who understands how to operate in such small market environments. As per ESPN’s Shams Charania, Tom Dundon, the owner of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, has agreed to buy the Oregon-based franchise.

He is purchasing it outright for a valuation of $4 billion, which happens to be significantly lower than what other franchises have been valued at. Nevertheless, the team now starts a new era under Dundon’s leadership.

Fans question why Portland Trail Blazers sold for just $4 billion

Basketball fans have been noticing how NBA franchise valuations have been shooting through the roof. Even the small market Hornets selling for $3 billion should be worth close to $5 billion now if one factors in inflation.

That is where they questioned why the Portland Trail Blazers sold for just $4 billion. It could be the lowest valuation of any franchise, especially after the league has grown exponentially across the globe.

Some fans understand that Portland, Oregon, might not be exciting enough to garner major bids, and another small-market sports franchise owner was needed to complete the deal. However, they believe the franchise could have held out for more. Check out examples of those reactions below.

The late Paul G. Allen purchased the Portland Trail Blazers back in 1988 for just $70 million. He was instrumental in first funding the development of the Moda Center, and then purchasing it and integrating it into the franchise. That should be a major advantage for the new owner.

New Portland Trail Blazers owner has sports franchise experience

Incoming owner Tom Dundon is no stranger to owning and managing sports franchises. He became the majority shareholder of the Carolina Hurricanes back in 2017, and then became the sole owner by 2021.

Damian Lillard re-signs with Blazers
Damian Lillard re-signs with Blazers (Image via Open Source/X)

Since his involvement with the team, the Hurricanes have made the playoffs every single season. If such results follow in the NBA, the Portland Trail Blazers will again be synonymous with competitiveness.

They have just re-signed franchise stalwart Damian Lillard after finishing last season in encouraging form. He will not suit up in the 2025-26 season as he is still recovering from the Achilles tear he suffered in the playoffs.

However, he will be able to give his input and chart the best course of action for a young team looking to take the next step. Lillard and the Trail Blazers are motivated to bring excitement back to Portland, Oregon.

Also Read: