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Tom Dundon, the new owner of the Portland Trail Blazers. Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

New Blazers Owner Tom Dundon Drops Trade Deadline Bombshell

Originally posted on Portland Trail Blazers on SI
By Jeremy Brener | Last updated Apr 4, 2026 12:00 PM ET

The Portland Trail Blazers swung and missed at the trade deadline, failing to come up with a big deal that would have placed the team in a position to win more.

The Blazers did make a small swap, sending injured big man Duop Reath to the Atlanta Hawks for 3-point specialist Vít Krejčí, but new owner Tom Dundon talked about general manager Joe Cronin nearly pulling off a big deal at the trade deadline in a recent press conference announcing the official $4.25 billion sale of the team to his ownership group.

“We’ve tried to get this message through the last couple of days that that was fun, and probably necessary, but it’s more fun to win,” Dundon said. “It’s more fun to do the things that lead to success and hopefully we’ll start creating more habits, that those processes lead to the kind of winning that I expect, and I think everybody expects.”

Here is a deeper dive into the trade that failed to come into fruition and how it is affecting the Blazers moving forward in their quest to make the playoffs.

Blazers Were a Bridesmaid at NBA Trade Deadline

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It remains to be seen what kind of trade the Blazers were shooting for, but there were a few situations around the league that likely hindered their chances of making a move.

It's possible that the player in mind for this deal was Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was reportedly a trade target for the Blazers according to NBA insider Marc Stein.

The trade deadline was dominated by some blockbuster deals, which included Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz and Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards. With rebuilding teams trading multiple assets to acquire these players, the price for Antetokounmpo and other big stars likely increased, turning the Blazers off any type of deal at the time.

Another player that may be the mystery man is former Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga. The Blazers also had links to Kuminga, but the team was unwilling to move on from other players on their roster, which nixed any chance of a deal happening.

Vít Krejčí Hasn't Worked Out For Blazers

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While Dundon likes the potential Cronin has to move pieces to improve the roster, his output hasn't been spectacular from this trade deadline. Krejci is the only player the Blazers acquired, and he has been underwhelming, to say the least.

Despite making 42.3 percent of his three-point shots this season in 46 appearances with the Hawks, his number has dipped to just over 30 percent in 18 games with the Blazers. On top of that, he's been dealing with a calf injury that has held him out since March 15.

Blazers Blockbuster Trade Could Come Soon

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The Blazers find themselves fighting for one of the final play-in spots, but they are limited in that they don't have a roster that can flip a switch and compete with the top teams in the Western Conference like the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs.

Veterans like Jerami Grant and Jrue Holiday help give the team some playoff experience alongside their young core, but the future of the team has yet to reach its full potential.

The Blazers are currently in eighth place in the Western Conference, which is a step up from where they have been in years past, but it is far from the final destination.

Perhaps the Blazers will try again in the summer in hopes of landing a star that can really take the team to the next level.

This article first appeared on Portland Trail Blazers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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