Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images

Trail Blazers Sale Continues Latest High-Spending Trend

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By Frederick Okocha | Last updated Aug 13, 2025 4:55 PM ET

PORTLAND – Tom Dundon, owner of the Carolina Hurricanes, has reached a tentative agreement to buy the Portland Trail Blazers from the estate of Paul Allen, according to people familiar with the matter. His group includes Blue Owl Capital co-president Marc Zahr and Portland-based executive Sheel Tyle of Collective Global. They plan to keep the team in Portland. The sale’s value hasn’t been disclosed, but Sportico pegs the team at $3.6 billion — making a reported sale north of $4 billion a clear premium.

Trail Blazers Sale Continues Latest High-Spending Trend

Feb 14, 2023; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers GM Joe Cronin, left, owner Jody Allen, and head coach Chauncey Billups stand with guard Damian Lillard (0) as he is congratulated on making the NBA All Star team before a game against the Washington Wizards at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports?

This acquisition marks the latest in a wave of lucrative NBA owners transitions. Since 2013, 14 NBA teams have changed hands — alongside 4 NFL, 5 MLB, and 10 NHL franchises. The Blazers sale continues a pattern of NBA transactions exceeding valuations by significant margins.

Records Redefined by Recent Sales

In June, the Lakers fetched a staggering $10 billion in a sale that eclipsed all previous prices paid for a professional sports franchise. In March, the Celtics reset the market, selling for $6.1 billion, with an expected full valuation of $7.3 billion over time. Both figures far exceed their prior Sportico valuations and the most recent Forbes estimate of $3.5 billion for the Blazers. These deals reflect the exploding valuations of NBA franchises — and the Trail Blazers’ sale fits squarely into that trend.

A Franchise Waiting for Its Next Chapter

Portland has spent decades chasing sustained success. The team last reached the NBA Finals in 1992 — and has not returned since. Under Paul Allen’s ownership, they made two finals appearances but never secured another shot at championship glory. This sale signals a new era, with hope that fresh leadership might jump-start the franchise and deliver on long-desired success.

A Changing Landscape in Sports Ownership

The Trail Blazers sale illustrates how NBA franchise values have soared — redefining the business of sports ownership. Big-money deals show how NBA franchises now carry elite financial gravity.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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