Contract for new head coach exacerbates cheapness concerns surrounding owner Tom Dundon

Portland's decision to hedge its bets and not go all-in on Nori as head coach raises plenty of questions and concerns. Most teams hire with confidence and conviction, giving coaches space to grow into their roles. Nori's contract gives the long-time assistant no such freedom, which could lead to him losing the locker room early if the Trail Blazers start slow. Why listen to someone ownership isn't fully invested in?

The move also won't help owner Tom Dundon beat the allegations that he's embarrassingly cheap for someone worth billions.

In April, ESPN NBA insider Ramona Shelburne reported he low-balled interim coach Thiago Splitter, who took over following former head coach Chauncey Billups' indictment by federal prosecutors as part of a gambling conspiracy, in extension negotiations. Splitter then agreed to become Chicago Bulls head coach after leading Portland to its first playoff appearance in five seasons.

That came after a report from The Athletic on Dundon's cost-cutting measures, which have included the Trail Blazers being the only team not to bring players on two-way contracts to road postseason games, sidelining the team photographer and digital reporter and forcing traveling party members to check out of hotels hours before transportation arrived to avoid late fees.

But those are all relatively minor compared to skimping on a head coach. That's been part of Dundon's M.O. since doing something similar following his purchase of the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes. In 2018, he hired Rod Brind'Amour as head coach on a three-year deal worth $600,000 annually — among the cheapest contracts for an NHL coach — and only renegotiated in 2021 despite Brind'Amour leading the Canes to the Eastern Conference Finals in his first season, snapping a nine-year Stanley Cup Playoff drought.

Dundon is banking on the same approach working with the Trail Blazers after the Hurricanes recently won second Stanley Cup in franchise history even if it goes against the grain in how most top NBA franchises operate.

The one-year commitment to Nori doesn't inspire much confidence for Portland's future under Dundon. Until saving money is no longer his top priority, the Blazers will likely be at a disadvantage.