Blazers4life

Blazer fanatic & info. highway - Following/Retweeting & occasionally conversing w/ many of the best Blazers contacts, NBA analysts & columnists in the biz!

[Shams Charania @ShamsCharania]

Boston Celtics G/F Ron Harper Jr. intends to sign a new three-year, $9 million deal to return to the franchise, sources tell ESPN. The Celtics are declining Harper's $2.6M team option, clearing the way for the sides to commit on a longer deal.

[Chris Haynes @ChrisBHaynes]

New Orleans Pelicans are expected to decline the $8M team option on veteran center Kevon Looney, making the 3-time NBA champ an unrestricted free agent, league sources tell me.

[Shams Charania @ShamsCharania]

Just in: Oklahoma City's Isaiah Hartenstein intends to sign a new three-year contract to return to the Thunder through 2028-29 that brings his total earnings with the franchise at five years and $134 million guaranteed, sources tell ESPN. A key signing in 2024 leading to the 2025 championship, Thunder lock in the defensive anchor.

[Blazer's Edge @blazersedge]

Trail Blazers Still in Red Hot Pursuit of Jaylen Brown https://t.co/NtiBNQzJe5

[Shams Charania @ShamsCharania]

Just in: The Oklahoma City Thunder are trading sharpshooter Isaiah Joe to the Detroit Pistons for two future second-round picks, sources tell ESPN.

[Marc Stein @TheSteinLine]

The Hornets are waiving forward Tosan Evbuomwan, league sources say.

Evbuomwan has averaged 7.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 50 career NBA games and is coming off a G League Finals MVP performance this past season.

[Shams Charania @ShamsCharania]

Golden State's Al Horford is declining his player option and intends to sign a new two-year, $14 million deal to stay with the Warriors, sources tell me and @anthonyVslater. Horford, 40, becomes only the 13th player in NBA history to reach 20 seasons.

[Shams Charania @ShamsCharania]

BREAKING: The Charlotte Hornets are trading star guard LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps (2028, 2029, 2030) and three second-round picks (2029, 2032, 2033), sources tell ESPN.

[Blazer's Edge @blazersedge]

Blazers to Sign Barry Dunning to Exhibit 10 Contract https://t.co/QrTJR4GMKR

[Sean Highkin @highkin]

The Blazers have agreed to an Exhibit 10 deal with undrafted Pittsburgh wing Barry Dunning, I'm told. He'll be with the Blazers next month at Summer League in Las Vegas and in training camp this fall.

[Shams Charania @ShamsCharania]

Reporting live for the NBA Draft Show -- the Charlotte Hornets are engaged in LaMelo Ball trade talks as multiple teams strongly pursue the star guard:

[Shams Charania @ShamsCharania]

Just in: The Detroit Pistons are trading C/F Isaiah Stewart to the Memphis Grizzlies for three future second-round picks, sources tell ESPN. Pistons clear Stewart's salary and pick up assets while Grizzlies acquire a 25-year-old as a rugged frontcourt piece.

[Portland Moderate. @pdxmoderate]

Losing the Trail Blazers would be an economic catastrophe that Portland cannot afford. We aren't talking about subsidizing a hobby; we are talking about protecting a massive economic engine that generates $670 million in annual impact and supports over 4,500 jobs.

The Moda Center is the anchor of the Rose Quarter, and without the Blazers, that district becomes a ghost town. In a city that is desperately trying to claw its way back to economic stability, voluntarily letting your biggest commercial tenant walk away isn't just negligence, it’s financial suicide.

The argument that this is a "handout to billionaires" is lazy and ignores the actual mechanics of the proposed deal (Senate Bill 1501). The funding model doesn't hike your property taxes; it reinvests the income taxes paid by the players, visiting teams, and touring artists—money that wouldn’t exist without the arena—back into the building.

We are essentially telling the NBA: "We will use the massive revenue you generate to keep your workplace world-class." That is not charity; that is basic business retention. If we don’t do it, cities like Las Vegas or Seattle will happily build a palace for our team and take that tax revenue for themselves.

Furthermore, this isn't just about the NBA anymore.

We finally secured a WNBA franchise (the Portland Fire), and its success is tethered to a viable, modern venue. If the Moda Center continues to rot as the oldest un-renovated arena in the league, we lose Tier 1 concerts, we lose the NCAA tournaments, and eventually, we lose the Blazers. You cannot have a "major league" city with minor league infrastructure.

The choice isn't between "schools or stadiums"—that’s a false dichotomy.

The choice is between having a thriving entertainment district that funds public services or a vacant concrete shell that funds nothing.

Portland is at a tipping point. We have a limited window before the current lease expires in 2030 to secure a long-term commitment from ownership.

Refusing to partner on this renovation gives them every excuse to look elsewhere. We have already seen what happens when Portland rests on its laurels—businesses leave and the tax base crumbles.

Let’s not make the same mistake with the only major professional sports team that puts this city on the global map. Renovate the Moda Center, secure the team for the next 30 years, and stop gambling with the city’s economic future.

One thing every politician has made clear - from the Governor to the Mayor to the City Council - is that they are willing to invest in the Trailblazers, and don't want to be blamed if the team leaves town.

That first part is great, but won't hold up the second part. People can cite whatever economic analysis they want, it would be a disaster if the Blazers left town, and there would be plenty of blame to go around.

@MayorKWilson @mitch4portland @jamiedunphy @TeacherTiff4PDX @pnwpolicyangel @NovickOR @GovTinaKotek @candaceforpdx

[Sean Highkin @highkin]

The Blazers will hold a press conference tomorrow at 11am to introduce Micah Nori as their new head coach. Joe Cronin will also speak.

[Shams Charania @ShamsCharania]

Los Angeles Lakers star Austin Reaves intends to sign a four-year, $185 million maximum contract to return to the franchise, with a player option for the final season in 2029-30, sources tell ESPN. Reaves declined his $14.9M player option for the new max deal.

[Blazers4life @Designs_in_Bend]

Except our high taxes & gas prices... you'll hate those. Oh and don't forget the fraud and NGOs... wait, never mind you are coming from Minnesota - the area of Tiny @GovTimWalz and his Somali sister @IlhanMN... nothing new to see here - move along!

[Ron Wyden @RonWyden]

Welcome to #RipCity, Coach Nori. You’re going to love it here. And I know @trailblazers fans are going to love watching you lead Dame, Deni & our whole team to lots of wins on the road and especially at home in the Moda Center.

https://t.co/qRy4Zzn8Tr

[Blazers4life @Designs_in_Bend]

Hi, I'm @MayorofSeattle and I want to raise taxes even more in order to fund more policies that don't work. How? by purposely driving out businesses from Seattle so you will depend only on those in power. If you work hard, you can support those that don't - the perfect trade!!

[Ari Hoffman @thehoffather]

Seattle now faces nearly $500 million budget deficit as Mayor Katie Wilson considers new taxes

Asked whether expanding the payroll tax was under consideration, Wilson responded that “nothing is off the table.”

https://t.co/eRiCGr7kvD

[Blazers4life @Designs_in_Bend]

Down the drain NY goes... where it stops, nobody knows!!

[Eyal Yakoby @EYakoby]

BREAKING: Palestinian Aber Kawas has won her seat for NY State Senate.

She’s said 9/11 was America’s fault due to “capitalism, racism, white supremacy, and Islamophobia.”

Here she is waving a Hamas headband.

[Blazers4life @Designs_in_Bend]

NY continuing to sign their own death warrant... RIP #FAFO

[End Wokeness @EndWokeness]

Darializa Avila Chevalier just won the NY-13 Democrat primary. Mamdani endorsed her.

[Blazers4life @Designs_in_Bend]

Hello - it's me @TinaKotek again! My case of #TDS is worsening by the day and I dont know what to do. Wait, yes I do... I'm going to blame him for all the bad I've done here in Oregon with the hope that this time you'll believe me this time. Take it from me, cheating works!

[Tina Kotek @TinaKotek]

Trump declared fentanyl a “weapon of mass destruction,” but then he cut federal funding for the test strips that help people avoid fatal overdoses.

Oregonians can’t afford the gap between Trump’s rhetoric and his record. I’m focused on what actually works.