NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Tuesday that he hopes the Trail Blazers remain in Portland and would consider it a failure if the franchise ultimately relocated, as negotiations over the future of the Moda Center continue.
Speaking at his press conference on September 15, Silver was asked about Portland’s arena situation and the possibility of the Trail Blazers becoming the first NBA franchise to relocate during his tenure.
“It is my hope and belief that the Portland Trail Blazers can be successful in Portland, Oregon,” Silver said. “I would see it as a failure if we did not keep the team in Portland.”
Silver, however, stressed that keeping the franchise in Portland requires owner Tom Dundon to reach an agreement with city and state officials that makes operating the team there viable over the long term.
The Trail Blazers are currently involved in difficult negotiations with Portland over the future of the Moda Center. The team’s lease and a proposed public funding package for arena improvements have been major points of contention, with the December 31 deadline for the state’s $365 million bonding commitment adding urgency to the discussions.
Silver said he does not view the fact that no NBA team has relocated during his tenure as a personal point of pride, noting that relocations can become necessary under certain circumstances.
“I don’t want to make that a point of pride for me and that would to me be prejudging the situation,” Silver said.
At the same time, the commissioner was unequivocal about the NBA’s desire for a modern arena in Portland. He said the current building ranks near the bottom among NBA arenas and argued that the need extends beyond basketball.
“We need a state-of-the-art arena,” Silver said. “I mean, that I don’t think by any objective measure now the current building there is in the bottom, you know, measure of any arena in the league.”
Silver noted that a modern arena would serve the Trail Blazers, the WNBA team in Portland and the wider community through concerts, conventions, graduations and other events.
The commissioner also revealed that he spent significant time with Dundon during the league’s meetings in New York. The two discussed Portland’s situation in a committee meeting, where Dundon was able to exchange ideas with other NBA owners who have gone through similar arena negotiations.
Silver said the NBA league office is prepared to assist the parties in Portland and urged everyone involved to reduce the tension surrounding the negotiations.
“I think it’s my hope that we can lower the temperature honestly a bit in these negotiations,” Silver said.
The Trail Blazers enter the 2026-27 season after going 42-40 and finishing eighth in the Western Conference last season. Their offseason included the blockbuster acquisition of two-time All-Star Ja Morant from Memphis and the hiring of Micah Nori as head coach.
While Portland has continued building its basketball operation, the franchise’s long-term home remains unresolved. Silver’s latest comments make clear that the NBA wants the team to stay in Portland, but a long-term arena agreement between Dundon and local officials remains the central issue.
