What did the Jets do with the D.J. Reed compensatory pick?
What did the Jets do with their compensatory pick for D.J. Reed?
Carmelo Anthony criticized the Portland Trail Blazers' owner for 'cheap' decisions impacting the franchise. He expressed concern over the direction the team is taking under new ownership.
Mentioned in this story
Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images
Carmelo Anthony did not hold back when reacting to what is quickly becoming one of the strangest ownership storylines in the NBA.
The Portland Trail Blazersâ new era under Tom Dundon has already drawn heavy criticism, and for Melo, one specific decision crossed the line.
It was not about wins or losses. It was about understanding what a franchise like Portland actually represents.
Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images
Speaking on the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast, Anthony questioned the direction Dundon is taking with the franchise.
âNo t-shirt. What do you mean by no t-shirt? You go to Portland. Thatâs Rip City. Like everybody, youâre in one color. Red Tâs, black Tâs, white Tâs, thatâs it. You donât come into a business like that. Because you are part of an ecosystem,â Anthony said.
He added, âIt ainât you like you part of 29 other teams. Players got to be able to go to Portland. You donât just you donât come with the iron fist right away like that with the people who support you.â
The criticism stems from Dundonâs decision to scrap the long-standing playoff T-shirt tradition, something that has been part of Portlandâs identity for years. Instead, fans were given towels, a move that immediately sparked backlash across the league.
Carmelo Anthony slammed the Trail Blazers' owner for making 'cheap' decisions that he believes undermine the franchise's values.
Anthony's criticism stems from concerns that the new ownership is prioritizing cost-cutting over the team's legacy and competitive spirit.
The Trail Blazers are undergoing a new era under owner Tom Dundon, which has already attracted significant criticism from players and fans.
What did the Jets do with their compensatory pick for D.J. Reed?
Highlights from Iowa Hawkeyes' spring practice flood social media
What compensatory pick did the 49ers get for Talanoa Hufanga?
What did the 49ers do with Charvarius Ward's compensatory pick?
What did the Eagles do with the compensatory pick for Josh Sweat?
UFC star Arman Tsarukyan receives a prestigious honour from the Los Angeles City Council.
See every story in Sports â including breaking news and analysis.
For Melo, that decision represents a deeper issue about how ownership should approach a fanbase that has historically been one of the most loyal in the NBA.
The T-shirt controversy is just one part of a broader pattern that has defined Dundonâs early days in Portland.
âYou supposed to come in and over and did it. âYeah, my team made it to the postseason. New owner. I gotta go overboard.â It should be all types of experiences for them fans out there. Youâre coming in with a nice business like here, go make this work,â he continued.
âThatâs just cheap, bro. Thatâs all that is. Probably have this very conservative way of doing business, and thatâs his way. This is why I said to own a team is big boy s___,â Melo concluded.
Additionally, two-way players were left off road playoff trips, staff travel policies were tightened, and even basic operational decisions have been scrutinized.
This approach is not entirely new for Dundon, who built a reputation in other sports as a highly involved, analytics-driven owner willing to cut costs in areas he does not see as essential.
The problem, at least in Portland, is perception. In a market that prides itself on the connection between team and fans, those decisions are being viewed less as strategy and more as unnecessary cuts.
Read more: