Overview
- Dundon used the Game Over podcast to answer criticism of being “cheap,” saying he invests in what helps win games and citing his track record with the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes.
- He acknowledged it was a mistake to leave two-way players Caleb Love, Chris Youngblood, and Jayson Kent home for the first two playoff games, which GM Joe Cronin had described as a miscommunication that was later corrected.
- He defended the Phoenix hotel checkout handling, saying he paid for players’ and coaches’ extra nights and had staff work in a ballroom, after reports said staff were told to leave rooms early to avoid fees and lacked private treatment space.
- He said he was willing to enter the NBA luxury tax for the right deal and noted Cronin brought him trade options at the deadline that would have pushed Portland into the tax.
- Reports say the coaching search may be complicated by a target salary near $1–1.5 million for the next head coach, a figure that could turn off experienced candidates.