Tom Dundon delivered a direct message to Portland Trail Blazers players on his first day as owner Tuesday that the franchise's current trajectory falls short of his expectations. The meeting took place inside Intuit Dome prior to Portland's game against the LA Clippers.

"Right now, where we are isn't where I think we can be," Dundon told the team.

Dundon, who also owns the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes, built a winning culture through a combination of analytics and instinct. Carolina has reached the playoffs in seven straight seasons and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals three times under his ownership.

He inherits a Blazers franchise that hasn't reached the playoffs since 2021 and has seen declining attendance throughout an ongoing rebuild. The Blazers control the Milwaukee Bucks' drafts in 2027, 2028, 2029, which could potentially supercharge their roster.

In an exclusive interview with The Athletic, Dundon addressed staff concerns about potential sweeping personnel changes.

"I don't like getting rid of people. I like to see who's capable of taking that next step," he said. "They need to worry about what they're gonna do."

Dundon acknowledged he has not yet formed firm opinions on interim head coach Tiago Splitter or general manager Joe Cronin, saying he needs more information before making those calls.

On the Blazers' push for $600 million in Moda Center renovations, Dundon indicated he expects progress, citing a proposed 20-year commitment to Portland as the franchise's primary contribution. He dismissed speculation about relocation as unfounded, noting no internal discussions have taken place on the subject.

"I fully expect to get everything we're working on done," Dundon said.