NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said he’d “see it as a failure” if the Portland Trail Blazers didn’t remain in the city.

“It is my hope and belief that the Trail Blazers can be successful in Portland, Oregon,” said Silver at a press conference Tuesday, following an NBA Board of Governors meeting in New York.

Silver’s comments come as Portland leaders remain in closed-door negotiations with the Blazers over a new long-term lease of the Moda Center, which would include building renovations. The negotiations have divided Portland and its elected leaders, who’ve been asked to hand over more than $120 million to the team’s new billionaire owner Tom Dundon to restore the aging arena. The back and forth has led to swirling rumors that without sizable financial investment from the city, the Blazers’ owners could move the franchise to another city — though there have been no official threats made.

That has added pressure to talks that grew divisive earlier in the summer, when communication between both parties shut down over mention of legal threats. City officials say the two groups are now meeting multiple times a week.

The Blazers’ current lease with the city runs through 2030.

Silver said he spoke with Dundon about the negotiations at this week’s meeting.

“It is important that Tom Dundon reaches a deal with the city officials and the state elected officials that makes operating in Portland viable for the long term,” Silver said. “So that’s what we’re focused on.”

He acknowledged that the Moda Center needs renovations to accommodate the team, along with the building’s newest tenants, the Portland Fire. And he called Blazers fans “some of the best in the league.”

Silver has spoken publicly about the ongoing lease negotiations several times this year. His comments Tuesday were the strongest in favor of Portland yet.

His statement is likely good news for city officials, who have said their strategy is to make sure Silver and other NBA team owners see the city as negotiating in good faith and put pressure on Dundon to agree to the city’s terms. That’s because the board of governors would need to vote to approve – or deny – the team’s relocation.

In a statement emailed to OPB, Mayor Keith Wilson applauded Silver’s remarks.

“Portland is resurgent, the future of the Blazers is here, and I agree with Commissioner Silver that we all have a role to play in supporting a long-term deal where the Blazers thrive alongside our WNBA team, top entertainment acts, and our regional economy,” Wilson wrote.

Dewayne Hankins, president of business operations for the Blazers, also shared a brief statement.

“We look forward to continuing to work with our partners to finalize an agreement that supports the long-term success of Portland, the City-owned arena and the Trail Blazers,” Hankins wrote.

City negotiators are expected to bring a final lease deal to Portland City Council for approval by the end of the year.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/09/15/nba-commissioner-adam-silver-blazers-portland-failure/