Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Chris Haynes: Sources: Inside a somber meeting the Portland Trail Blazers had that left players mute. How the news of Chauncey Billups’ alleged involvement in an illegal gambling ring was delivered to the team. Chris Haynes: Let's go back to yesterday morning. Sources informed me that Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin gathered his team together along with the coaching staff to inform them of the news. Sources told me that players were mute. They were shocked, and no one had a question. It was that quiet. Joe Cronin then went on to say that no one should be trying to contact Chauncey Billups while this investigation is ongoing. From there sources related to me that Tiago Splitter took the floor and said the goals remain the same and he also added that he's in charge, and he wants to keep everything afloat until they get their coach back. And last thing of note I want to add is that the Trail Blazers actually offered the interim job to assistant coach Nate Bjorkgren, but him and Chauncey Billups are extremely tight, and he declined the appointment.
Sources: Inside a somber meeting the Portland Trail Blazers had that left players mute. How the news of Chauncey Billups’ alleged involvement in an illegal gambling ring was delivered to the team. pic.twitter.com/ciotndisyd
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) October 25, 2025
Splitter and Blazers general manager Joe Cronin addressed the team Thursday afternoon, hours after Billups' stunning arrest. Neither had slept more than a few hours when news of the arrest started spreading. Splitter told ESPN that he went to bed around 2 a.m. after watching tape of the Blazers' season-opening loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves and was woken up shortly after 6 a.m. when the news started to circulate. A few hours later, Splitter was in Cronin's office, being asked to take over as interim coach. Lead assistant coach Nate Bjorkgren had previous head coaching experience, but team sources said Bjorkgren had told Cronin that Splitter was the best choice to take over, and Bjorkgren felt he could best help the team in his current role, running the defense.
The Portland Trail Blazers have exercised the 2026-27 team option on the Rookie Scale contracts of guard Scoot Henderson, forward Kris Murray, and center Donovan Clingan, it was announced today by General Manager Joe Cronin. Henderson, selected No. 3 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Trail Blazers, appeared in 66 games (10 starts) during his second NBA season in 2024-25—averaging 12.7 points (41.9% FG, 35.4% 3FG, 76.7% FT), 5.1 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 steal in 26.7 minutes per game.
The Portland Trail Blazers have signed forward Andrew Carr, General Manager Joe Cronin announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed. Carr (6-11, 235), a member of the 2025 Trail Blazers Summer League roster, played five collegiate seasons at Delaware (2020-22), Wake Forest (2022-24) and Kentucky (2024-25).
Advertisement
Two of the most revered and successful players in Portland Trail Blazers history are returning to the franchise. Brian Grant and Terry Porter have joined general manager Joe Cronin’s staff in separate roles, The Oregonian/OregonLive has learned, adding decades of basketball knowledge and experience to the Blazers’ basketball operations department.
Porter has been hired as a scout and Grant will serve as a basketball liaison, team sources told The Oregonian/OregonLive. Insiders are hopeful the duo’s wealth of basketball expertise and familiarity with Portland and the Blazers will provide a boost to the organization as it looks to take another step forward in its multiyear rebuild.
Grant is working extensively with players in a mentorship role, focusing on building a connection in a non-coaching capacity. He is expected to provide an ear for players to talk to, give on- and off-court advice and guidance, and offer life skills, according to a team source. Grant actually started in his new job in May, during the buildup to the NBA draft, and joined the team for Summer League competition in Las Vegas.
Goodwin communicated to the Blazers that Lillard would stay in Portland, but after months of speculation, the team wanted to resolve the request by training camp, sources told ESPN. With a week to go, Lillard was traded to Milwaukee. "More than anything, it was miscommunications and misunderstandings," Lillard said. "Joe and I never talked about [a potential return]. It just sat out there and we let it be what it was, I think that was the mistake." But just a few months after the trade, steps toward a potential reunion started to take shape. Goodwin and Cronin had a conversation in January, where they identified the gaps in their communication and said that if there were any hard feelings, they had long since dissipated.
As soon as Lillard became the unlikeliest of free agents, the Blazers made their interest known. Cronin went to meet Lillard at his Portland home, sources told ESPN, to see the franchise icon surrounded by his family, to check on how he was doing, both mentally and physically with the rehab of his torn Achilles. As they talked, they each presented their respective vision for the team's future. "It wasn't a long conversation to move past that, and that was because we never had a bad relationship or it was never a dislike," Lillard said.
Advertisement
Sean Highkin: Damian Lillard on his relationship with Joe Cronin: "Toward the end, it was a lot of misunderstandings and miscommunications. When that happens, feelings are hurt. Joe and I never sat down and talked about that. We let it be and it sat out there. That was the mistake."
Sean Highkin: Neither Joe Cronin or Damian Lillard outright said Dame won't play this upcoming season but both were very clear that they're focused on the long-term recovery and it will take as long as it takes.