Freeman: Brian Grant and Terry Porter join Cronin's FO staff

DusterBuster · Post #1 » by **DusterBuster** » Wed Sep 17, 2025 12:14 am

https://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2025/09/pair-of-legendary-former-players-join-portland-trail-blazers-staff.html

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.

zzaj · Post #2 » by **zzaj** » Wed Sep 17, 2025 12:28 am

I like it. I don't know if it really makes the team any better, but optically it's nice to have people around the team who have played at the highest level and seem to care about the organization.

I haven't been overly impressed by Porter's basketball analysis when he's guested with the Blazer broadcast team, but I can live with that...especially from a purely scouting role, where experience actually does mean something in talent evaluation.

Post #3 » by **DaVoiceMaster** » Wed Sep 17, 2025 4:37 am

I like both guys but they've both worked for the Blazers previously so not a big deal in my mind.

SweaterBae · Post #4 » by **SweaterBae** » Wed Sep 17, 2025 8:24 am

I'm immediately dubious about any hire at any company when they are "one of us". We saw what happened with UCLA football with DeShaun Foster and at Oregon State with coach Bray. Who cares if Terry Porter is one of my favorite players ever? Was he the best available candidate or did get the job 50% based on being a former great Portland Trailblazer?

/shrug

DusterBuster · Post #5 » by **DusterBuster** » Wed Sep 17, 2025 3:57 pm

DaVoiceMaster wrote:I like both guys but they've both worked for the Blazers previously so not a big deal in my mind.

Yeah, completely a non-story imo. Good for them, but this also feels like... "Hey guys, this is probably all of our last go with the franchise, thanks for being there over the years and here is a salary for the next 6mo until the new ownership is here".

Wizenheimer · Post #6 » by **Wizenheimer** » Wed Sep 17, 2025 4:20 pm

DusterBuster wrote:
DaVoiceMaster wrote:I like both guys but they've both worked for the Blazers previously so not a big deal in my mind.

Yeah, completely a non-story imo. Good for them, but this also feels like... "Hey guys, this is probably all of our last go with the franchise, thanks for being there over the years and here is a salary for the next 6mo until the new ownership is here".

probably

something similar to Cronin and Billups getting big extensions in April for being company guys when the PA Trust was already negotiating a sale. I've been wondering how the new owner(s) will view those two extensions as they do saddle the new owners with long term contracts for non-players. I'd think there is a real chance Dundon views those extensions in a negative light

DusterBuster · Post #7 » by **DusterBuster** » Wed Sep 17, 2025 6:02 pm

Wizenheimer wrote:
DusterBuster wrote:
DaVoiceMaster wrote:I like both guys but they've both worked for the Blazers previously so not a big deal in my mind.

Yeah, completely a non-story imo. Good for them, but this also feels like... "Hey guys, this is probably all of our last go with the franchise, thanks for being there over the years and here is a salary for the next 6mo until the new ownership is here".

probably

something similar to Cronin and Billups getting big extensions in April for being company guys when the PA Trust was already negotiating a sale. I've been wondering how the new owner(s) will view those two extensions as they do saddle the new owners with long term contracts for non-players. I'd think there is a real chance Dundon views those extensions in a negative light

Was it ever announced how long Billups' extension was for? All that has come out was that it was "multi-year", but never heard an actual number. Same for Cronin, all I ever saw was "multi-year"...

Maybe, maybe not. Who knows to be honest. I doubt Dundon has strong feelings about it one way or another, just kind of a baked in line-item that the team will have to address. He's been in sports long enough to know how to hire and fire FO staff and coaches. If he decides he wants his own guys in there, he'll just give them the book and hire someone else and probably not lose a lot of sleep over it.

Wizenheimer · Post #8 » by **Wizenheimer** » Wed Sep 17, 2025 6:49 pm

DusterBuster wrote:
Wizenheimer wrote:
DusterBuster wrote:
Yeah, completely a non-story imo. Good for them, but this also feels like... "Hey guys, this is probably all of our last go with the franchise, thanks for being there over the years and here is a salary for the next 6mo until the new ownership is here".

probably

something similar to Cronin and Billups getting big extensions in April for being company guys when the PA Trust was already negotiating a sale. I've been wondering how the new owner(s) will view those two extensions as they do saddle the new owners with long term contracts for non-players. I'd think there is a real chance Dundon views those extensions in a negative light

Was it ever announced how long Billups' extension was for? All that has come out was that it was "multi-year", but never heard an actual number. Same for Cronin, all I ever saw was "multi-year"...

Maybe, maybe not. Who knows to be honest. I doubt Dundon has strong feelings about it one way or another, just kind of a baked in line-item that the team will have to address. He's been in sports long enough to know how to hire and fire FO staff and coaches. If he decides he wants his own guys in there, he'll just give them the book and hire someone else and probably not lose a lot of sleep over it.

Cronin's was reported (shams) as a 3 year extension thru 2028. I'd guess Chauncey's is the same

DusterBuster · Post #9 » by **DusterBuster** » Thu Sep 18, 2025 12:39 am

Wizenheimer wrote:
DusterBuster wrote:
Wizenheimer wrote:
probably

something similar to Cronin and Billups getting big extensions in April for being company guys when the PA Trust was already negotiating a sale. I've been wondering how the new owner(s) will view those two extensions as they do saddle the new owners with long term contracts for non-players. I'd think there is a real chance Dundon views those extensions in a negative light

Was it ever announced how long Billups' extension was for? All that has come out was that it was "multi-year", but never heard an actual number. Same for Cronin, all I ever saw was "multi-year"...

Maybe, maybe not. Who knows to be honest. I doubt Dundon has strong feelings about it one way or another, just kind of a baked in line-item that the team will have to address. He's been in sports long enough to know how to hire and fire FO staff and coaches. If he decides he wants his own guys in there, he'll just give them the book and hire someone else and probably not lose a lot of sleep over it.

Cronin's was reported (shams) as a 3 year extension thru 2028. I'd guess Chauncey's is the same

Yeah, by the time Dundon has to make a choice, there will likely only be 2 years left. Probably won't even bat an eye at firing both and hiring their replacements. Cant imagine Billups or Cronin are that highly paid, probably close to league average I would guess?

Wizenheimer · Post #10 » by **Wizenheimer** » Thu Sep 18, 2025 5:00 am

DusterBuster wrote:
Wizenheimer wrote:
DusterBuster wrote:
Was it ever announced how long Billups' extension was for? All that has come out was that it was "multi-year", but never heard an actual number. Same for Cronin, all I ever saw was "multi-year"...

Maybe, maybe not. Who knows to be honest. I doubt Dundon has strong feelings about it one way or another, just kind of a baked in line-item that the team will have to address. He's been in sports long enough to know how to hire and fire FO staff and coaches. If he decides he wants his own guys in there, he'll just give them the book and hire someone else and probably not lose a lot of sleep over it.

Cronin's was reported (shams) as a 3 year extension thru 2028. I'd guess Chauncey's is the same

Yeah, by the time Dundon has to make a choice, there will likely only be 2 years left. Probably won't even bat an eye at firing both and hiring their replacements. Cant imagine Billups or Cronin are that highly paid, probably close to league average I would guess?

my guess is below average

PDXKnight · Post #11 » by **PDXKnight** » Fri Sep 19, 2025 3:40 am

Wizenheimer wrote:
DusterBuster wrote:
Wizenheimer wrote:
Cronin's was reported (shams) as a 3 year extension thru 2028. I'd guess Chauncey's is the same

Yeah, by the time Dundon has to make a choice, there will likely only be 2 years left. Probably won't even bat an eye at firing both and hiring their replacements. Cant imagine Billups or Cronin are that highly paid, probably close to league average I would guess?

my guess is below average

Yeah probably.

If he gets control by mid season I'm sure they will finish the season out. I could see Billups getting run out by the final game and Cronin getting booted once all the scouting work is buttoned up. But then again maybe its all done after the final game so a new GM can pick his guy