Blazers' Tom Dundon Has a New Problem in Portland Arena Standoff

Tom Dundon might have the luxury of time in his ongoing Moda Center standoff with Portland officials.

But Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden is making sure the NBA's ownership leadership doesn't give him too much of it.

On Friday, Wyden revealed he'd spoken with Miami Heat owner Micky Arison, chairman of the NBA's Board of Governors, about the ongoing negotiations surrounding the Portland Trail Blazers' future in Oregon.

And according to the senator, the conversation was encouraging.

In a statement reported by The Oregonian's Bill Oram, Wyden said he "came away encouraged" after seeking Arison's counsel on moving the stalled negotiations toward an agreement.

He declined to disclose the specifics of their conversation.

That doesn't mean Arison has agreed to intervene. It certainly doesn't mean the NBA is preparing to force Dundon's hand.

But Portland's arena fight has now reached one of the most powerful owners in basketball.

Wyden has been laying the groundwork for weeks.

During an October 2 interview with KOIN, the senator outlined his intention to involve the NBA's other 29 owners in the negotiations.

Dundon can negotiate with Portland's elected officials. He can disagree with their financial demands, dispute the proposed lease terms and maintain that keeping the Blazers in Oregon remains his priority.

What he can't do is unilaterally decide to relocate the franchise if those negotiations eventually collapse.

Such a move would require approval from the NBA's Board of Governors.

No relocation effort has been confirmed, and Dundon has denied reports suggesting he'd privately discussed moving the team.

But Wyden isn't waiting for relocation to become a serious possibility before making Portland's case to the league.

As the ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, Wyden has previously raised the possibility of scrutinizing federal tax policies benefiting professional sports franchises if the NBA were to permit the Blazers to leave Portland.

That doesn't give him the authority to dictate the outcome of the negotiations. Nor does it mean any changes to federal tax policy are imminent.

But it gives Wyden a potential source of leverage that Portland officials don't have.

And the financial implications of that threat could extend far beyond Dundon's ownership group.

Portland and Dundon's representatives remain divided over several significant issues, including arena maintenance obligations, proposed rent payments and labor requirements.

The existing lease's requirement to maintain the Moda Center to a "first-class" standard has been especially contentious, with disagreements surrounding the potential financial responsibilities attached to that language.

A conversation with Arison won't settle those disputes.

Dundon also has a deadline to worry about.

The Blazers' existing lease runs through October 11, 2030, with an option for another five years.

Meanwhile, Oregon's proposed $365 million in state bond financing requires several conditions to be satisfied by December 31, including an agreement incorporating a new 20-year lease.

That's two very different timelines.

Dundon can point to the existing lease as evidence that there's still time to reach an agreement. Technically, he's right.

But Portland's opportunity to secure the current state financing package operates on a much shorter deadline.

And while Wyden's conversation with Arison doesn't guarantee a resolution, it does put Portland's concerns in front of someone who represents the very ownership group Dundon would need on his side if relocation ever became a realistic option.

Dundon has repeatedly insisted that keeping the Blazers in Portland is the goal.

He's also operating under a lease that doesn't expire until 2030 ... a luxury Portland's current funding opportunity doesn't afford.

And now, Ron Wyden is making sure the NBA's ownership leadership understands what's at stake.

Dundon might have nearly four years left on the existing lease.

He has less than two months to preserve the current funding opportunity.