The Portland Trail Blazers’ coaching search has not yet produced a permanent hire, but it has already produced a perception problem. On The Athletic NBA Daily, Zach Harper relayed one of the more eyebrow-raising stories making the rounds about new Blazers owner Tom Dundon and his pursuit of Saint Louis head coach Josh Schertz.
Harper was careful to frame it as an allegation, not confirmed fact, saying:
“He talked to the St. Louis University coach [Josh Schertz]. He allegedly offered ‘Hey man, one million dollars. Come be an NBA head coach.’ And the coach said ‘I make more than that at St. Louis. What are you doing?’”
Harper then added the necessary caveat:
“Now, that story could be bullshit, but that’s the story that’s going around. I’ve heard it from several people.”
While the Schertz anecdote should not be treated as established fact, the reason it spread so quickly is obvious: it fits neatly into a broader conversation already surrounding Dundon’s first months in Portland. Dundon has been characterized as wanting to pay well below the NBA’s usual head-coaching market, with figures around $1 million to $1.5 million being discussed in reporting.
Perception is powerful in the NBA, especially for a new owner trying to establish credibility. Dundon has already faced criticism over cost-cutting stories around the franchise, including reports about playoff travel decisions and staff logistics. Against that backdrop, even an unverified story about a lowball coaching offer becomes combustible. It does not have to be proven in full to become part of the mood around the team.
And that is the danger for Portland. The Blazers are not just hiring a coach; they are trying to define what kind of operation they intend to be under new ownership. If top candidates believe the franchise is shopping for leadership at bargain prices, the search becomes harder before it even truly begins. If that perception is wrong, Dundon and the organization will need to prove it with the seriousness of the hire.
