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Blazers GM Joe Cronin takes blame for 2- way players initially not traveling in playoffs observed today

Breaking news from the pro circuit: Blazers GM Joe Cronin takes blame for 2-way players initially not traveling in playoffs. This achievement has quickly become one of the most discussed topics of the week.

With impressive skill, Portland received flak after it existed as the only unit to not send its two-way players on the road for the inaugural weekend of this off-season tenure's playoffs.

Impact on the Season

Demonstrating excellence, While two -way players — who are on contracts that allow them to split time from the NBA and the G League — aren’t eligible to play in the NBA postseason -- it’s customary that they forge playoff trips with their NBA teams.

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In a display of pure skill, “That singular's on me,” Cronin -- who developed into full-time GM in May 2022 -- told reporters Thursday As additional of a miscommunication on my close., “It stayed Demonstrating excellence, we have talked about doing some traveling party reductions. “Next year -- we is slated to manage a part lighter.

I, amidst high expectations, did not double check. plus i simply assumed that meant including them In a noteworthy performance, And we fixed that mistake. In a noteworthy performance, We generated those guys to San Antonio [for Competition 5].

In a noteworthy performance, That existed as on me for not communicating properly.” Portland Trail Blazers owner Tom Dundon (departed) and general manager Joe Cronin (right) are hoping to return the Blazers to contender status in the Western Conference.

(Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images) (Soobum Im via Getty Images) Clash 5 is when the Blazers’ tenure emerged to a competitive -- as they bowed out of the playoffs to the No.

Since 2021, dual seeded Spurs after returning to the postseason for the inaugural time Demonstrating excellence, Interim head top spot Tiago Splitter helped Portland conclusion its quadrennial playoff drought Demonstrating excellence, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Splitter grasped in for Chauncey Billups after the initial clash of the 2025-26 off-season tenure.

As, building on previous success, arrested in an FBI gambling probe this fall., billups -- a Hoops action Hall of Famer -- existed With impressive skill, In his absence -- Splitter piloted the Blazers to 42 wins -- plus an additional in the play-in competition that secured them the No. 7 seed in the West.

As, furthermore, a center prior to embarking on his coaching span., even so, the full-time job hasn’t been given to the 41- year-old Brazilian native, who played seven seasons in the NBA With impressive skill, As he guided the Blazers into the postseason, reports swirled about who else Portland’s been considering at the head-coaching position.

In, in a major development, a noteworthy performance, So what is Splitter’s status? “The current status is Tiago is a candidate for the position, but we are likewise looking around at other candidates,” Cronin detailed.

PORTLAND, OREGON - APRIL 12:  (L-R) Tom Dundon, Portland Trail Blazers owner, talks with general manager Joe Cronin after the game against the Sacramento Kings at Moda Center on April 12, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.  (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)

As going to cast a wide net and procure to grasp a lot of different coaches and analyze and evaluate them in relation to Tiago., “We decided early on we existed With impressive skill, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement “And timeline-wise -- we do not have a timeline pinned down.

Demonstrating excellence, We merely seek to sustain meeting people and sustain talking to people and having a really thorough process.” Cronin existed as peppered with a few questions about the Billups situation.

Demonstrating excellence, He remarked he couldn’t comment on it at the moment and that there are no updates he can provide right at this juncture. With impressive skill, Billups features pleaded not guilty to multiple charges and remains on vacate from the NBA.

Significantly, there’s been further than simply uncertainty about whom Portland is determine to hire to lead the contingent next off-season tenure.

Crucially, ‘A lot of the reports on budget out there remained as a somewhat misleading’ There have furthermore been reports that the Blazers aren’t willing to pay top dollar for a head instructor under Dundon.

In a noteworthy performance, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement “A lot of the reports on budget out there existed as a small misleading,” Cronin affirmed “Have talked to Tom a lot about this Demonstrating excellence, we are going to pay the trainer based on some sort of level of shared risk.

With impressive skill, If it is a inaugural-time instructor who comes with a lot of risk and does not have a market that we have to necessarily compete in -- it'll be singular number. “If, in a display of pure skill, the strategist we are talking to is a 15- year vet and a future Hall of Famer -- it is going to be a completely different number.

Additionally -- Tom is not going to flinch at either of those scenarios.

Crucially, in a noteworthy performance, we are going to be very open-minded to what types of people we chat and should potentially introduce in -- and I am not concerned about the number at all.” The speculation maintains oversee rampant -- especially on the heels of reports that Blazers staffers stayed as asked to check out of their Phoenix-area hotel rooms hours before the opening squad bus exited for a play-in matchup versus the Suns so that Portland could avoid late-checkout fees.

In a display of pure skill, as an order from Dundon.

while at the same time in The Athletic’s report -- it noted early checkouts stayed as required of all traveling party members -- except the program’s players and coaches, that it stayed Demonstrating excellence, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Discourse about the Blazers slashing expenses owns been hard to ignore -- especially in the wake of the two-way player omission on the primary trip to San Antonio.

As asked about the reputation that conversation is assigning the franchise, cronin stayed Amidst high expectations, “I reckon seeing those reports and some of those things -- for me -- it persisted as somewhat disturbing,” he remarked -- “because I have gotten the opportunity to understand Tom Dundon really -- really well these last nine -- a decad months.

Additionally -- it is only not an accurate depiction of what his goals are. “Yes -- we are going to manage things further efficiently in terms of being economically responsible -- in terms of having a discipline -- less is further mentality.

…, significantly, But I have seen a lot of instances where he stayed as willing to throw significant money on the table in order to support this collective, in order to situate it on the floor, in order to generate us a winner.” Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cronin labeled upon a scenario at the trade deadline that he presented to Dundon.

Demonstrating excellence, Reports from the scene indicate that ve launched us into the tax -- hard-fought to the opening apron -- is likely to Demonstrating excellence, Reports from the scene indicate that ve obtained a nice young asset -- and [Dundon] is likely to.

As, building on previous success, furthered by the sentiment that Yep -- do it., the account existed Demonstrating excellence, he is going to position money into this unit whenever it is necessary.'“ Cronin shared he and Dundon have had dialogue about buying into this year’s draft using cash.

With the eyes of the community watching, dundon, unprompted, bought the organization a new hyperbaric oxygen chamber, according to Cronin “So, impressively, there is a lot of spending fallacies about him,” Cronin affirmed.

While at the same time “he is going to spend when it touches the players, the players are perpetually going to be supported.”

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Editorial Note: This report is based on verified game data and official statistics.