Portland Trail Blazers owner Tom Dundon is making an incredibly aggressive play to sign LeBron James, a bombshell revelation dropped by pickleball superstar Anna Leigh Waters at the ESPY Awards. This isn't just some vague rumor swirling around; Waters herself, who knows Dundon through her sport, spilled the secret about his NBA plans.
A Pickleball Leak and a Billion Dollar Ambition
Can you believe the news broke because of a pickleball player? Waters straight up said, "I know the owner of the professional pickleball league just bought the Portland basketball team, the Trail Blazers, and I know he's trying to get (James), so we'll see if that happens." That's a direct quote, folks! Dundon, who also owns Pickleball Inc., the parent company of the Professional Pickleball Association, recently shelled out a cool $4.25 billion to buy the Blazers from the Paul Allen estate. This move to snatch LeBron totally lines up with Dundon's history; he's known for making high-risk, high-reward roster moves as the owner of the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes. This dude isn't afraid to go big.Why LeBron and How Dundon Could Pull It Off
For a rebuilding Blazers team with young talent, landing James would immediately change everything. We're talking instant global media attention, massive ticket sales, and elite on-court playmaking from a proven veteran superstar. LeBron brings that championship contender vibe to a squad that desperately needs guidance. Here's the kicker: the connection between James and Dundon actually extends beyond basketball. LeBron previously invested money into a Major League Pickleball expansion franchise. That shared business interest gives Dundon a direct line of communication, and he's apparently using it to pitch what he sees as a historic career move for The King. NBA analysts are calling this potential deal difficult but possible. Portland would need to clear significant salary cap space or orchestrate a complex sign-and-trade to acquire James. But with Dundon's immense wealth and his willingness to pay luxury tax penalties, those financial hurdles become a lot less problematic for Portland. This is the kind of audacious play that absolutely rocks the league. Everyone is on watch to see if Dundon can actually pull off one of the biggest moves in recent NBA history and land James in Portland. Get ready, because if this pickleball-fueled recruitment works, the entire Western Conference just got a whole lot more interesting.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.