The Portland Trailblazers have their next head coach, Micah Nori. He’s signed a one-year guaranteed contract and is getting his first crack at being a head coach after 15 years across the league as an assistant, including five years as Chris Finch’s lead assistant for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Yet despite Nori’s wealth of experience around the league, the contract’s remarkably short length has raised eyebrows across NBA circles about Tom Dundon’s ownership.
Micah Nori’s 1-Year Contract To Be Blazers’ Next Head Coach Raises Eyebrows
The contract’s length certainly raises questions about how all-in the Blazers are on their next head coach, since there is no financial commitment to him beyond next season. When NBA insider Shams Charania first reported the hire, Charania’s first tweet mentioned it was a “multiyear deal.”
However, per the Athletic’s Jason Quick, the deal is infact a one-year deal with two further team options. Charania’s subsequent ESPN article confirms that the deal is an incentive-laden sliding scale contract.
The NBA world had its say on this unique contract. For instance, @redraiderman1 described the length, or lack thereof, as ‘wild’ in his tweet. “One-year deals for a head coach is WILD.”
Meanwhile, @KellanOlson wrote he was unable to recall a deal like it, whilst believing that “the new ownership in Portland continues to give off bad vibes.”
Can’t remember the last time a NBA head coach got a (potential) one-year deal. The new ownership in Portland continues to give off bad vibes. https://t.co/xIfV9fR9u0
— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) June 23, 2026
Furthermore, local sports columnist Bill Oram described the deal as “An unprecedented one-year deal with team options.”
Can confirm @jwquick‘s reporting on the terms here. An unprecedented one-year deal with team options.
In May, Joe Cronin talked about hiring a coach “based on some level of shared risk” — this is that on hyperdrive. https://t.co/mQj7gxmfw5
— Bill Oram (@billoram) June 23, 2026
@KY_PDX was amazed that Nori actually signed a contract with so little commitment and had harsh words for the Blazers’ new owner. “Still can’t believe Nori signed that contract and Dundon equally a sicko for offering it.”
NBA reporter Evan Sidery described the deal as “historic levels of cheapness.” Especially the unique sliding scale nature of the contract.
“Nori’s one-year contract includes a sliding scale salary based off incentives and team success next season. Truly historic levels of cheapness for a head coach being shown by new owner Tom Dundon.”
Micah Nori’s one-year contract with the Trail Blazers includes a sliding-scale salary based off incentives and team success next season, per @ShamsCharania.
Truly historic levels of cheapness for a head coach being shown by new owner Tom Dundon. pic.twitter.com/gMoGA7Qycs
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 23, 2026
Sports anchor Breanna Greene further accused the team’s new owner of being cheap: “I’ll give Dundon this, he puts his money (or lack thereof) where his mouth is.”
Further to the points in the tweets above, Nori’s unique contract follows a controversial start to Dundon’s ownership, during which he implemented cost-cutting measures across the board. Among many cost-cutting measures, he laid off over 50 long-term employees, according to Evan Sidery’s May report.
Plus, they were the only playoff team that didn’t travel their two-way players for games, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
Dundon’s approach to cost-cutting is certainly a bold strategy to put it mildly, as this contract offers precious little assurance beyond this season to such an esteemed and experienced coach. But it will be interesting to see how Nori leads the Blazers with the pressure to deliver instant results.
