Blazers owner responds to mass layoffs: Not intentional cost-cutting, will not skimp on player investments.

On May 26, Beijing time, Trail Blazers' new owner Deng Deng said in an interview with The Oregonian that,the team laid off 70 employees last week, mainly due to overstaffing, not deliberate cost-cutting.. Deng Deng also owns the Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL, and he claimed the Blazers' headcount is twice that of the Hurricanes.

"In my experience, the leaner the organization, the stronger the employees' sense of responsibility, and the better the work gets done," Deng Deng said. "That way, everything can be executed properly without falling into the common corporate malaise of finger-pointing and complaints about unfair treatment. I've seen many teams where everyone knows their role and feels accountable, with no internal strife and a very harmonious atmosphere. People are happier when they are busy and creating value. This is the management philosophy I believe in. Generally speaking, overstaffing only breeds more problems, and the Blazers' previous workforce was indeed too large."

Deng Deng's series of cost-saving measures have also sparked public controversy. According to reports, during the first round of the playoffs, the Trail Blazers were the only team that did not bring two-way contract players on the road; the team also asked support staff to check out early from hotels to avoid late checkout fees; additionally, there were reports that the team plans to hire the next permanent head coach at a very low salary.

However, Deng Deng clearly stated thatthe team will never be stingy when it comes to player investment..

Discussing the budget adjustments, he said: "This cost-cutting is mainly aimed at the business operations side. On-court competition and business operations are two different things. There is no budget ceiling for building a championship-caliber roster for the players; we will go all out to make the team as competitive as possible. As for the business side, I will run it like a normal company."

Here are more excerpts from the interview—

Regarding the Portland City Council's delay in reaching a consensus on funding for the Moda Center renovation (the state government has pledged $365 million),

"I don't know much about the local legislative process. When we took over the team, we hoped the renovation would start immediately. The arena facilities are outdated, and repairs are urgent; delays only increase uncertainties in partnerships. Now the decision lies with the city council. I thought this was already settled, but public officials will do their jobs according to their own judgment. We will wait for the outcome and make arrangements accordingly."

On the team's strategy at this season's trade deadline,

"At the trade deadline, we had two options: either sell off existing assets for future assets, or focus on building a winning culture. To me, the latter is far more important than stockpiling draft assets. In the end, we chose to bring in players like Krejčí and firmly establish a team ethos of striving to win. I always believe that persistently pursuing victory will eventually pay off, and time will prove it."

On his hope to replicate the success of the Hurricanes with the Trail Blazers,

"To achieve this, it ultimately comes down to going all out to recruit quality players and build a solid team culture: one that protects players' interests while also holding them to high standards, pushing for progress, and putting the team first. These principles may sound clichéd, but a good coaching staff, everyone's sense of responsibility, and unified standards of conduct are the foundations of success. I am confident I can create a top-tier team atmosphere in the league, unlock every player's potential, and build a roster capable of contending for a championship. This model can be replicated."