Tiago Splitter Contract Drama Emerges With Trail Blazers' Owner: Report

The Portland Trail Blazers were knocked out of the first round of the playoffs on Tuesday night by the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5.

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The future of Trail Blazers interim head coach Tiago Splitter appears to be in doubt after the postseason. Splitter became the interim head coach in June when head coach Chauncey Billups was placed on leave by the NBA amid a federal gambling investigation.

The Trail Blazers went 42-39 under Splitter in the regular season. Portland defeated the Phoenix Suns 114-110 in the Play-In Tournament to earn the No. 7 seed in the playoffs.

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Per Evan Sidery, Portland is expected to move on from Splitter this offseason because new owner Tom Dundon does not want to give Splitter a pay raise despite earning a promotion as the permanent head coach.

“The Trail Blazers are widely expected to move on from interim coach Tiago Splitter,” Sidery posted on X. “New owner Tom Dundon is not willing to increase Splitter's current salary. Portland is trying to find a new head coach who will accept being the lowest paid in the NBA as a cost-cutting measure.”

Splitter was aware that Dundon was vetting candidates to become the next head coach of the Trail Blazers during the postseason. Splitter wanted to keep his focus on the playoff run for Portland.

“Just trying to be a pro,” Splitter said, via ESPN. “[I] try to focus on my locker room and my staff to stay and think about basketball. Same way when I got the job and all the stuff that was going on.”



Splitter tried to advise his players to stay off social media during the playoffs as reports swirled about their future with the Trail Blazers.

Now that the season is over, the head coaching situation is the main focus for Portland’s players and front office. Despite performing in a way that deserved a pay raise, the Trail Blazers appear to want to take a cheaper approach, and the results next season could be underwhelming for it.

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This story was originally published April 29, 2026 at 4:47 PM.