Trail Blazers Make Stunning Broadcaster Decision Hours After Announcement

For Portland Trail Blazers fans, Thursday began with enthusiasm. Following a summer of reductions and transformations, the team finally secured a new voice for its TV broadcasts. Kevin Calabro's departure left a vacancy in the booth, prompting hope for a fresh start before the season commenced. Unfortunately, that moment of optimism did not endure for a single day.

NBA insider Chris Haynes disclosed via X that the Portland Trail Blazers had dismissed Braiden Bell, the newly appointed TV play-by-play broadcaster, just hours after his hiring announcement. The Blazers released a statement on their X account, acknowledging the error and extending apologies to their fans. The team emphasized their zero tolerance for racist, sexist, or harmful remarks and admitted to falling short in the hiring process.

The problematic tweets dated back to 2012 and 2013 when Bell was just 15 years old. A KGW reporter uncovered the posts shortly after Bell's initial announcement. At 29, he had previously called games for the Phoenix Mercury and the G League's Valley Suns, with plans to work alongside analyst Lamar Hurd. The timing was particularly disappointing, as fans were scheduled to meet Bell at Sunday's Fan Fest at Moda Center.

Now, the Blazers find themselves back at ground zero. This hiring mishap also compounds a challenging period under owner Tom Dundon, who since March has laid off approximately 70 staff members and nearly the entire broadcast crew. The Trail Blazers are set to commence their season on October 21 against the Phoenix Suns, a rematch of last year's play-in victory.

That evening should also see the return of Damian Lillard to the arena. The Blazers have vowed to improve, and fans will be closely watching to see if they follow through on their promise.