Trail Blazers Sign GM Joe Cronin To Multiyear Extension

12:30pm: The extension is now official, the Trail Blazers announced in a press release.

Joe has demonstrated leadership and vision during his time as General Manager, and I’m excited to see him continue building the foundation for a long-term, winning team,” said Jody Allen, chair of the Portland Trail Blazers. “We are all thrilled with the team’s forward momentum and excited for the future of Trail Blazers basketball.”


12:15pm: General manager Joe Cronin has agreed to a multiyear contract extension with the Trail Blazers, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.

While the Blazers will be selecting in the lottery for the fourth straight season under Cronin, they have already won 14 more games (35) than last season with three games left on their schedule. Portland has gone 22-16 since January 19, Charania notes, led by a strong defense.

Cronin joined the organization as a basketball operations intern in 2006, having been with the team for 19 years.

He was promoted to assistant general manager in 2021, then replaced former head of basketball operations Neil Olshey as interim GM in December of that year. Cronin was given the permanent GM job in May 2022, after the ’21/22 campaign ended.

According to Charania, Cronin signed a four-year contract in May 2022. Given that he just agreed to a multiyear extension, his deal should now run through at least 2028.

Cronin has made several trades and draft picks since he became GM, most notably trading away Damian Lillard in a 2023 deal that brought back Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara and multiple draft assets. He also traded for Deni Avdija — who has been on a tear of late — last summer.

Over the past three drafts, the Blazers have selected Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson and Donovan Clingan with their three lottery picks. They are currently projected to have the ninth-best odds of landing the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft.

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