Portland Trail Blazers replace veteran broadcaster with rookie, then dismiss him over past tweets

Portland’s NBA franchise announced the departure of veteran play-by-play announcer Kevin Calabro, who had served as the team’s lead broadcaster for years. The organization hired 29-year-old Braiden Bell as Calabro’s replacement, but terminated Bell within days after local media revealed a series of racist and misogynistic tweets he posted as a teenager.

Team president Dewayne Hankins said the decision to replace Calabro was driven by a desire to reduce expenses, noting that “when you see an item like that it is an opportunity to find savings.” The move reflects a broader cost-cutting strategy implemented by owner Tom Dundon, who has overseen multiple rounds of staff reductions, including the layoff of former chief marketing officer Kevin Kinghorn and several members of the public-relations and human-resources teams.

Following the termination, Calabro was quickly hired by the Minnesota Timberwolves, underscoring his reputation as a highly regarded broadcaster in the league. The Blazers now face a vacancy in the play-by-play role ahead of their preseason opener, with analyst Lamar Hurd remaining as the sole on-air talent.

The incident highlights the challenges of vetting new hires for public-facing positions and the potential reputational risks associated with rapid staffing changes driven by financial considerations.