By Irv Crombie
Associated Press
There’s a difference between falling and descending with purpose. Rip City finds itself in the latter—an intentional spiral downward, aiming for something deeper than wins. Call it a rebuild. Call it a reckoning. Call it what it is: a reset.
The franchise has moved on from cornerstone players, and while the headlines scream “sell-off,” the undercurrent is clearer for those paying attention: Rip City isn’t tanking—it’s training. The front office has confirmed that the current roster is well below the league’s salary floor, and while some might see that as neglect, those close to the team see a redirected investment—into youth, development, and a long runway for future relevance.
Fans won’t need a spreadsheet to see what’s coming. Relegation is expected. Whispered, maybe—but expected. This roster isn’t built to win now. It’s built to learn now.
There’s no illusion here. Rip City isn’t hiding from the spiral. It’s embracing it.
It’s not glamorous. It’s not easy to watch. But it’s honest.
The identity of Rip City has always been as much about grit as it has been about glory. And in this moment, as the franchise spirals intentionally downward, fans are asked not for their cheers, but for their patience.
In time, if the vision holds, this descent may be remembered not as a fall—but as the path to something stronger.
Rip City spirals now. But it spirals with purpose.