NEW YORK — If Tom Dundon harbors any illusions that he will move the Trail Blazers out of Portland, he will need to go through me first. And you. Your kids, your parents, your grandparents. Anybody in the army of folks who contributed to the longest sellout streak in NBA history,

The hiring process will begin in earnest after the league names a search firm — which it’s currently working to select. Because the NBA has a controlling ownership stake in the WNBA, Silver will make the hire with the WNBA Board of Governors. He said identifying a person who can lead the WNBA through a new era is important.