Portland Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin stepped up to the plate during his end-of-season press conference on Thursday, taking full responsibility for a playoff travel misstep that had fans and analysts buzzing.

The Blazers made headlines for all the wrong reasons when they became the only team in the NBA playoffs not to bring their three two-way players on the road for the first weekend of postseason action. These players—who split time between the NBA and G League—aren't eligible to suit up in the playoffs, but league tradition calls for them to travel with the team and be part of the postseason experience.

"That one's on me," Cronin admitted to reporters. "It was more of a miscommunication on my end. We've talked about doing some traveling party reductions. Next year, we'll run a little lighter. I just assumed that meant including them, and I didn't double check."

The gaffe came during a transitional period for the franchise, with new owner Tom Dundon—a Texas billionaire who made his fortune in auto loans and also owns the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes—just a month into his tenure. Cronin was quick to defend Dundon against reports of cost-cutting, saying they don't reflect "an accurate depiction of what his goals are."

The Blazers corrected course quickly, bringing their two-way players to San Antonio for Game 5 of their first-round series against the Spurs. Unfortunately, that game marked the end of Portland's season, as the No. 8 seed fell to the No. 2 seeded Spurs. Still, it was a milestone year for the franchise—their first playoff appearance since 2021, ending a four-year drought under interim head coach Tiago Splitter, who took over for Chauncey Billups.

For the Blazers and their fans, this postseason was a step forward. And with Cronin owning his mistakes, the front office is already looking ahead to running a tighter ship—while making sure everyone gets on the bus next time.