The Portland Trail Blazers made a big move in their front office, as they fired general manager and president of basketball operations, Neil Olshey, on Friday afternoon. Olshey’s firing comes after an investigation into workplace misconduct. They will not be releasing or discussing the findings, but they must have been incriminating enough that longtime NBA executive Olshey has lost his job as a result.
Joe Cronin will take over as the team’s general manager on an interim basis as the organization begins its search for a permanent option. Earlier in November, the Trail Blazers announced that the law firm O’Melveny and Myers were conducting an independent investigation into “concerns around workplace environment by non-player personnel at the practice facility.”
Ultimately, it was found that Olshey had created a hostile work environment. Bullying and intimidation were two of the instances that were mentioned.
“Following the conclusion of the independent review of concerns and complaints around our workplace environment at the practice facility, the Portland Trail Blazers organization has decided to terminate General Manager and President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey, effective immediately due to violations of the Portland Trail Blazers’ Code of Conduct,” the team said in a statement. “Out of respect for those who candidly participated in that privileged investigation, we will not release or discuss it. We are confident that these changes will help build a more positive and respectful working environment.”
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The Trail Blazers could look much different with a new regime coming in to run the team. One of the first orders of business could be what to do with their backcourt of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum.
While Olshey was determined to make things work around their high-powered backcourt, things have seemingly run their course. Chauncey Billups was hired to help turn around the team’s defense, but they remain one of the bottom feeders in the league in that regard, ranking 28th in defensive rating.
One way to try and turn things around on that end of the court would be trading McCollum. The Trail Blazers are lacking in size with their current roster alignment. Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum and Norman Powell, the starting small forward, are all listed at 6’3” or shorter.
Being able to move Powell down to the shooting guard spot and bringing in a bigger wing player would help improve the team’s defense. Right now, they are a sieve on the perimeter as neither Damian Lillard nor CJ McCollum are strong defenders.
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Whoever takes over as general manager of the Portland Trail Blazers should place a call to the Philadelphia 76ers and try rekindling trade talks involving Ben Simmons. While Ben Simmons has his flaws, his strengths would play well into what Portland needs to turn things around.
