Now that the Trail Blazers have fired general manager and president of basketball operations Neil Olshey, Dan Devine of The Ringer wonders if the move will jump-start the process of Damian Lillard asking for a trade.
Olshey’s firing came less than 24 hours after Portland lost to San Antonio 114-83, but the team clarified that he violated the franchise’s code of conduct. The decision came following a month-long investigation into complaints that Olshey had created a toxic work environment.
On the court, Portland’s product hasn’t been much better. The team has struggled defensively and is a mediocre 11-13, allowing 145 points to Boston in its most recent loss.
“My biggest concern at the moment is I want us to compete harder,” head coach Chauncey Billups said after the San Antonio game, as relayed by Jason Quick of The Athletic. “I want us to be more competitive in every game. And I don’t feel like every night we do that. And that concerns me.”
Here are some other notes from the Northwest Division:
- In a separate story for The Athletic, Quick examines what could be next for the Trail Blazers. Portland, having promoted director of player personnel Joe Cronin to interim GM after firing Olshey, has upcoming games against the Clippers on Monday and Warriors on Wednesday, followed by a four-game homestand.
- The National Basketball Coaches Association and president coach Rick Carlisle apologized to Timberwolves coach Chris Finch for a statement that was released when he was hired this year, as relayed by Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. The statement accused the Wolves of not conducting a thorough and diverse search for a head coach. “We apologized to Chris for that,” Carlisle said. “That wasn’t fair to him. It was no reflection on who he is as a person, coach or anything like that. This summer we got a chance to talk to him about it when we met as an association. It’s pretty clear why he got the job. I’m really happy for him.”
- The Rockets currently hold the league’s longest win streak at five games, Mark Berman of Fox 26 tweets. Head coach Stephen Silas admitted the streak is good for the team’s confidence, especially when the club had lost 16 of its previous 17 games. “It feels good, especially considering where we came from, but there’s been some things that led to it and it’s more about those things that led to it than the actual results,” he said as part of a larger quote.
Trade him for Simmons and a bunch of first round picks/swaps/prospects. Blazers aren’t going anywhere. Time to rebuild.
I mean as a Sixers fan I wouldn’t be mad cause it’s our best chance at a title. Lillard Harris and Embiid would be extremely tough.
However Dame is getting old and this season his numbers have reduced and loss efficiency. It could be a scary contract in 2/3 seasons when he’s like 35 getting 50mil
Simmons is already a scary contract now though.
Simmons contract is fine. He just needs a system and team that fits him.
Mainly because he hid on a bad team at the moment, and they run doubles at him all the time. He was the western conference player of the week a couple weeks ago
Keerect about the Blazers, and Lillard isn’t going anywhere either.
My weekly power ranking by wins
1 Rockets win streak 6
2 Bulls win streak 3
28 Nets win streak 0
29 Suns win streak 0
30 Warriors win streak 0
I think Marc Spears should apologize too since he criticized the Timberwolves and Finch when the hire happened.
Really puzzled by the constant whinging from Coach Billups… did he actually thought they were gonna be a playoff team???
I mean, too right you should dream about it, but they never had the team to be in the playoffs, maybe with a good season in the play in sounds about right to me!
I mean they have been in the playoffs for the past 8 seasons which is the longest steak in the nba…..
What type of steak are you talking, sounds quite yummy, right?
Now seriously, ya know that SAS had been in the playoffs for 22 years until they didn’t, it kind of no one was surprised they missed it, right?
The fact that POR has been failing for 8 straight years in the playoffs doesn’t mean they can be counted to do it one more year, however you put it I personally never saw this team in the playoffs & I said it all summer long, so I at least ain’t surprised, if you are that’s great for you my friend!
I actually like it the ole fashioned way, just like MIN, you know the man you want, you go & get him!
To me go around interviewing like 15-20 candidates is the most pointless & clueless thing you can do… I mean if you don’t know the potential coaches that you might like if you are forced to change your HC is just pure negligence, I mean you don’t only scout prospects, you scout coaches as well, right?
Just like DAL did you go for your man without all the circus around!
Both teams seem to be doing well with this approach so far!
Fair take. The weirdest part of the whole thing was Rosas wanted to hire him in the first place instead of keeping Saunders but likely felt ownership pressure. I thought it was a snake move cuz he knew Saunders wouldn’t work out, clearly had a better choice, banked the get out of jail free card so he’d keep his job when Saunders failed. And then got fired for shenanigans – karma?
I’m guessing “toxic environment ” replaces “philosophical differences “.
Kind of insult to Blazer owner Allen too, the league going more or less over her head to fire who she did not in a more timely manner.
She probably does not really want to interview people either… the NBA may go on to influence the hire. Yes I know the franchise supposedly did the investigation, but that is likely the front for the NBA.
Good shot to hire a woman… NBA gets PR points. Lillard may want to bail.
Simmons for Lillard trade coming up, and Hammon to GM/POBO.
Finally, a likely Simmons move.
Blazers with Simmons & Hammon is better than Lillard & Olshey, considering the salary ($49m to ’25) and slight skill decline and tension of keeping Lillard… a win/win for the NBA! It’s like hitting three birds with one stone.