Chris Haynes: Portland, Memphis, referees and Trail Blazers’ GM Neil Olshey kneel in peaceful protest during national anthem. pic.twitter.com/ts1VL8NG2R
Neil Olshey Rumors
Where were you on Meyers Leonard’s chugging skills, had you seen that before? Is this new to you? Or is this something that you guys have known for years that he had a secret skill about? Neil Olshey: No, I didn’t. But I want to know how Meyers can shrug and still have 3% body fat at 270 pounds
Neil Olshey: I was not aware of that. Honestly, I didn’t know Meyers drank because anybody with his physicality and commitment to his body, I was shocked to hear that he actually ever had a beer, let alone knew how to shotgun.
“He’s become like the team-spirit animal,” said Neil Olshey, the Blazers’ president of basketball operations. “Dame [Lillard] is Dame, and that’s just understood. Right. And CJ [McCollum] is CJ. They are much more stoic. “But Nurk plays with his emotions on his sleeve. I use the tennis analogy: Dame and CJ are [Bjorn] Borg. They’re quiet assassins. Nurk is more Jimmy Connors or John McEnroe.”
“It’s two-fold,” Neil Olshey said Wednesday. “On one hand, I’m excited to see our guys play again. You know, the season ended so abruptly, we were just getting healthy. We were three days from getting ‘Nurk’ (Jusuf Nurkic) back and Zach (Collins) was on the horizon — he was about three weeks out from returning. At that point, Trevor (Ariza) was in the starting lineup, so the exciting thing is to see the guys out playing basketball again. I missed basketball.”
“I don’t think anyone can be cavalier about the health risks,” he said. “Our players and our traveling staff have tested negative over the course of our two weeks of mandatory testing. But, it’s a concern, and we have family members concerned about us going into the environment. I do think there will be diligence down there. I do think Adam’s (Commissioner Adam Silver) model of trying to make it the safest place in the country, i think the league will do everything in its power to do that. But I can’t tell you that people aren’t concerned about their health.”
Neil Olshey: “Guys have stayed. They are dialed in. They are locked in. They’re ignoring whatever the strength of schedule we’re going to face down there. And they’re going down with the mindset that Day One, this is playoff basketball for us. We’re training and preparing and we’re going to give it our best shot. One of the things that has been consistent with this group is that this is a group of closers. We’ve always been better the second half of the year. It’s a testament to the character of the guys we have and our coaching staff not burning guys out and keeping them engaged and I think you will see that when we get to Orlando.”
Caleb Swanigan won't joint Blazers in Orlando
The Portland Trail Blazers will be without Caleb Swanigan as the NBA resumes its 2019-20 regular season at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Per Trail Blazers president of basketball operations and general manager Neil Olshey, Swanigan will not join Portland when the NBA restarts. He has decided to withdrawal his name from the NBA’s return to play.
Whether his Achilles injury changes the Blazers’ intentions of a long-term contract is unclear. Neil Olshey, the Blazers’ president of basketball operations, said Tuesday that he cannot talk about player contracts. And Hood’s agent, Ty Sullivan, was vague Tuesday when asked if there are plans to pursue an extension or just pick up the player option. “I know Rodney loves Portland,” Sullivan said. “He was having a great year before he got hurt. He will have options.”
Blazers video assistant Zach Cooper passes away
Shams Charania: A video assistant on the Portland Trail Blazers, Zach Cooper, has died unexpectedly. Quotes from Portland President Neil Olshey and head coach Terry Stotts. pic.twitter.com/GJD6Y3mxie
“This is a heartbreaking loss for the entire Trail Blazers family. Zach was a positive spirit, a tireless worker and an outstanding teacher. My prayers go out to his family and all who loved him.” — Neil Olshey, President of Basketball Operations. “I am devastated by the news of Zach’s passing. He was a valued member of our staff, but more importantly, he was an outstanding young man who everyone loved and appreciated. Words cannot adequately express my sadness for such a loss.” — Terry Stotts, Head Coach
The Portland Trail Blazers have completed the two-way transfers of center Moses Brown and forward Jaylen Hoard to the Texas Legends of the NBA G League, it was announced today by president of basketball operations Neil Olshey. Brown, 20, has played in nine games for the Trail Blazers this season, averaging 1.2 points (40.0% FG, 37.5% FT) and 1.6 rebounds. In 22 games with the Legends, Brown (7-1, 245) has averaged 14.9 points (63.8% FG, 49.2% FT), 7.6 rebounds and 1.41 blocks.
Neil Olshey: The Blazers leader and former Clippers executive is originally from Flushing. According to sources, Olshey has never been enamored living in a small-market town. He was once an aspiring soap-opera actor and has the flair to run the Knicks.
The Portland Trail Blazers have completed the two-way transfer of center Moses Brown from the Texas Legends of the NBA G League to Portland, it was announced today by president of basketball operations Neil Olshey.
So when I ran into Olshey in the back hallways of the Moda Center before Tuesday’s game against New York, I posed the essence of your questions to him: How is he approaching the unofficial start to the trading season on Dec. 15? “We are going to stay disciplined,” Olshey said. “That doesn’t mean we are not going to stay opportunistic, OK? But the bar for how big of an impact somebody has to make to really make an outcome-related impact is higher.”
What does “disciplined” mean, exactly? “The discipline comes in that the starting lineup next year is Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, Rodney Hood, Zach Collins and Jusuf Nurkic,” Olshey said. “And we are going to get there. Now, some of those guys will be back this year, and some won’t. But what we are not going to do is give away long-term assets that can help get this team to where we really want to be — and where we thought we were back in September — for some incremental upgrade today.”
“We are now down three starters,” Olshey said, including center Jusuf Nurkic, who is still rehabilitating from his broken leg. “We are also down our identity. Nobody understands that. We have been an elite rebounding team for the last three years. We were number one in the league in offensive rebounding last year. We take a lot of mid-range jumpers. We rely on jumpers, which is okay if we are cleaning up those points with putbacks — guys like Enes (Kanter), guys like Nurk — real elite rebounders. Hassan (Whiteside) is doing his part, but having only one interior presence to rebound and protect the rim at the level we are accustomed to wasn’t the plan.”
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Olshey, who orchestrated Anthony’s signing to mask the hole left by the injury to starter Zach Collins and the ineffectiveness of offseason signings Mario Hezonja and Anthony Tolliver, offered a quid pro quo to Anthony’s camp. “Carmelo needs an empowering and welcoming environment with a defined role that embraces his skill set on the floor and his presence in the locker room,” Olshey said. “And we need a player that can generate production from the power forward position, can alleviate defensive pressure on Dame and CJ and be trusted to make plays at critical moments in close games.”
Portland Trail Blazers President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey had tried to get Carmelo Anthony in trades with the New York Knicks, tried to get him as a free agent post-Oklahoma City. Now, they were together on a call Thursday morning. Time had passed, circumstances had changed. “You need us,” sources said Olshey told Anthony. “And we need you.”
After six straight trips to the Western Conference playoffs — including two conference semifinals runs and a West finals a season ago — Olshey knew this: The Blazers needed a player capable of commanding the respect of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. They needed a presence to roust the spirit of an unnerved locker room. The Blazers wouldn’t find that in the NBA’s G-League, nor with a journeyman veteran out of a job.
Sources briefed on the call suggested that Olshey’s message was this: Anthony needed a home where he could have a definitive role for a winning organization, needed the best players to respect and embrace him. And the Blazers needed someone with stature to walk in the door and shake up the locker room.
Blazers to be active in trade market?
The Portland Trail Blazers’ so-so start has pundits and fans alike wondering what the team could do to get their season going. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst pointed out on “The Jump” that the Blazers currently hold the NBA’s highest team payroll (including “dead” money) at $145 million, and said that executives around the league believe the team’s contracts could make them an active trade suitor: “When I’ve talked to executives out there seeing this [the Blazers’ high payroll], they believe that the Blazers are going to be active in the trade market as the season goes on.”
Jay Allen: Neil Olshey says Jusuf Nurkic has been working out and shooting at the PF. Says members of the training staff were with Nurkic throughout the Summer. “He’s in great shape. His weight is terrific; it’s right where we’d want it to be if he was playing.”
Jay Allen: Neil Olshey says Jody Allen is largely responsible for what the #Blazers have accomplished this off-season in terms of building the roster: “We think we probably have the most competitive roster we’ve had in our 7-year tenure.” #RipCity @RipCityRadio620
The Portland Trail Blazers have signed guard CJ McCollum to a multi-year contract extension, it was announced today by president of basketball operations Neil Olshey. The three-year extension keeps McCollum under contract through the 2023-24 season.
“CJ McCollum is a franchise cornerstone and a critical part of our future,” said Olshey. “This extension represents a strong level of commitment between CJ, the Trail Blazers and the city of Portland.”
Michael Gallagher: Neil Olshey said Jusuf Nurkic could be out until February.
President Neil Olshey said Jusuf Nurkic (leg) could be out until February. The update comes on NBATV with Olshey giving an interview, but he didn’t provide much else on Nurkic.
The Portland Trail Blazers have signed free agent forward Anthony Tolliver, it was announced today by president of basketball operations Neil Olshey. Tolliver, 34, spent the 2018-19 season with Minnesota, posting averages of 5.0 points (38.2% FG, 37.7% 3-PT, 78.3% FT), 2.7 rebounds, 0.7 assists and 16.6 minutes in 65 games. He previously played two games for the Trail Blazers during the 2009-10 season.
The Portland Trail Blazers have signed free agent forward Mario Hezonja, it was announced today by president of basketball operations Neil Olshey. Hezonja (heh-ZONE-yuh), 24, holds career averages of 7.3 points (41.7% FG, 32.1% 3-PT, 81.1% FT), 3.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 18.9 minutes in 277 games (65 starts) over four seasons with Orlando and New York.
Jason Quick: If the Trail Blazers and Al-Farouq Aminu are going to come to terms on an extension before Sunday (he’s eligible for as much as 4 years and $48 mil) it will be a quick negotiation: Aminu’s agent says “I haven’t really talked to Neil (Olshey).” If Aminu and Blazers don’t agree to extension before Sunday, he becomes unrestricted free agent. Blazers have his Bird Rights, meaning they can go over the cap to sign him. Should be interesting to see what Aminu’s market is ..
Kerry Eggers: Neil Olshey, beginning his eighth year as GM of the @Portland Trail Blazers, on @Anfernee Simons: “In terms of God-given basketball ability, he’s as talented as anyone we’ve ever drafted since I’ve been here. We’re expecting big things from him.” #RipCity
Olshey said Nurkic is “making great progress” from his broken left leg, suffered March 25 in a game against Brooklyn, however he was reluctant to place any timetable on the center’s return next season. “So far, he’s on a great trajectory in terms of returning to play … but we are not going to sacrifice anything in his recovery and (physical therapy) just to get him on the court faster,” Olshey said. If I were to guess, the target date for Nurkic to return would be late January, early February, meaning the Blazers will have to play more than half of the season without their standout center.
“He’s making great progress,” Olshey said. “Guys can’t believe where he is relative to what they saw only four weeks ago. He is a core piece to this roster, a foundational piece going forward, and we are going to drive him. But also knowing we are going to do what’s best for Nurk on a long-term basis in terms of his recovery and his timeline.”
“Neil has done an exceptional job finding and keeping the talent that has made the Trail Blazers a perennial playoff team, culminating in this season’s magical run to the Western Conference Finals,” said Jody Allen, Trustee of Paul G. Allen Trust. “I have great confidence in the culture he has created in Portland, and I look forward to seeing it thrive and grow for years to come.”
“I am honored to extend my tenure with the Portland Trail Blazers under the leadership of Jody Allen, the ongoing partnership with Bert Kolde, Chris McGowan and Terry Stotts and in the memory of Paul G. Allen,” said Olshey. “Leslie, Connor, James and I love Portland and feel blessed to be a part of the future of Rip City.”
Blazers sign Neil Olshey to a contract extension
Portland Trail Blazers president of basketball operations Neil Olshey has reached a contract extension that lengthens his deal through the 2023-24 season, the team announced Friday. Olshey has constructed a perennial Western Conference playoff team in his seven seasons, including consecutive years as a third seed and the franchise’s first conference finals berth in 19 years.
Neil Olshey on Wizards' radar
We can connect some dots and land on one executive whose team is still in the playoffs: Golden State assistant general manager Larry Harris. As for the rumor mill, one name stands out: Neil Olshey. Numerous sources told NBC Sports Washington of the Wizards’ interest in Blazers President of Basketball Operations, the architect behind the Portland squad that reached the 2019 Western Conference Finals.
Jay Allen: Neil Olshey says Terry Stotts’ extension is “a few years.” More details to come…
Kerry Eggers: Neil Olshey on Terry Stotts’s extension: “Terry carries himself now as a coach who is consistently in the playoffs. He doesn’t have anything to prove to anybody. Terry is one of the top coaches in the league. You don’t let those guys leave. It’s hard to find greatness.” #RipCity
Blazers, Terry Stotts agree to a contract extension
Joe Freeman: Neil Olshey just broke news: The Blazers have given coach Terry Stotts a contract extension. It was completed about 20 minutes ago.
